Carl Asaba's 10th goal of the season cemented Sheffield United's grip on a play-off place and prevented Leicester from gaining automatic promotion to the Barclaycard Premiership until Saturday at least.

The 30-year-old, making his first start in over three months following injury, calmly swept the ball home just after the hour as the Blades produced the perfect response to the disappointment of losing to Arsenal in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The win, United's first in four league games, keeps Neil Warnock's side in third place and they are now four points clear of fellow top-six contenders Forest.

After a scrappy opening, Peter Ndlovu looped a header just wide following Michael Brown's free-kick from the left while Marlon Harewood lost control of the ball in a good position at the other end after 11 minutes.

Irish midfielder Andy Reid was looking lively down the left and his delicious low centre was just missed by the stretching David Johnson and Harewood before Jon-Olav Hjelde was booked for a foul on Dean Windass after 18 minutes.

Michael Tonge had a free-kick from 25 yards turned behind by goalkeeper Darren Ward as both teams began to improve before Brown's tremendous surge down the left ended with a low cross for the advancing Windass, but his shot flew high over the crossbar.

The hosts almost broke the deadlock just after the half hour when Phil Jagielka, operating at the heart of the defence again after impressing against the Gunners, headed the ball against the crossbar following Tonge's corner.

Johnson turned the ball over the top after Harewood's lightning burst down the right as Forest continued to look menacing on the break before a defensive mistake gave Ndlovu a clear sight of goal for the Blades, but he fired straight at Ward from 10 yards after 37 minutes.

The Zimbabwe international almost scored just after the interval, but his rising left-foot shot from the right side of the area whistled inches wide.

Veteran Forest defender Des Walker was booked after a challenge from behind on Windass before United deservedly went ahead after 61 minutes.

Asaba, whose physical presence had been a threat all night, slotted the ball home from 10 yards after Ndlovu's deflected shot, following a jinking run across the edge of the area, ran into his path.

Johnson, with 25 goals to his name so far this season, lashed a left-foot shot over the crossbar as Forest sought a rapid reply before Eugen Bopp replaced Jack Lester with 13 minutes remaining.

Craig Westcarr came on for Johnson as Forest boss Paul Hart looked for inspiration, but it was not forthcoming as the bulk of a crowd of 23,317 left Bramall Lane happy.

Teams:

Sheff Utd Kenny, Curtis, Jagielka, Page, Kozluk, Ndlovu (Montgomery 85), Brown, Tonge, Rankine, Windass (Murphy 90), Asaba (Kabba 87).

Subs Not Used: Peschisolido, Morrison.

Goals: Asaba 62.

Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean, Walker, Hjelde, Brennan, Lester (Bopp 78), Scimeca, Thompson, Reid, Johnson (Westcarr 80), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Doig, Jess, Roche.

Booked: Hjelde, Walker, Lester.

Att: 23,317

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).