ONE SCUMBAG WON'T RUIN MY RESPECT FOR FOREST FANS

Sharp's cool, classy response after he was flattened by pitch-invading yob

- MIKE WALTERS

CLASS act Billy Sharp sent a magnanimous message to Nottingham Forest after he was poleaxed by a hooligan and assured them that one "scumbag" would not diminish his respect for them.

Sheffield United captain Sharp needed stitches in a head wound and was "shook up" after an appalling incident following the Blades' dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat in the Championship play-off semi-final at the City Ground.

Nottinghamshire Police arrested a 31-year-old man after TV cameras captured Sharp standing in the technical area and missing the tie through injury flattened by a running being headbutt as jubilant Forest fans invaded the pitch. The Professional Footballers' Association issued a strongly worded statement condemning the assault, saying the union was "shocked and appalled".