Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest predictions: Tricky Trees can frustrate

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest in the Championship on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Nottingham Forest or draw double chance
1pt 4-5 Betfred, BoyleSports

Team news

Sheffield United
Charlie Goode is suspended while Rhian Brewster, David McGoldrick, Jayden Bogle, Chris Basham, Jack O'Connell and Enda Stevens are injured.

Nottingham Forest
Brice Samba completes a three-game ban and Lewis Grabban is sidelined.

Match preview

Championship playoff-chasers Nottingham Forest have lost just four times since appointing Steve Cooper last September and they are unlikely to succumb to promotion rivals Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

With just over two months of the 46-game season remaining, the race for top-six places is intensifying.

Eight points cover the clubs from third to tenth and there is a big incentive for Sheffield United and Forest because one of them will finish the evening inside the top six.

Both have recovered from slow starts to the season and their revivals have coincided with the arrival of new managers.

Sheffield United have taken 30 points from 14 games since Paul Heckingbottom replaced Slavisa Jokanovic, but their injury list has been mounting and Saturday's 1-0 loss at Millwall was a major disappointment in terms of the result and the performance.

However, they are only a point outside the playoff places and eight of their remaining 13 fixtures are at home.

United have collected 16 points from their last six home matches, but the visit of Forest poses a tough test.

Forest average 1.62 points per game on their league travels - only Fulham and Bournemouth have done better - and their 3-4-1-2 setup is ideally suited to soaking up pressure and springing forward on the counter-attack.

Pacy attacker Brennan Johnson is among the most exciting forwards outside the Premier League and he is brimming with confidence after scoring six times in his last eight games.

Johnson could be of interest at 9-1 to hit the opener but the safer wager is to side with Forest to take at least a point.

Key stat

Nottingham Forest have lost just two of their last 14 away games.

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