The Blades were unable to penetrate Nottingham Forest's impressive home record on a frustrating night at the City Ground.

Robert Earnshaw's early goal was all that separated the teams, although United played the majority of the second-half with just ten men.

United's proud record of not having a player sent off this season was ruined at the start of the second-half when Darius Henderson was shown a straight red card.

Boss Blackwell had the luxury of naming an unchanged matchday squad for the visit to third placed Forest. The Blades manager had concerns about the fitness over a number of players, but his selection indicated he would continue with a 4-4-2 formation. Forest counterpart Davies was vilified for leaving out Blackstock and Earnshaw in their last game and recalled the strike duo.

United again made a slow start and had hardly got out of their own half when the home side took the lead after just four minutes. A Majewski corner was flicked on at the near post and fell perfectly for EARNSHAW to poke the ball home from a yard out.

After a poor start and the shock of conceding so early United gradually came into the game and a marauding run from Yeates yielded United's first chance of the contest but his left footed drive on the angle went well wide.

Majewski was the first name in referee Miller's book, for a challenge on Montgomery, before Blackstock scuffed a good chance from a corner although Geary was off the field receiving treatment. A good move ending in Anderson firing over from the edge of the box firmly put the Blades on the back foot, with Morgan, Gunter and Cohen all prominent in the build-up.

At the other end Kallio and the industrious Yeates combined on the left, but the Finn was unable to find an on rushing Blades shirt with his centre. Moments later a Nosworthy centre almost deceived everyone only for Camp to claw the ball away with an outstretched left hand, when it seemed set to nestle in the far corner.

Quinn replaced the injured Geary, who had early received treatment. Ward slotted into an unfamiliar right-back role, with Quinn filling in on the left. On the stroke of half-time Blackstock freed Cohen and his cross looked destined to land at the feet of Anderson only for makeshift defender Ward to intervene.

Neither manager made any changes at the break, with Ward continuing at right-back for the Blades, but disaster struck just 40 seconds into the second period. Linesman Fletcher flagged vigorously despite the ball being at the other end of the pitch and referee Miller took little time to brandish a red card at Henderson, before then, strangely, consulting with his assistant.

The home side attacking the Trent End quickly tried to make their numerical advantage count, but after Bartley and Ward had slowed down Earnshaw, Bunn was quickly off his line to deny the goalscorer a second.

With the game reaching boiling point Williamson and Yeates added to the card count, both yellows, before the latter fired just wide from the edge of the box with Kallio, Quinn, Montgomery and Camara all combining nicely to create the opportunity.

The Blades replaced Camara with Cresswell as they looked to get a bit more height up front and Yeates was quick to test Camp with a 25 yard drive which the keeper saved diving away to his right.

Two excellent saves from Bunn in the space of four minutes kept the Blades in the game. Firstly he parried away a curling effort from Cohen, with Anderson unable to tuck away the rebound. Then he was at full stretch to tip over a rasping shot from Tyson, who had been freed by Earnshaw.

Blackwell's last throw of the dice saw Evans join Cresswell in attack, with Williamson the man sacrificed. Despite being a man down, most of the late attacking came from the Blades and a nervy moment in the Forest penalty area saw Camp spill a Yeates corner.

Five stoppage time minutes gave United renewed hope and with Camp looking troubled Cresswell just failed to get on the end of Ward's deep cross. However, with Forest stacking their defensive line, United had very few chances, although Perch had to be alert to halt Quinn's late burst. To compound the Blades misery Cresswell picked up a late booking for a foul on Gunter

Forest: Camp, Perch, Morgan, Wilson, Anderson (Tyson 74), Earnshaw (McGoldrick 80), Cohen, Gunter, McKenna, Blackstock, Majewski (Moussi 88).
Unused: Chambers, Adebola, Garner, Smith.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Nosworthy, Henderson, Yeates, Williamson (Evans 78), Ward, Bartley, Geary (Quinn 39), Kallio, Camara (Cresswell 66).
Unused: Bennett, Stewart, Little, Fortune.