Stevens bags for Blades

CHRIS WILDER joined his Sheffield United players in delivering a defiant response to what he felt was a premature hailing of promotion rivals Leeds. The Blades rose to the challenge of a must-win game in the race for second place with fine second-half goals from Mark Duffy and Irish international Enda Stevens. Asked if he felt there was already a national groundswell of acclaim for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, Wilder said: ‘Yes, 100 per cent. There was a bit of “up yours” in the response. When the season finishes, that’s the time to hand out plaudits.’ United served notice they intend to take it to the last game with a deserved win, albeit tinged with controversy. A fighting Forest were effectively condemned to a fourth successive defeat from the 47th minute when Yohan Benalouane was sent off, adjudged by referee Andy Madley to have denied a scoring opportunity. Duffy struck within four minutes, curling a brilliant shot from the corner of the area — and later Stevens made sure with an adroit angled finish after being played in by the outstanding international team-mate David McGoldrick. Forest boss Martin O’Neill called the sending-off ‘harsh’, arguing that Benalouane had not made contact with McGoldrick as he raced through. Wilder supported Madley’s call — and the managers were also divided over Forest skipper Jack Colback’s first-half caution for diving, which ends his season as a 15th yellow card triggering a three-match ban.