Sheffield United 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Analysis

Sometimes winning is all that matters.

In different circumstances, there might be more focus on the way Nottingham Forest were cut apart and overpowered by Sheffield United in the first half.

But not today. Forest needed three points and that is what they took from Bramall Lane.

Of course, they rode their luck before the break but they also made it count in the second half.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored with two excellent curling strikes - and was the width of the post away from a hat-trick - while Ryan Yates could hardly have picked a better time to score his first Premier League goal.

The celebrations that followed his powerful effort showed the delight, and no shortage of relief, felt by the Forest players having come from behind.

They were switched on when play resumed, got their third goal and from that point, it was more comfortable.

Discussions on the reasons for such a lacklustre first 45 minutes in a game so important can come in the summer.

Today was about winning and that win means those talks are far more likely to come as part of plans for a third straight year in the Premier League.