This play-off semi-final first leg between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United at the City Ground came to life in the second half with two goals, a penalty and a red card.
United started brightly in the opening few minutes but it was Forest who went close after seven minutes when Marlon Harewood headed a Riccardo Scimeca corner against the underside of the crossbar, only to see the ball rebound to safety.
Minutes later Scimeca tested Paddy Kenny with a long-range free kick, which needed the keeper to be at full stretch to tip over for a corner.
With 20 minutes gone the visitors failed to capitalise when Mathieu Louis-Jean mis-kicked a clearance and found Carl Asaba whose shot was deflected away for a corner.
On 34 minutes Forest's Darren Huckerby went close when he broke through the Blades defence only to shoot high and wide.
It was Forest who came out the stronger after the break with both Harewood and David Johnson having efforts in the opening few minutes of the second half.
The deadlock was broken on 55 minutes when Johnson beat Robert Page after receiving a ball from Andrew Reid. Johnson, one-on-one with the keeper, hit his shot low and hard from ten yards out.
Two minutes later Louis-Jean brought down Michael Brown and the referee immediately awarded a penalty. Brown confidently put away the spot kick.
Forest's heads did not drop though as they pushed hard for an additional goal to take with them to Bramall Lane for the second leg of this encounter.
A 25-yard shot from Johnson was hit well but straight at keeper Kenny who saved comfortably.
With seven minutes to go Forest's Michael Dawson was controversially sent off for a mis-timed challenge on Steve Kabba and with a minute to go Darren Ward was at full stretch to tip away a well-struck shot from Michael Tonge.
With away goals not counting double there is still everything to play for in the second leg.