Nottinham Forest need penalties to edge past Exeter City

Updated: Feb 11, 2025, 06:36 pm
Nottingham Forest booked their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a win over Exeter City on penalties.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest struggled past 10-man Exeter City 4-2 on penalties to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup after being held 2-2 by their third tier opponents.

Forest, who had started the night with a second-string side at St. James Park, will now host top flight rivals Ipswich Town in the fifth round in March.

The lowest-ranked club left in the competition gave the third-placed top flight side a tough time -- taking a fifth-minute lead before going 2-1 down and then fighting back to end the second half level.

Exeter's Ed Turns was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for a high challenge on second-half substitute Morgan Gibbs-White.

Forest, who made 10 changes to the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion 7-0 in their previous Premier League match, had Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi treated on the pitch and taken off on a stretcher in second half stoppage time.