That’s all from me. Thanks for reading and for your emails suggestions for 1950s footballer names.
Commiserations to Ipswich and congrats to Forest, who face a trip to Brighton for their quarter-final. The south-coast club will have a score to settle after getting pumped 7-0 by Forest last month.
Cheers!
Will Unwin's match report from the City Ground
Nuno Espírito Santo is next to talk to the cameras!
The crowd helped our players in the penalties. They helped to distract [Ipswich]. First half was flat, but we competed well. I’m really happy that the boys achieved the win. The FA Cup is a competition that we love.
The FA Cup quarter-final line-up is complete. Here are the ties, to be played over the weekend of 28-30 March:
Bournemouth v Manchester City
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Preston v Aston Villa
Matz Sels, Forest’s goalkeeper and penalty hero, speaks to the cameras!
I’m happy I could help the team. It was the only penalty I was in the right corner! The game was not so good, but we’ve got a big game next. The Cup is something really nice, we could be in the final.
Forest are absolutely delighted, and who can blame them! The second shootout they have won in this year’s FA Cup! The City Ground erupts!
Nuno sprints from the dugout with the widest grin on his face as he rushes to embrace his players, even giving Ola Aina a piggy back! Ha!
Updated
Forest are through! Full-time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town (5-4 pens)
Jack Taylor is the unlucky Ipswich player! Sels dives to his left and saves the crucial penalty!
Updated
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 5-4 Ipswich Town
Hudson-Odoi sends another one into the side netting. That means Ipswich must score their next kick to stay in the shootout!
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 4-4 Ipswich Town
Johnson does the same, booting one into the top corner! No chance for Sels.
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 4-3 Ipswich Town
Top bins from Williams, who scored the winning penalty in the last round at Exeter!
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 3-3 Ipswich Town
Cajuste hasn’t scored for Ipswich in normal play, but keeps his cool and calmly sidefoots an equaliser in this shootout.
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 3-2 Ipswich Town
Anderson’s run up sort of gives away where he is going to put the penalty … Palmer guesses right … but the shot is simply too powerful and well placed. Forest lead 3-2!
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Ipswich Town
Never in doubt. Liam Delap smashes one into the side netting. Quality penalty.
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Ipswich Town
Gibbs-White takes his time … and has a stuttering run up … before curling the ball into the corner.
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town
Morsy responds, sending Sels the wrong way. All square after one each.
Penalty shootout score: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town
Chris Wood scores, powering his shot to the left. Palmer guessed right but it was too hard.
The penalties will be taken at the Trent End, in front of the Forest supporters. Forest will also have the first kick. Chris Wood will take it.
As both teams get their breath before the spot kicks, just about time for some more 1950s footballer names.
“Surely we need look no further than Nathan Broadhead?” notes James Humphries. “I can absolutely see him partnered up with Sam Littlefoot in a swashbuckling 50s provincial team. Also as one half of a private detective duo, which makes me realise how many mid-c20th English footballers had names that are perfect for hardboiled private eyes. Dixie Dean, Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse (“my friends call me shorty”).”
“As far as modern players that have names straight off a 1950’s teamsheet, nothing tops Danish legend and, somehow, ex-Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite,” adds Kári Tulinius. “It’s surprising he didn’t have a namesake in the Stanley Matthews Final”.
End of extra-time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town. To penalties we go!
A prize of an FA Cup quarter-final at Brighton to the victors!
Updated
120 min: One minute added. This has been an extra time desperately short on quality. Anderson curls a corner straight out, as if to prove my point.
118 min: Yates is very lucky not to get a red card! Already on a yellow, Yates is guilty of a fairly blatant handball, right in front of the referee. And while it is a free kick, the Forest captain escapes another caution. Morsy is not happy to say the least.
117 min: Murillo pings another goalbound shot at goal … blocked by Yates, a Forest player!
116 min: Just on, Jota Silva drags one wide from the edge of Ipswich’s penalty area after another nice pull back from Hudson-Odoi. Jota’s shot had a chance as it squirted through a host of Ipswich legs. That’s the closest Forest have come in extra time!
114 min: Murillo is down after taking one in the ribs from a O’Shea elbow. But after some brief concern from the Forest bench, the Brazilian is going to be OK to continue.
112 min: Forest make their final change: Elanga off, Jota on.
Penalty shout for Ipswich!
110 min: Delap has to do it all on his own as he collects the ball in his own half. But the Ipswich striker turns, knocks it past Morato and strides forward at goal. Just as Delap enters the penalty area, he falls over the challenge of Murillo, but despite appeals, the referee waves play on! Replays show it to be a good decision.
