Nottingham Forest booked an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Brighton after a penalty shootout win over Ipswich.
Keeper Matz Sels was the hero, saving Jack Taylor’s low effort as the hosts went through 5-4 on spot-kicks after Ryan Yates had cancelled out visiting striker George Hirst’s opener to force extra time.
Watching England manager Thomas Tuchel – preparing for his first squad announcement next week before World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia – may not have gleaned much from a dull game, which struggled to get going until the second half.
Taylor’s miss was the only one in the shootout, with the midfielder having also missed a penalty when Ipswich were upset by League Two AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup in similar fashion back in August.
Nottingham also beat League One Exeter 4-2 in a shootout in the fourth round and victory continues their sensational season.
Their attention now turns to the Premier League and securing Champions League qualification. Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-placed side host Manchester City on Saturday, with the reigning champions just a point behind in fourth spot, and a cluster of clubs chasing both of them.
“Every FA Cup draw we have to practice penalties,” said Nuno. “We kept the same order as Exeter.
“We did really well, they were good penalties. I believe it makes part of the game preparations. It’s dedication.
“It’s not nice [to watch] at all, anxiety, nervous, a mixture of emotions. I try not to watch and just wait for the noise.”
While playing in next season’s Champions League is a dream, the FA Cup offers Forest a chance of a trophy and their first win in the competition since 1959.
They were marginally the better side as Ipswich, third bottom in the league, are now left to focus solely on their battle for survival.
With the last-eight draw providing a trip to Brighton, Kieran McKenna’s side had hoped to add to their 1978 triumph despite their league woes, and claimed the opener at the City Ground.
The tie was brought to life eight minutes after the break when Sels tipped Sam Morsy’s shot over and, from the resulting Ben Johnson corner, Hirst stooped to head in his third goal of the season.
It came in front of Scotland boss Steve Clarke with the uncapped forward eligible via his grandfather.
Ipswich’s lead lasted just 15 minutes, though, as Yates levelled with a close-range header from Anthony Elanga’s lovely cross.
The Nottingham skipper, who has spoken about his hopes for an England call-up, had a second disallowed for offside as his side poured forward.
Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the bar for the hosts, but extra time came and went with Sels’ save decisive and sending Nottingham through.
