Forest still dreaming of a return to their glory days
Nottingham Forest 1 - 1 Ipswich Town (Nottingham Forest won 5 - 4 on penalties)
Nottingham Forest secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ipswich Town, setting up a trip to Brighton in the last eight.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels was the hero, saving Jack Taylor’s low effort as Forest triumphed 5-4 on penalties after Ryan Yates’ second-half equaliser had forced extra time. The visitors had taken the lead through George Hirst, but ultimately fell short on a night of fine margins at the City Ground.
Watching from the stands was England manager Thomas Tuchel, who is preparing to name his first squad next week ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. However, with the game slow to ignite until the second half, the new Three Lions boss may not have taken much away from the contest.
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Taylor’s missed spot-kick proved decisive—his second penalty failure of the season, having also spurned one in Ipswich’s Carabao Cup exit to League Two AFC Wimbledon in August. Forest, meanwhile, are making a habit of shootout wins, having also beaten Exeter City on penalties in the previous round.
For Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, the victory keeps their remarkable season on track. Sitting third in the Premier League, Forest remain in the hunt for Champions League football and now turn their attention to a crucial clash with Manchester City on Saturday. The reigning champions trail them by just a point, with a chasing pack in hot pursuit.
Forest keep their dream alive as Ipswich focus shifts to survival
While European qualification would be a huge achievement for Forest, the FA Cup represents their best chance of silverware and a first triumph in this competition since 1959.
On the night, they were marginally the better side against an Ipswich team whose priorities now lie in their fight for Premier League survival. Sitting third from bottom, Kieran McKenna’s men had hoped for a morale-boosting cup run and took the lead eight minutes after half-time.
Sels had already denied Sam Morsy with a fine save before Hirst stooped to head home from the resulting corner, netting his third goal of the season in front of Scotland manager Steve Clarke.
Ipswich’s lead lasted just 15 minutes as Yates nodded in from Anthony Elanga’s inviting cross. The Forest captain thought he had a second soon after, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Callum Hudson-Odoi rattled the bar late on, but extra time passed without further drama before Sels had the final say, sending Forest through with his shootout heroics.
Ipswich’s focus now turns to the battle to stay in the Premier League, while Forest search for glory on multiple fronts.