Updated
109 min: Forest’s subs have certainly made a difference. Williams whips a really dangerous cross in from the left but Wood is nowhere to be seen at the near post.
107 min: “The names Higginbotham, Danny Higginbotham – my favourite 50’s throwback name,” emails Justin Kavanagh. “He analyses (very well) now on USA TV and it always gives me a chuckle as to how his American anchors always pronounce his second name very precisely. He must have spent quite some time coaching them to avoid arsing it up when he joined up”.
Peeeeeeeep!
We’re underway again. It’s worth noting that Forest were taken all the way in the last round at Exeter City. This is not how Nuno would have drawn things up. But it’s certainly better than getting beat 1-0.
Half-time in extra-time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town
Fifteen minutes to penalties, although both teams will be hoping to finish this off before then. Forest are pretty much at full strength though. At home, they are definitely the ones that are more likely to find a winner.
105 min: Gibbs-White is having a growing influence on proceedings. He is starting to dictate play with his passing and dribbling and tries a long-range shot, but it flies high and wide.
104 min: Hudson-Odoi picks up a loose ball and curls one five yards wide. Wood tried in vain to get his head on the shot as the New Zealander attempted to get a deflection on the effort.
102 min: Wood has had previous little to feed off since coming on, but gets a half chance here, as he connects with a Gibbs-White cross. His header, though, sails hopelessly wide.
100 min: “If you’re willing to leave the UK for your 50’s-named footballers, then the current Dutch international Kenneth Taylor is definitely one,” emails Andy Flintoff (not that one). “Bonus points for the fact that he shares his name with an actual 50s footballer/cricketer (who played for Huddersfield and Yorkshire).”
98 min: Delap wins a free-kick right on the edge of Forest’s box, but Townsend clips a shot straight into the bowels of Sels. A real chance, wasted.
96 min: Ipswich will be pleased with how they survived that Forest onslaught after the goal. Feels like a much more even game now, especially with Delap and Jack Clarke now looking lively. The latter is caught by Yates in midfield. A yellow card for the Forest captain.
94 min: Morsy flashes just wide as he tries a trivela shot with the outside of his boot. Jack Clarke had found some room on the left wing and cut the ball back to the Egyptian international.
92 min: “Was just pondering to myself, is there any modern player with a more “1950s football legend” name than George Hirst?” asks Ed Bogle.
Edward Bogle is quite 1950s. As is Jack Clarke. Tom Taylor. Jacob Greaves. Alexander Palmer, maybe.
Updated
Peeeeeeep!
Into extra-time we go.
“I know it’s a long way to go and a very long shot, but the merest hint of Ipswich going all the way makes me think of Wigan 2013: win the cup, get relegated,” emails Simon Dahlman (“formerly a resident of Wigan, now back in my native USA”).
End of 90 minutes: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town
We will go to extra-time!
90+4 min: Forest are politely probing for a winner but without the blood and thunder of a few minutes ago. Delap fouls Yates in midfield and Forest have a dangerous free kick … which comes to nothing.
90+2 min: Ipswich bring on Liam Delap (son of Rory) for George Hirst (son of David), Ipswich’s goalscorer. A lot of attention has been on England players tonight, with Thomas Tuchel in the stands. But Scotland manager Steve Clarke is also in attendance, and he is reportedly keeping an eye on Hirst, who is uncapped but qualifies for Scotland through a maternal grandparent.
90 min: Six minutes added on here for injury time. Morsy is booked for dissent for something he said to the referee upon the restart, as Greaves and Yates return to the pitch.
88 min: A stoppage in play as Yates collides with Greaves inside Ipswich’s penalty box. Greaves looks like he’s got a nosebleed from the collision but both players look like they are OK to continue.
86 min: Good chance for Jack Clarke on a rare foray forward for Ipswich. Taylor won his header, the ball broke to Hirst. The striker fluffed his line, mis-kicking a volley, but it also put the Forest defenders on their arse. Clarke collected the loose ball, but dawdled on the ball, and could only toe-poke a disappointing effort wide. Kieran McKenna, Ipswich’s manager, shows a rare display of emotion as he stamps his foot in frustration in the away dugout.
85 min: Should say there was a couple of Forest subs shortly before that chance: Chris Wood for Taiwo Awoniyi and Neco Williams is on for Alex Moreno. Two more straight swaps.
FOREST HIT THE BAR!
83 min: From the resulting corner, Forest take it short to Hudson-Odoi, who turns nicely inside Clarke and curls a shot towards the top corner … which just clips the top of the bar and over!
