Nottingham Forest managed to secure a place in the next round of the FA Cup after an intense match against Exeter City at St James Park, which ended in a 2-2 draw before Forest triumphed 4-2 on penalties. The match showcased the resilience of both teams, with Forest, currently third in the Premier League, facing a spirited challenge from League One side Exeter.

Exeter got off to a flying start, with Josh Magennis scoring twice to give the Grecians an early lead and then equalizing shortly after halftime. However, Nottingham Forest responded effectively, with goals from Ramón Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi, who left the game on a stretcher after a late injury. The match saw Exeter's Ed Turns receive a red card late in the second half, impacting their ability to hold off Forest's advances, yet they still pushed the game into extra time.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Exeter held strong during extra time, but it was Nottingham Forest who eventually took control in the penalty shootout. Key contributions came from Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Elliot Anderson, who all converted their penalties, while Matz Sels played a crucial role by saving one attempt from Exeter's Reece Cole. Forest's victory now sets them up for a fifth-round encounter against Ipswich Town, continuing their FA Cup journey amidst a busy schedule.