Nottingham Forest defeated Brighton on penalties to reach the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1991.
The Reds are back at the famous stadium after three years away following a third successive penalty shootout win in this competition.
Ryan Yates scored the winning spot-kick to send the away fans into delirium as the Reds joined Crystal Palace in setting up a Wembley date.
Forest are third in the Premier League and now into the last four of the FA Cup and their sights are now firmly on silverware this season.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Gary Lineker makes surprise Nottingham Forest claim
Lineker has already called himself an idiot this season after predicting Forest to get relegated before a ball had been kicked in 2024/25.
After yesterday’s game, he asked Theo Walcott about the Forest energy levels going into Tuesday’s big game at the City Ground against Manchester United.
Walcott told BBC Sport: “Look, they’re going to Wembley they’ll have plenty of energy. Look, this team are young, they are so spritely at this moment in time and this will jus breathe more energy into the season. If you felt at the start of this season that Forest will be third and in the semi-final of the FA Cup, lots would have had them going down!”
Lineker surprisingly agreed, taking his Leicester cap off and explaining that English football needs the Forest story.
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He added: “It really is an extraordinary tale, Forest, and it’s refreshing, I think for football in this country. I know we had the Leicester thing in 2016 but generally it’s always the same people who are up at the top but it’s nice to see.”
Forest can now go all the way in the FA Cup
Forest needed VAR in 1991 as Paul Gascoigne produced two red card tackles but never received one from Roger Milford, the match referee.
Now, in 2025, Forest have a golden chance to get involved with the winning of silverware, with Manchester City the only big six team remaining in the competition.
Nuno Espirito Santo is proud of what Forest are doing this season and the good form needs to continue for a little while longer.
The Reds are tantalisingly close to securing Champions League football and it’s important that this win is celebrated and then parked ready for Tuesday night.
Forest have the belief in every game they play these days and hopefully, this can now become a truly memorable campaign for the Reds.