Nottingham Forest reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Monday night. After a long and dull match, they proved to be better in the penalty shootout than their opponent Ipswich Town. In the quarter-final, they will face an away match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Nottingham Forest booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Monday night after a tense, hard-fought battle with Championship side Ipswich Town, eventually triumphing 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 following extra time.
The victory keeps Forest’s hopes alive in a competition that has taken on even greater importance for the club this season, as they look to inject some excitement into an otherwise challenging campaign in the Premier League.
The match itself, played at a chilly City Ground under the floodlights, was a cagey affair a classic cup tie where nerves, pressure, and fear of mistakes seemed to weigh heavily on both sides. Ipswich, who have been one of the standout stories in English football this season with their promotion push in the Championship, came into the match with nothing to lose. Forest, on the other hand, were burdened by expectation. As a Premier League side, they were expected to progress but recent form and growing frustration among fans meant that anything less than victory would have been seen as a disaster.
The opening stages reflected that tension. Forest dominated possession but lacked creativity, while Ipswich were content to sit deep and try to frustrate their hosts. The first real moment of danger came after just ten minutes when Ibrahim Sangaré the former PSV midfielder whose arrival in the summer was seen as a statement signing rose highest to flick on a corner. However, the ball flashed across the face of goal with no one in a red shirt there to apply the finishing touch. It was a warning for Ipswich, but one they survived.
That proved to be the highlight of a first half that will not live long in the memory. Both sides struggled to string meaningful attacks together, and the game drifted toward the break with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. The 0-0 scoreline at halftime was a fair reflection of a match that lacked quality and imagination.
The second half, however, brought a twist. Just a few minutes after the restart, Ipswich won a corner of their own, and this time they made it count. George Hirst, one of Ipswich’s most reliable goal threats, found himself unmarked and powered a header past Matz Sels to give the visitors a shock lead. The away end erupted, sensing a famous cup upset could be on the cards.
Falling behind finally seemed to jolt Forest into life. With elimination suddenly staring them in the face, and the pressure of another disappointing result mounting, they began to play with greater urgency. Captain Ryan Yates, a player who embodies the club’s battling spirit, stepped up to drag his team back into the game. Midway through the second half, he timed his run perfectly to meet a cross, guiding a precise header into the net to level the score at 1-1. The goal came just as Forest’s top scorer, Chris Wood, was preparing to come on, and for a brief moment, there was a sense that Forest would seize control and complete the turnaround.
However, Ipswich refused to wilt. Kieran McKenna’s side, full of youthful energy and belief, defended resolutely and carried enough threat on the counter to keep Forest honest. Wood was introduced with around twenty minutes to go, but the New Zealand international found chances hard to come by against a well-organized Ipswich backline.
With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, the match drifted into extra time but the additional thirty minutes brought little in the way of drama. Both teams appeared to settle for penalties long before the final whistle, seemingly drained after a physically and emotionally exhausting evening.
The shootout itself, however, was a high-quality affair. Each of the first nine penalties was dispatched with confidence, with neither keeper able to make an impact. But with the score at 5-4 to Forest, Ipswich midfielder Jack Taylor stepped up to take his side’s fifth kick. Under pressure from a roaring City Ground crowd, Taylor’s strike lacked conviction, and Sels guessed correctly, diving to his left to make a crucial save. The Tricky Trees had survived just.
The significance of the result goes far beyond simple cup progression. For Forest, it represents a vital morale boost during a season where Premier League survival has become the primary focus. Their league form has been inconsistent at best, and the FA Cup offers a rare chance for glory and a possible trip to Wembley something that could unite the fanbase and inject belief into the squad.
For manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who only took over in December, this cup run is an opportunity to put his own stamp on the team and show that progress is being made. With the Premier League relegation battle becoming increasingly tight, having something to celebrate in the cup could relieve some of the mounting pressure on both the players and the coaching staff.
For Ipswich, meanwhile, there is heartbreak but also pride. Their performance against Premier League opposition showed once again why they are one of the most exciting sides in the Championship this season. Under McKenna’s innovative leadership, Ipswich have defied expectations, and even though they fell short in the shootout, they pushed Forest all the way. With promotion to the top flight still very much on the cards, this experience will only strengthen the team’s resolve.
Looking ahead, Forest’s reward is a quarter-final trip to Brighton & Hove Albion a tough fixture against a side known for its slick passing and attacking football. But the unpredictability of the FA Cup is what makes it so special. With a place at Wembley just one win away, Forest will travel to the south coast believing anything is possible.
For the club’s fans, steeped in FA Cup history, this run evokes memories of the club’s glory days under Brian Clough. While lifting the famous trophy may still be a distant dream, just reaching the semi-finals would represent a huge achievement for a club still trying to re-establish itself among English football’s elite.
As the final whistle blew on Monday night, relief swept around the City Ground. Forest had made it through by the narrowest of margins but in cup football, that’s all that matters. They are still standing, still fighting, and still dreaming of Wembley. For now, that is enough.