Updated
82 min: Murillo, foot like a traction engine, absolutely thwacks an effort from 30 yards out. The ball swerves, swirls and dips in the air, and Palmer does well to tip it over. Good save, good shot. The Brazilian knows how to kick a football.
80 min: “Has Yates shown enough in this game to impress Tuchel enough to include him in the England squad?” asks Gary Stover.
Nope. Ipswich keeper Palmer on the other hand?
78 min: Forest substitute Anderson is booked for delaying the quick taking of an Ipswich free kick. Morsy just booted the ball into the nearest red shirt.
GOAL DISALLOWED FOR FOREST!
For the second time tonight, Yates has the ball in the net for Forest after a game of head tennis in Ipswich’s box! But the visitors held their line nicely and Forest’s captain was indeed offside. We do have VAR tonight, by the way.
Updated
74 min: It’s all Forest now. Ipswich hanging on a bit. I should point out a rather prophetic email I received, from Kári Tulinius, just before Ipswich conceded.
“When I see Ipswich perform like this, it feels confusing that they’re probably going to get relegated. On the other hand, I’ve had that feeling many times this season, only for the Tractor Boys to drive into a ditch”.
72 min: Forest roar forward again! Elanga gets to the byline, cuts the ball back and Awoniyi misses a relatively simple chance at the near post. Rather than glance a finish with his right, the Nigerian tries a backheel but only succeeds into flicking a shot into his standing leg!
70 min: Ipswich again fail to hold onto a lead! That has also been their curse in the Premier League.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich (Yates 68)
What a stinger for Ipswich! Forest have barely threatened this second half but win the second ball after a set-piece. Elanga digs out a hopeful cross with his weaker left foot and Yates is perfectly positioned between the giant Ipswich centre backs to head home from five yards out! Palmer had no time to reach and Forest are level!
Updated
67 min: Ipswich make two changes: Cajuste and Jack Clarke on for Broadhead and Luongo, who was booked in the first half. Straight swaps.
65 min: Forest growing frustrated as passes go astray. The home crowd are tetchy, too, adding to the tension.
63 min: If Ipswich win this – which is still a big if with a third of the game left – then do they go for it (in terms of selecting a strongest XI) in the next round? Surely, yes?
61 min: “Re your comment about Ipswich’s back three having ‘Plenty of physicality, not a lot of pace’ - Dara O’Shea clocked the eighth fastest sprint in the Premier League last season at 36.73km/h, so no clearly no slouch,” emails Marcos Garcia.
I stand corrected and have just looked up the rest of the top 10! O’Shea sprinted faster than Antony Gordon!
59 min: Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has seen enough. He’s bringing on the cavalry. Gibbs-White and Anderson are on for Sangare and Danilo.
57 min: Yellow card for Morato, who slides in on Broadhead and catches the Ipswich player with his follow through.
56 min: Absolutely abysmal marking for the goal. Hirst, hardly inconspicuous at 6ft3in, had the easiest job after peeling off at the back stick.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Ipswich Town (Hirst 54)
Ipswich lead! Morsy pings one from range, with Sels just tipping over for an Ipswich corner, from which the delivery is swung towards the back post. Completely unmarked, Hirst nods easily past Sels! Wow!
Updated
52 min: Great opportunity for Broadhead as the ball lands kindly for the Welshman on his right foot … and the forward completely miskicks the ball.
50 min: Great save from Palmer to deny Elanga! Forest had scampered away on one of their textbook counter-attacks with sprinting clear of Luongo. Hudson Odoi squared the ball to Elanga on the edge of Ipswich’s box, and the Sweden international shot fiercely through a crowd of bodies but Palmer got down expertly well to his right with a strong hand. Good save.
47 min: Lively start from Ipswich! They win a succession of 50/50s in midfield and Johnson whips a dangerous cross towards Hirst. The away fans, now behind the goal that Ipswich are kicking towards, give a roar of approval.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
Ipswich make two changes: Greaves on for Burgess, who looked like he was struggling with an injury in those last few minutes. Also, O’Shea on for Tuanzebe. That second one looks like a tactical switch.
That means Ipswich’s back three are O’Shea, Woolfenden and Greaves. Plenty of physicality, not a lot of pace. Hudson-Odoi, Elanga and Awoniyi will be interested.
Updated
Half-time reading:
Some tea-related pics.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Ipswich Town
My wife, sitting next to me, says “it feels like there should be a goal”. More hot takes when we have them.
45 min: One minute added on. Then we can all go and have a cup of tea and reset. Do players still drink tea in dressing rooms?
