Half-time of a pulsating, enthralling play-offs semi-final, and Nottingham Forest will be wondering how they are not already out of sight.
They could have been. They could have had one foot through the Wembley doors already, they had that many chances in their first leg against Sheffield United. To take a 2-1 lead into the return encounter at the City Ground, where they have been immense under Steve Cooper, puts them in a great position. The big regret will be that it wasn’t more - and that they conceded one late on, to give the Blades something to cling to.
This tie isn’t done, by any means. The last thing anyone in the Forest camp will be doing is taking it for granted. Guarding against complacency will be key. It is, however, firmly in their own hands. They have a chance of progressing to the final well and truly in their grasp.
Read more: Forest player ratings as they win at Sheffield United
United couldn’t live with them at times in the first half. It was non-stop, one-way traffic after Jack Colback had opened the scoring. Brennan Johnson, Sam Surridge and Ryan Yates might all have got on the scoresheet. Philip Zinckernagel and Djed Spence caused so many problems.
The Blades responded after the break, and showed the kind of fight they are capable of. That’s something the Reds will need to be wary of on Tuesday night - their opponents will go into it with nothing to lose. If Forest play like they are capable of, though - like they showed in the opening 45 minutes at Bramall Lane - it will take a heck of an effort to stop them.
“We need the spirit of 2003,” was the rallying cry from the stadium announcer as the second half began. United did their best to summon it on the pitch. They put the visitors under the cosh after the interval. Just when they needed him to, though, Johnson relieved the pressure by making it 2-0. A nice moment for his dad, particularly, after those events of 19 years ago. Footage of him celebrating in the stands showed how much it meant.
Now it’s time to get the job done on the banks of the Trent. More of the same, please.
