Nottingham Forest beat Exeter City on penalties in a frustrating FA Cup performance that gave worrying signs about Forest’s depth, despite their Premier League quality shining through. George Edwards was at the match
“Exeter , St James' Park – geograph.org.uk – 7413634” by Lewis Clarke is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 
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Exeter City’s application and approach was a reality check to Nottingham Forest’s progression of late. Forest were the big boys, the Hollywood tie, welcomed with genuine respect and a ferocious atmosphere, primed for an upset.
While the performance might have been a backward step, with Forest only just staggering over the line, the magnitude of the occasion has prominence — Forest have made it to the elite table of English football.
On the pitch, Forest struggled but progressed via a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in normal time, with goals from Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi, before Neco Williams’ secured Forest’s fifth round status from the spot.
Here are three takeaways from the eventual victory:
Premier League class shone through
It may have taken until the penalty shootout, but by the end, Forest’s Premier League quality was evident.
You might have wondered which was the side in England’s top tier as the match drew to a close — a real testament both to the FA Cup and the English football pyramid.
But when it came down to the defining moments, the gulf in class was stark. Forest, despite losing the toss, approached with confidence, with every player knowing their position in the queue, primed to step up when required.
Four elite penalties followed from the Reds, intertwined with the usual Matz Sels brilliance, of which we’ve become so accustomed to.
Contrasted with the hosts’ nervous spot kicks, Forest excelled, not for the first time in this situation. Since Covid, they’ve participated in five penalty shootouts, from the playoffs to both cups, only losing to fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United.
A professional job by the end then, even if that wasn’t what came before…
A disjointed performance in playing time
There wasn’t a huge amount of pressure on either side, progression a welcome bonus for both teams. Yes, Forest were favourites, but their league campaign means everything must be put into that basket, despite the potential shot at silverware given the teams that have already fallen.
Being the Premier League outfit, the highest-ranked team left in the competition, Forest were always likely to dominate possession, going against the natural grain of their play under Nuno.
Positives can be drawn from the fact they relished that, and weren’t afraid to take the game to Exeter, particularly after going a goal behind early on. They asserted their status, were patient on the ball and crafted control until half-time, with two wonderfully taken goals set up majestically by Ibrahim Sangaré.
However, their quality was lacking throughout. It was apparent that the usual chemistry associated with their starting players was lacking, and casualness crept into their play as the night progressed.
Aerially they faltered, barely winning a ball in either box, or anywhere in between, for that matter. The little and large defensive partnership of Willy Boly and Harry Toffolo didn’t aid this, neither the amount of needless and soft fouls conceded, allowing Exeter chances to cross — just what they wanted.
Out wide, Forest just had nothing. Jota Silva’s lack of support to Eric da Silva Moreria created nothing down the right, and their seeming reluctance to go down the left saw Ramon Sosa isolated unless he drifted infield, until the cavalry came from the bench.
Once Exeter went down to 10 men, Forest still didn’t capture the eye, the inevitable penalty shootout ending a rather stagnant 120 minutes of play from a Reds perspective, one that will very quickly be erased from the memory.
The starting XI is settled
Upon his appointment, Nuno seemed to be tinkering every week in a hunt to find his best XI, never appearing 100% happy with what he saw on the pitch.
Following this season’s form and last night’s display, there’s now little doubt as to Forest’s strongest lineup.
Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White’s introduction to the action proved the flair and fire they both provide, instantly upping the attacking intensity, albeit in vain.
All over the field, it was clear there was something missing from the norm. Carlos Miguel’s cut-short evening was one to forget, and his blunders are something you could not imagine Sels doing at this moment.
Ahead of him, the usual defensive bullishness and attacking fluidity was diminished, as the Reds only mustered 12 shots on target across the match.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s turn and strike was quite marvellous, capitalising on a rare bit of space allowed to him by the Grecians’ defence. He was never going to come for Chris Wood’s place, but his involvement from the bench in the run will be vital; the diagnosis of a broken nose following nasty-looking injury is perhaps not as worrying as first thought.
Extra time and penalties would be exactly what Saturday’s opponents Fulham would have been rooting for, and exactly what Forest would have intended to avoid.
And should Forest achieve their European dream, questions will inevitably arise as to whether the squad has what it takes to be thoroughly rotated, given last night’s performance and the lack of depth in certain positions.
But on the night, Forest got the job done. No matter how ugly or how undeserved, they did enough to progress, and that’s enough for me.
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