Decisive moments and big decisions as Nottingham Forest try to pick a path through play-offs

And so to Bramall Lane. It just had to be, didn’t it? Another twist in Nottingham Forest’s exhilarating season.

It is a tie which brings with it painful play-offs memories for the Reds. But this is a different time. A different team. One which has been playing without the weight of history for most of the season. One which has been writing its own chapters - and still has a few more pages of the tome to fill.

Where this story goes is up to them. They have already penned a great tale.

From last to fourth. From the worst start in more than a century to the club’s highest league position for more than a decade. And their highest points tally in the second tier since 1998, finishing on 80 after taking just one from their opening seven games.

Steve Cooper was keen to stress that point in his post-match interview after the 1-1 draw with Hull City. “I can’t think of anything worse than having the season finish today and going on our holidays,” he said. “We’re still fighting for something.”

For a few seconds, at least, Forest looked like they would finish third and be paired with Luton Town in the semi-finals. Brennan Johnson’s 92nd-minute penalty had the makings of being the winner, being greeted by a roar - and a few flares - from the away end.

In the space of a few moments, though, the play-offs picture spun. Almost immediately Hull went down the other end and equalised. The Reds had to settle for fourth and a reacquaintance with Sheffield United.

There was an element of fluke about the leveller. Lewie Coyle’s ball into the box was looking for Keane Lewis-Potter, but ended up curling past Brice Samba.

How decisive those few minutes could be remains to be seen. No path through the play-offs is easy, though - whoever the