'The difference on the day': Ex-Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown verdict on play-offs penalty agony

Ex-Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown believes Nottingham Forest keeper Brice Samba was the difference after the Blades suffered an agonising Championship play-off second leg penalty shootout defeat at the City Ground.

Three shootout saves from Samba saw Sheffield crash out of the play-offs after producing an incredible performance to overturn their first leg defeat.

Heading into the tie, the Blades trailed 2-1 from the first leg against Forest, which saw Sander Berge grab a vital late 91st minute goal for Paul Heckingbottom's side at Bramall Lane.

In what was a hotly contested affair, Forest drew first blood on 19 minutes through forward Brennan Johnson, who smashed home past Blades keeper Wes Foderingham to give the hosts the lead.

A touchline fracas between Djed Spence and Blades manager Paul Heckingbottom was the other notable moment in the first half, with the latter ending up Michael Oliver's book with a yellow card for sparking the scenes that saw both benches cleared.

3-1 up on aggregate at the break seemed to suggest that Forest had one foot in the Championship play-off final.

However, after interval, the script was flipped. Sheffield looked transformed from their first half performance, bagging a goal back right after the break through on-loan midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

And they managed to restore parity at 3-3 on aggregate on 75 minutes through Blades midfielder John Fleck following some good work from George Baldock, sending the game to extra-time.

A scoreless extra-time ensued, meaning it was down to penalties to decide the contest. Forest keeper Samba, who produced a number of impressive saves throughout the contest, was the hero however much to Sheffield's dismay. The 28-year-old saved three