I'm not being funny but if that's all Sheff Utd got to offer we're laughing. They time-wasted and sulked, we gave them a penalty, got one of our men sent off - and they want to get into the Premiership. Asaba is the only player who performed. They're lucky to spawn a draw and they know it. Forest play football how it should be played - that sums it up really. Martin
But Sheffield United bounced back very nicely from the goal to score a very vital away goal. They did what they had to do away and I think they'll like their chances, without being overconfident, of doing the job at Brammall Lane.
As a "yank" who has only closely followed the English leagues for a few years, I am a bit confused. In many competitions involving a pair of teams (such as World Cup Qualifiers), road goals are the first tie-breaker. Does the above statement mean that if the 2 teams tie 0-0 (or perhaps 2-2 or higher) in the second leg that the 'tie' will instead be broken by other means (I would presume a 30 minute game followed by penalties if needed) Incidently I have to agree that no matter the tie-breaker is, with a pending home game, the draw was a more favorable result for Sheffield than it was for Forest.
You're correct. Unlike many other competitions, away goals do not 'count double' in the Div. One Playoffs. If the scores are tied, the game goes into Golden Goal. Also, you can say that Sheffield have the advantage but they've also got to do the work. I think Saturday's first goal showed how dangerous Forest can be on the break. It's also a bit much to say they 'bounced back a bit nicely' when it was a penalty.
No, they mean something. All goals mean somehing. Sheffield United's goal levelled the aggregate score means that a draw at home won't knock them out of the playoffs. Sheffield United showed how dangerous they can be when they attack in waves by creating the chance that led to the penalty. A goal's a goal, and United earned the penalty.
Sheffield United showed how dangerous they can be when they attack in waves by creating the chance that led to the penalty. A goal's a goal, and United earned the penalty. [/QUOTE] Well said. There was no question it was a penalty. Some of the Forest players were still celebrating their opening goal, and when you switch off mentally, you make a silly mistake and then you get punished for it. Forest have some of the quickest players in the division and that pre-kick-off greasing of the pitch was a nice bit of gamesmanship by Forest. The first leg was a very below par performance by the Blades, I expect a much better showing in the second leg. Up the Blades! Cheers, GQ
I've been reduced to reading internet PBP, and the ending of this match looks insane -- two own goals in two minutes?