44 min: “It’s rather refreshing to see these clubs in their straightforward red and white and blue and white home strips,” emails Richard Rae. “Like watching a match between two of my 1970s Subbuteo teams”.
42 min: Ipswich’s Burgess looks like he’s struggling slightly after tangling with Awoniyi. The centre-back is limping but trying to run it off.
40 min: It’s all Forest, as half-time approaches. Another corner, another clearance. This is not exactly Total Football.
38 min: Sangare is next to try his luck from range for Forest after more good work from Hudson Odoi down the right. But the Ivorian curls one waywardly into the away fans behind Ipswich’s goal.
35 min: Danilo crashes a shot at goal, after Forest get to the byline once again, but Woolfenden is there to block and clear. I think Palmer would have got down to the shot OK, had his defender not already made the interception.
33 min: Not sure if we can continue to call Ola Aina underrated anymore, given that he plays for a team that are third in the Premier League. But the London-born Nigeria international is such a good player.
Updated
31 min: The final ball is lacking for both teams, who are quite obviously both missing their chief creators/talismen.
29 min: Elanga continues to be Forest’s brightest spark going forward. He’s having a right good go on that left flank against Ipswich defender Tuanzebe, a former Manchester United teammate of course.
27 min: Ipswich’s Luongo, on a yellow card remember, goes charging into a tackle with Hudson Odoi. The Australian wins the ball but I would suggest he was just a Hudson Odoi toe poke away from being sent off there. And in such a frivolous part of the pitch, too.
25 min: Ipswich pop it about nicely for the first time in the match, before Luongo boots the ball out for a goal kick in trying to find Johnson on the right.
23 min: Ipswich are nearly undone by a long ball as Awoniyi wins a foot race with Woolfenden. Awoniyi has support from Elanga, who blazes high and wide when he had Danilo screaming for the ball to his right.
21 min: “Re Jeremy Boyce’s email, writes Mark Hooper, “it looks like Forest have finally agreed with Nottingham council to remain at the City Ground and improve the stands rather than relocating, which is great news … EXCEPT it means Nottingham Rowing Club will need to relocate their boathouses instead. Not too far and paid for by Forest, but there’s not many better feelings than standing on the pontoons on a summer afternoon before a game watching the rowing boats go by (Murillo backheels notwithstanding).”
18 min: Right on cue, Forest press high and a loose pass from Palmer so nearly allows Elanga a free shot on goal! Ipswich got away with one there.
16 min: Booking for Luongo, who was playing for Ipswich in League One two years ago and who trips Hudson-Odoi in a dangerous area for Forest. From the free-kick, Palmer does well to punch clear. The English goalkeeper has made an assured start in front of Thomas Tuchel, dealing with several tricky balls into his box (including a couple of dodgy backpasses).
14 min: Ipswich made eight changes from last Wednesday’s defeat at Manchester United and I can’t say I am overly impressed by the standard of their second XI here. Cue a 3-0 away win and egg all over my face.
12 min: Elanga is causing all sorts of bother with his pace, and Woolfenden does well to hoof the ball away for another Forest corner. But from the set-piece, it’s a poor delivery that doesn’t beat the first man.
9 min: Forest go close! From a corner, Sangaré glances a head just past Palmer’s far post. The home side had applies good pressure there, with Murillo showing fancy feet to set up an Elanga cross which led to the corner.
6 min: A round of applause for Forest fan, Sam Perkins, who died last month. Here is some context, with Forest releasing a statement over the weekend.
Nottingham Forest Football Club was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Sam Perkins, on Sunday, 9th February 2025 at the age of 43, following a courageous battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Sam was not only a cherished member of the Forest family but also an inspiring figure whose strength and resilience in the face of adversity touched the lives of everyone around him.
After his diagnosis in 2019, Sam took it upon himself to raise awareness and funds for MND, establishing the Stand Against MND charity. Through his tireless efforts, he raised an incredible £320,000, which will continue to support vital research into this devastating condition.
Throughout his illness, Sam remained a constant presence at the City Ground, never allowing his condition to overshadow his passion for the club and his unwavering support. His spirit, kindness, and determination will forever be remembered by all who knew him.
As we mourn the loss of Sam, we also celebrate his extraordinary legacy—one defined by his bravery, generosity, and commitment to making a difference.
In tribute to Sam’s life and his fight, we invite all supporters to join us in a minute’s applause during the 6th minute of Monday’s match against Ipswich Town, symbolising the six years he faced MND with unyielding courage.
If you wish to donate to Stand Against MND in Sam’s legacy, click here.
