Nigel Clough: 'Sheffield derby incentive helped us'

Nigel Clough has said that the prospect of a Sheffield derby may have helped Sheffield United come from behind to beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup this afternoon.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the competition took place during the first half of the tie at Bramall Lane, leaving the winners of the match facing a last-eight meeting with either Sheffield Wednesday or Charlton Athletic.

Following the 3-1 victory, the manager told Sky Sports News: "We didn't need any extra motivation than playing for the quarter-final of the FA Cup but it would be massive. It would be jam-packed here for Wednesday, people trying to get in all over the place.

"We told them just before they went back out. We thought 'what the hell?', we'll just tell them. I just said 'you've got 45 minutes, away you go. If we get the victory you might have a Sheffield derby yet'.

"A few of them didn't believe us actually so we just joked and said it was Brighton or Hull away. We had to come back and win the match so it might have been a small incentive for the players."

The Owls must beat Charlton Athletic in their fifth-round tie to set up their first match against the Blades since February 2012.