Soccer: Controversial draw gives Sheffield edge

Sheffield United took a small step towards the premier league when they held Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their division-one playoff at the City Ground yesterday.

The result was as massive a boost for the premiership ambitions of Neil Warnock and his Sheffield United team as it was devastating for Forest, after two refereeing decisions left home supporters incensed and had a crucial influence on the match.

The awarding of a penalty to Sheffield United and then the issuing of a red card to Forest's outstanding teenage centre-back, Michael Dawson, meant referee Mark Clattenburg needed a quartet of security men to see him safely off the field.

After an entertaining but goal-less first half, David Johnson put Forest ahead with his 28th goal of the season 10 minutes after the break.

Andy Reid's pass set the prolific striker clear and he coolly drilled the ball past the United keeper, Andy Kenny.

But less than a minute later the Yorkshire club were back on level terms when Michael Brown was clearly fouled by Forest's French defender Matthieu Louis-Jean inside the penalty box and the United midfielder stepped up to convert from the spot.

Forest were forced to play the last eight minutes of the match with 10 men when Dawson was sent off after a lunging challenge on Steve Kabba.

The eventual winners will face Wolverhampton Wanderers or Reading for a place in the top flight via the playoff final in Cardiff on May 27.

Wolves won their home match 2-1.

In the second-division playoffs, Cardiff City beat Bristol City 1-0 in their first leg at Ninian Park, while Oldham Athletic drew 1-1 at home to Queen's Park Rangers, with the visitors having goalscorer Richard Langley sent off late in the game.

The third-division playoffs saw Lincoln City beat Scunthorpe United 5-3 at Sincil Bank, thanks to two late goals from substitute Simon Yeo, while Bury held out for a goal-less draw at home to Bournemouth.

The second legs of the playoffs in all three divisions will be played between May 14 and 16.

* In Scotland, Celtic beat Hearts 1-0 to open up a three-point lead over Rangers at the top of the points standings.

Celtic have 91 points, but their Glasgow rivals will move level with two games left if they beat Kilmarnock at Ibrox today.

* Juventus won the Italian title for the second year in a row yesterday.

A 2-2 draw at home to Perugia was enough to secure Juventus' 27th title as second-placed Inter Milan, the only side with any chance of catching them, also drew, 1-1 at home to Parma, leaving them eight points adrift with two games remaining.

- AGENCIES