Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo hailed penalty hero Ryan Yates as Nottingham Forest booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Nigel Doughty Academy graduate scored the winning spot-kick as the Reds triumphed 4-3 in the shootout over Brighton and Hove Albion, after the quarter-final tie finished 0-0 after extra-time. It is the first time Forest have been in the last four of the competition since 1991.
Nuno’s side are flying in the Premier League and are chasing Champions League qualification. And their special season will now continue with a trip to Wembley in the cup.
“It means a lot to all of us,” Nuno said of the moment Yates scored from the spot. “It is special for him because he has been at the club since he was a young lad and is the club captain. For him to take the final penalty to go to Wembley is remarkable.
“It means a lot. It is a huge moment for us as a club. It is a huge moment in our journey together, to have this moment to enjoy and to play football at Wembley in such a huge competition. We are delighted.
“Penalties are a lot of practice and credit to the players to keep their focus and determination. And it is also fantastic goalkeeping.
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Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Premier League and Reds fans are dreaming of a return to European competition. It has been an outstanding campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who are on course for a place in the Champions League next season. And Forest supporters can whet their appetite for a possible return to football’s top tier on the continent with our 48-page special edition celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
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“Since I joined, the first thing I noticed was the bond among the players. It is huge. The bond is the foundation for everything. We are not going to change our approach. Now we have to recover and prepare for Tuesday (against Manchester United in the league).”
Although Neco Williams missed his penalty, Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nikola Milenkovic and Yates scored from the spot. Meanwhile, Matz Sels made two big saves to keep out the hosts.
Nuno added: "We have to focus on the Premier League now. But it's going to be a beautiful moment for all of us on our journey."
What did you make of Forest's penalty shootout win over Brighton? Click HERE to have your say