Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Matchday Stats Preview
This is Sheffield United’s first home Premier League match against Nottingham Forest since October 1992, a goalless draw at Bramall Lane. They are unbeaten in their last four top-flight home games against Forest (W3 D1) since a 3-1 defeat in August 1967.
Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Sheffield United since the 2003-04 campaign when the sides were in the second tier.
Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 19 Premier League games against promoted sides (D12 L6), though it was in the reverse fixture against Sheffield United this season. This will be the second time they’ve faced an opponent in their first match after being relegated from the Premier League (within the same season), previously beating QPR 3-0 in 1995-96.
Sheffield United are just three goals away from becoming the second side in Premier League history to concede 100 goals in a single campaign, after Swindon Town in 1993-94 (100 in 42 games). The Blades would be just the third team to do so in a top-flight season with a maximum of 20 teams, after Darwen in 1891-92 (112 in 26 games) and Leicester in 1908-09 (102 in 38 games).
The last time Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League (2020-21), they won their first game after their relegation was confirmed (1-0 v Brighton). Indeed, relegated sides have avoided defeat in their next match after their relegation was confirmed on four of the last seven occasions (W3 D1, excluding times teams went down on the final day).
Sheffield United haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 Premier League games, also conceding at least two goals in each of their last nine. In the competition’s history, only three sides have shipped 2+ goals in 10 consecutive matches: Wimbledon (10 – March-May 2000), West Brom (10 – December 2010-February 2011), and Fulham (13 – January-April 2019).
Sheffield United have conceded 51 goals in their 17 Premier League home games this season. In English top-flight history, only Aston Villa in 1935-36 have ever shipped more at home in a single campaign (56).
Nottingham Forest haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 Premier League away games. Since beating Newcastle 3-1 in their first game on the road under Nuno EspÃrito Santo, the Tricky Trees are now winless in their last seven (D2 L5).
Despite only playing 11 Premier League games this season, no Sheffield United player has had more shots on target than Ben Brereton (17).
Nine of Chris Wood’s 12 Premier League goals this season have either put Nottingham Forest in the lead (4) or drawn them level (5).
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