Nottingham Forest 1-0 Sheffield United: Blades knocked off top of Championship

Manager Chris Wilder says Sheffield United were punished for being "an average side" after being knocked off the Championship summit following their defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Lewis Grabban grabbed the only goal at the City Ground as the Blades were leapfrogged at the top of the Championship by Norwich City.

"There are a number of games where it's tight and you aren't playing as well as you would like to be, but you have to come away with something," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It's something we need to address because it's happened four or five times this season.

"It seems we have to play at our maximum to get a result, and when we don't we are an average side."

Forest striker Grabban got enough of a touch on a second-half cross from Joao Carvalho to glance home his 10th goal in 11 games, sending the hosts up to sixth in the table.

Grabban's effort was only Forest's second on goal, with a tame half-volley from defender Jack Robinson the only effort on target in a scrappy opening half.

The Blades pressed for an equaliser but failed to find a response and were overtaken by Norwich City after the Canaries beat United's Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 at Hillsborough.

"The game was of a low quality with the amount of quality players that were on show, but Forest have got a result and we haven't and that's disappointing," Wilder said.

"Our back three did well, but going forward in possession we made so many bad errors."

Victory for Forest against the league leaders came as an immediate and resounding response to their Carabao Cup exit against League One side Burton Albion on Tuesday - a defeat that angered manager Aitor Karanka.

And it was a hard-earned three points in a game of few genuine chances.

While neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the opening 45 minutes, both sides threatened.

John Egan headed the visitors' best chance of the first half wide after meeting an Oliver Norwood corner at the back post.

Grabban, who was well contained by the Blades' defence before the break, made his solitary glimpse of goal count, directing the ball beyond Dean Henderson.

The hosts held on for a seventh league win of the season, with Ben Woodburn prodding United's final chance wide in injury time.

Forest manager Aitor Karanka said he was "really pleased" for his players after the game.

"I told them that this team hasn't reached its peak because we are improving and growing a lot," he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"The big picture today is that we beat the top-of-the-table team and the team with the best form in the league.

"We can't forget that they have been working together for three years with the same manager, working and improving every single day and we have been working together for just three or four months."