If ever there was a manager who needed a win this weekend it would surely be Nottingham Forest's Martin O'Neill.

A run of three defeats on the bounce last week saw Forest drop to eight points adrift of the play-offs with just four games of the season remaining, further increasing the pressure on O'Neill's position at the club.

Next up for his out of sorts side is a trip to Bramall Lane on Friday to face automatic promotion hopefuls Sheffield United, who themselves have won just one of their last four.

With O'Neill desperately searching for a much-needed win in Yorkshire, this is the starting XI he should pick to face The Blades.

Having returned in goal for the third of those defeats to Blackburn on Saturday, there was little Costel Pantilimon could have done about either Joe Rothwell's stunner or Danny Graham's predatory finish in that match, and you expect him to keep his place between the sticks.

In defence, Sam Byram and Jack Robinson look to be the best options at full back, with Robinson's move out from a central position allowing for Yohan Benalouane to come in alongside Molla Wague in the centre back positions.

That defensive switch over should allow Jack Colback to step up into the midfield alongside Ryan Yates, who has impressed since getting his chance in the first team this season, which could see Pele become the man to drop out.

In front of them, Joe Lolley and Matty Cash have been two of Forest's most creative players this season, and their press forward could be key to pinning down Chris Wilder's much-discussed system of overlapping full back this season, while it may help O'Neill's cause to bring about the long-awaited return of Joao Carvalho to Forest's starting XI.

Leading the line as he has done for much of the season will surely be Lewis Grabban, as the striker looks to add to his 16 league goals this season, something which may come as a huge relief to O'Neill should he be able to do so.