CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI powered Nottingham Forest to a crucial 3-1 win in their survival battle, while Sheffield United became the first Premier League team to lose 100 goals in a 38-game season.
Hudson-Odoi scored two picture-book goals to help Forest overcome a shaky start at Bramall Lane and secure their first away win since Boxing Day.
The already-relegated Blades took the lead thanks to Ben Brereton Diaz’s penalty, but Hudson-Odoi’s double and Ryan Yates’ contentious goal saw Forest recover to go three points clear of 18th-placed Luton with two games remaining.
Their position at the bottom of the table could improve even further if an appeal against a four-point deduction for violating financial regulations is successful, with results likely this week.
If they only got one point back, Burnley would be effectively relegated because of Forest’s superior goal difference.
The Blades’ disastrous season reached a new low with Hudson-Odoi’s second goal, the 100th they have surrendered, making them the first Premier League team to reach a century in a 38-game season since Swindon in 1993-94.
However, it was their shortcomings in the opposite penalty area against Forest that irritated manager Chris Wilder.
“We get the ball to the top of the pitch but you’ve got to put your chances away and we’ve had 17 opportunities – not half-chances, some incredibly proper chances – and goals change the feel of the game,” he went on to say.
“This has been happening for the past three weeks.
“We created chances but there’s no point coming in at half-time and saying ‘well played’ when we should be 4-0 up.”
Wilder was also upset that a foul was not called on Brereton Diaz in the buildup to Yates’ goal.
“It’s a foul, right? He puts two hands in the back, and Ben Brereton Diaz doesn’t just collapse,” he added. “He pushes him.”
