Two in less than two minutes was incredible. A third was amazing. But, four? Well, that was just dream land for Nottingham Forest. Against the FA Cup holders too.
And you know what? They fully deserved it. If anything, the scoreline flattered their sorry visitors, who were sent back across the East Midlands with tails between legs, humiliated.
The Reds were rampant. They simply ripped Leicester City to shreds on another outstanding afternoon at the City Ground.
After making Arsenal look poor in the third round, Steve Cooper’s men left another Premier League opponent thoroughly embarrassed as they added to their list of scalps.
To class it as an upset would be completely wrong, though, given the gulf in desire, quality and work ethic between the two teams. Forest out-smarted, out-fought and out-played the Foxes.
The aim is to be playing these kinds of games on a more regular basis by earning a place at the top table. Just as in the last round, at the final whistle Cooper emphasised again that attention must quickly turn back to league action - that’s where the priority is this season.
But his squad should take great belief and confidence from their cup performances against top-flight heavyweights. They need to use this result as a springboard to keep the momentum going in the Championship.
After all, seeing off Leicester will count for little if Wednesday night’s trip to Blackburn Rovers results in a second consecutive league defeat.
Still, enough of the party-pooping, back to Sunday - and what a Sunday it was.
Four delightful goals, each well taken in their own right, and a whole host of outstanding individual performances. Not to mention an atmosphere which will live long in the memory.
The magic of the FA Cup is all about underdogs indulging in a spot of giant-killing. But on the banks of the Trent, the magic was in how the hosts shone.
The Reds have put in some terrific spells and picked up some impressive victories under Cooper, but this was another level. It was as complete a performance as there has been for some time.
That’s what made it so stunning - not that it came against the Foxes or that it meant progress in this famous old competition. It was magical because it was a demonstration of the potential Forest are threatening to realise.
No wonder the Cooper fist-pumps were back, after being absent following a flat second half in the last home victory, against Barnsley.
Going into the game, there was concern over the impact losing top scorer Lewis Grabban for two months would have at an important stage of the campaign.
He’s still a huge miss of course, but his absence creates opportunities for others to cease. And on this evidence, there’s also plenty of goals to come from elsewhere in the team.
Keinan Davis didn’t get one - although he came agonisingly close - but in every other way he was immense up front.
Brennan Johnson once again showed why it’s so important the club get him tied down to a new deal, with discussions expected to start again this week after previously hitting something of a stalemate.
Turning down a club record fee from Brentford in the transfer window was always a big statement of intent, and the Wales international is demonstrating how he can make the difference in a promotion push - £18million will also soon look like way off the mark for a price tag.
The partnership between Johnson and Djed Spence down the right is terrifying for opposition defences. Both players were outstanding against City; both finding the back of the net.
So was pretty much everyone in the team, perhaps an error of judgement from Brice Samba aside which led to a consolation strike the visitors didn’t deserve.
Joe Worrall proved he’s made of teak as he made an unexpected early return from broken ribs, less than a month after he sustained them, and got on the scoresheet.
Philip Zinckernagel got into plenty of promising positions and had set the ball rolling with the opener, James Garner gave another midfield masterclass and Scott McKenna was back to his usual reliable self after the anomaly of Cardiff.
So many players are flourishing under Cooper. So much promise is coming to fruition, with the hope of more to come.
All being well, there should be more special days like this one at the City Ground in the next few months, more occasions when Depeche Mode booms around the stadium.
Forest showed what they are really capable of in front of a sold-out crowd and a live TV audience, gaining plenty of new admirers as they did so.
Now they just have to keep that going.