5 min: Townsend crosses nicely for Ipswich, where Broadhead is waiting. The Ipswich forward gets a neat flick on but Sels collects. It would have had more of a chance if that was a flick on towards the far post.
4 min: “If that picture was pulled back just a little bit, it would include Meadow Lane, just across the Trent, Notts County’s home ground,” emails Joe Pearson. “Two of the closest stadiums in English football”.
Correct, Joe. And here is the picture to prove it.
2 min: A scrappy start. Ipswich press high and win the ball before Morsy lumps an aimless cross into the Forest box, where no teammate is waiting.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeep!
We’re off in Nottingham.
The teams are out! Red against blue. The City Ground, under the lights, rarely disappoints. Let’s have a few goals, shall we.
Some FA Cup-related news, right here.
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town, speaks to the cameras:
A few changes. A lot of the boys did well in the last round against Coventry. Palace away [on Saturday] is a really big one and we have a competitive squad. We picked a side tonight who you think will compete with a strong Forest side.
There’s only nine teams left. Everyone sees this as an opportunity. We know who is next in the draw [Brighton].
Updated
Another email, this time from Andrew Goudie.
“Looking at the teams remaining in this year’s competition reminded me of JL Carr’s excellent book ‘How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F.A. Cup’. If you haven’t read it, you have a treat in store. Surely there is no finer football-related novel?”
I would argue that Steve Bruce’s Striker would take some beating, but I have not read Steeple Sinderby Wanderers’ epic, so who am I to judge? However, just in these past five minutes, I have read this piece on another book by JL Carr, so I can at least vouch for this article.
Our FA Cup-flavoured Football Daily, for your reading pleasure.
“Nice aerial photo of the Clough Arena, thanks and isn’t it great to see so many top level sports all within walking distance?” notes Jeremy Boyce, via email. “As an ex-oarsman/rower I have to point out that you totally overlooked the the boathouses of Nottingham Rowing Club and their jetties/pontoons between the City Ground and the Trent Bridge itself. The Trent is a hothouse of top-level rowing and not far from the national rowing centre at Holme Pierrepont. Our rowers, unlike our footballers, consistently win World Championships, Olympics and anything else going, so I think they deserve mention. Interesting match up tonight, recently promoted side doing well versus recently-promoted side suffering a big reality check. I suspect they will both take it seriously, chance for glory, chance for salvation. 2-1 to Ipswich but relegated all the same.”
A great email, Jeremy, thanks! I was completely ignorant to the Trent’s reputation for rowing. Although I have to disagree with your prediction. Hard to look past Forest tonight, especially with those line-ups.
Will Unwin, our correspondent at the City Ground tonight, has been in touch to say he’s been reliably informed that England manager Thomas Tuchel is in attendance tonight (with his first game less than three weeks away). The bad news for Tuchel is that Morgan Gibbs-White and Liam Delap are both on their side’s respective benches.
Could Alex Palmer wiggle his way into being Tuchel’s third-choice keeper? He’s certainly got an outside chance, given recent performances.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is possibly the only person who could make the squad, although you might remember that he and TT fell out at Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest have, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White aside, named a strong side. Ipswich have not, with manager Kieran McKenna obviously (and sadly) prioritising Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
The teams!
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Morato, Alex, Danilo, Sangare, Elanga, Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi.
Subs: Hennessey, Williams, Anderson, Wood, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Jota Silva, Sosa, Boly.
Ipswich: Palmer, Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Burgess, Johnson, Jack Taylor, Morsy, Luongo, Townsend, Hirst, Broadhead.
Subs: Muric, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Cajuste, Philogene-Bidace, Clarke, Delap, Tom Taylor.
Preamble
Cynics that believe in revenue and overheads and boring, financially-sensible things like that would say that both Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town need a run deep into the FA Cup like a hole in the head. But there’s Champions League qualification/Premier League survival to fight for, one might hear a chief executive shout, somewhere.
Those that believe in glory and winning-at-all-costs and silverware and making trophy-starved fans happy might beg to differ. Margaret Thatcher was still prime minister when Nottingham Forest last won a major trophy (the 1990 League Cup) 35 years ago. Ipswich haven’t won a thing since 1992, the Football League Second Division title, and not a major trophy since the 1980–81 Uefa Cup.
Even with the league season approaching the home straight, an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Brighton remains a tantalising prize for the victor of tonight’s last-16 tie, and this is a winnable game for both teams, although Forest are of course the favourites.
What’s more, with so many so-called bigger clubs already eliminated from this season’s competition, winning the whole damn thing – the FA Cup, just imagine! – is a realistic and overwhelming prospect!
Let’s hope both sides go for it.
Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT
