Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest LIVE SCORE: Grecians draw level in THRILLING FA Cup clash – latest
EXETER CITY are level with Premier League Nottingham Forest
Josh Magennis gave the League One side the lead inside five minutes but Ramon Sosa equalised before Taiwo Awoniyi bent in a smart second.
Magennis then equalised after a scramble from a corner - the winner of the game will host Ipswich Town in the fifth round.
Elsewhere Manchester United will host Premier League rivals Fulham at Old Trafford, while Manchester City welcome fourth round giant killers Plymouth Argyle to the Etihad.
Newcastle take on Brighton in a blockbuster all-Prem clash at St James' Park.
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RED CARD - Exeter (Ed Turns)
A wild high tackle from debutant Ed Turns on Morgan Gibbs-White - and you don't get away with those these days.
Straight red card and after a fantastic effort, the Grecians now facing an uphill battle to get anything from this game.
Latest score - Exeter 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Still level in Devon, with extra time looming as we head into the last 20 minutes.
Should it go to penalties, Forest keeper Carlos Miguel won't be the hero as he's been forced off by injury.
A night to forget for the Brazilian. Morgan Gibbs-White coming off the bench for Forest, who have been right off it since the break.
Credit: PA GOAL! Exeter 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Put this keeper under pressure and he'll buckle.
That seems to have been the message at halftime from the Exeter management.
An early corner is not dealt with by Forest, with Magennis smashing in on the rebound. Game on.
From Justin Allen at St James' Park
Looking pretty comfortable for Nuno Santo's men as they trudge off at St James Park 2-1 up after coming behind from that early scare.
The second goal - a lovely strike from Taiwo Awoniyo - has put Forest deservedly in charge.
The League One side are too passive defensively and need to get more in their Premier League opponents' faces if they are to stand a chance of getting back into this FA Cup tie.
HALF-TIME - Exeter 1-2 Nottingham Forest
It was a dream start for the League One side.
But Forest have since settled into the game and lead thanks to two well-taken strikes.
Gary Caldwell's men have shown plenty of endeavour but face an uphill task after the break.
Credit: AFP GOAL! Exeter 1-2 Nottingham Forest
What a goal that is.
Awoniyi picks up the ball 20 yards out and surrounded by defenders.
The Forest forward takes three men out the game with one touch - before smashing into the opposite corner.
From Justin Allen at St James Park
Well, we were wondering if there could be a second Premier League giant slaying here in Devon when Exeter moved in front through Josh Magennis.
The Grecians' bitter rivals Plymouth stunned Liverpool on Sunday and home fans were dreaming.
But Roman Sosa showed great quality to get past a couple of tackles before neatly slotting past keeper Joe Whitworth.
The goal has quietened the crowd down which is music to the ears of Forest - but still lots of work to do.
Exeter celebrations
The lead might not have lasted more than 10 minutes.
But St James' Park didn't half enjoy that opener from Josh McGennis.
Still plenty of time for the home side to carve out a shock down in Devon.
Credit: PA GOAL! Exeter 1-1 Nottingham Forest
A strong response from the Prem side.
And they're back level, with Sosa scrambling in a scrappy equaliser.
GOAL! Exeter 1-0 Nottingham Forest
The magic of the cup is alive.
A shocker from Forest keeper Carlos Miguel, who spills a routine cross into the path of Josh Magennis.
The Northern Irish forward smashes into the top corner - and the roof comes off at St James' Park.
Exeter vs Nottingham Forest underway
Kick-off under the lights at St James Park, where there's a febrile, old-fashioned cup atmosphere in this famous old stadium.
A real test for the Premier League side this one - Nuno has made 10 changes in all with Ipswich waiting in the fifth round.
Credit: PA Nott an easy task
Forest begin tonight's clash in the unusual position of being the highest-ranked team left in the competition.
Exeter boss Caldwell said: "It's a Premier League team that's doing extremely well.
";They are really surprising people this year with how high they are up the table, pushing for a Champions League place.
"We know how difficult a task this is going to be. We're really excited and really looking forward to it."
Credit: Getty Giant-killing inbound?
League One side Exeter have won just one of their last 9 games across all competitions.
That was in the third round last month against Oxford United.
And boss Gary Caldwell has drilled a sense of "Why not us?" into his players before KO.
Here's how they lineup for tonight's clash under the lights...
Exeter XI: Whitworth, Niskanen, McMillan, McDonald, Turns, Harper, Richards, Francis, Mitchell, Trevitt, Magennis.
Credit: PA Cup for it
Forest's last FA Cup triumph came way back in 1959.
But you get the feeling this impressively drilled team is well-suited to tournament football.
Here's how Forest line up, with Nuno ringing the changes. A dangerous game - just ask Liverpool...
Gibbs-White, Wood, and Elanga are all named among the subs.
Forest XI: Carlos Miguel, Danilo, Boly, Sangare, Toffolo, da Silva, Moreno, Sosa, Yates, Jota Silva, Awoniyi.
Credit: AFP Team news imminent
The two teamsheets are almost in for our final FA Cup tie of the fourth round.
Will Nuno Santo ring the changes for high-flying Forest, despite Liverpool's humbling just down the road in Plymouth on Sunday?
We'll soon find out - the City players got a rousing reception arriving ahead of a full house at St James' Park.
Credit: AFP
Draw in full
Just in case you've been living under a rock since yesterday, here's how the ties came out of the hat.
We've one more tie to come tonight, with Forest making the long trek down to Exeter.
- Preston North End vs Burnley
- Aston Villa vs Cardiff City
- Crystal Palace vs Millwall
- Manchester United vs Fulham
- Newcastle vs Brighton
- Bournemouth vs Wolves
- Manchester City vs Plymouth
- Exeter City/Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town
Credit: Getty Eyes on the prize
Plymouth Argyle were the big story of round four, knocking out Premier Leaguer leaders Liverpool at Home Park.
The Pilgrims have been rewarded with a lucrative trip to face Man City.
Asked how much the tie could generate for the club, Chairman Simon Hallett told the BBC: "We've yet to work out the exact figures, but I am going to say it's going to be somewhere between £600,000 and £1million.
"When we played Liverpool eight years ago Anfield had a capacity of just over 50,000 - we made about £700,000.
"So I think we should do a little bit better this time. The Etihad I believe has a capacity of about 62,000, so we think it should be somewhere between £600,000 and £1m.
"Much more important than the money - and the money will be nice - is that it's going to be a great day out for at least 15,000 of our fans."
Caldwell - Why can't it be us?
After helping Wigan to FA Cup success in 2013, Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell is out for a shock tonight against Forest.
He told The Guardian: "It was an amazing achievement for such a small club.
"In this competition, a club always rises above what it can do.
"I said to the players at the start of this year: ‘Why can’t that be us?’"
Credit: PA Best finishes in the FA Cup
- Manchester United: Winners (13)
- Manchester City: Winners (7)
- Aston Villa: Winners (7)
- Newcastle: Winners (6)
- Wolves: Winners (4)
- Nottingham Forest: Winners (2)
- Preston North End (2)
- Cardiff City: Winners (1)
- Ipswich Town: Winners (1)
- Burnley: Winners (1)
- Crystal Palace: Final
- Milwall: Final
- Fulham: Final
- Brighton: Final
- Plymouth Argyle: Semi-finals
- Bournemouth: Quarter-finals
- Exeter City: Quarter-finals
FA Cup winning Exeter manager hopeful of c-upset
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell believes his side can upset Nottingham Forest in tonight's tie.
Caldwell was the captain of Wigan Athletic when they lifted the FA Cup in 2013 and will hope to channel that same magic tonight.
Caldwell said "We know we are massive underdogs, but with the magic of the cup there is always that possibility of an upset and we believe that at our very best we can do that"
Lancashire derby in the FA Cup
Burnley will travel to the Deepdale to face rivals Preston North End in the next round of the FA Cup.
The two sides will preview the cup tie when they meet for their Championship match this Saturday, February 15, also at the Deepdale.
Burnley haven't lost to Preston since 2015, winning twice and drawing twice in that time.
London rivals face off
Fierce rivals Crystal Palace and Milwall will clash at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup fifth round.
The two sides last met in 2020, in the third round of the competition, where The Eagles bested The Lions 2-1 at The Den.
Milwall will have their work cut out for them if they are to reach an FA Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2019.
They haven't beaten Crystal Palace since New Years Day 2011.
Will VAR be used in the fifth round?
Yes. VAR will be introduced from the FA Cup fifth round.
The FA said in a statement: "Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.
"It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.
"VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.
"This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition."
Ties in focus
There are three all Premier League ties in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Manchester United welcome Fulham to Old Trafford for the second time this season.
The two sides met in the quarter-finals of the competition in 2023 where The Red Devils emerged 3-1 victors over a 9-man Fulham side.
Newcastle host Brighton at St James' Park.
The Seagulls ran out 1-0 winners when the two teams met in the Premier League last October.
Bournemouth face off against Wolves at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries have had Wolves' number in recent meetings, winning three and drawing once in their last five encounters.
FA Cup draw recap
- Preston North End vs Burnley
- Aston Villa vs Cardiff City
- Crystal Palace vs Millwall
- Manchester United vs Fulham
- Newcastle vs Brighton
- Bournemouth vs Wolves
- Manchester City vs Plymouth
- Exeter City/Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town