Jack Taylor missed the decisive penalty as the Blues exited the FA Cup at the fifth round stage 5-4 on penalties to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground following a 1-1 draw. George Hirst gave Town the lead in the 53rd minute, but home skipper Ryan Yates levelled on 68 and neither team was able to find another goal in the remaining minutes and extra-time. The penalty shootout had been note perfect from both teams until Taylor hit a weak effort to Matz Sels’s left and the keeper saved to set up a quarter-final tie at Brighton for Forest.

Boss Kieran McKenna made eight changes with keeper Alex Palmer, right-back Axel Tuanzebe and skipper Sam Morsy the only survivors from Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess, making his 100th appearance under McKenna, were the centre-halves with Conor Townsend at left-back.

Morsy was joined in central midfield by Massimo Luongo, making only his fourth start of the season.

Ahead of them, Ben Johnson was on the right, Jack Taylor the number 10 and Nathan Broadhead on the left with Hirst the out-and-out striker.

On the bench were one-time Forest loanee Aro Muric, Leif Davis, Jens Cajuste, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, Dara O’Shea, Jaden Philogene, Jack Clarke, who has scored three goals in the FA Cup so far this season, and young forward Tom Taylor, was included in the senior squad for the first time.

Sammie Szmodics was the only surprise absentee from the 20-man squad having returned to action as a late sub at Old Trafford.

Forest made six changes from the team which drew 0-0 at home to Arsenal last Wednesday with only Sels, Ola Aina, Murillo, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi keeping their places. Former Blues loanee Chris Wood was on the bench.

Town made a positive start and created the first chance of the game in the third minute, Townsend crossing from the left and Broadhead allowing the ball to flick off his head but without diverting it enough to beat Sels.

Applause rang around the ground in the sixth minute in tribute to Forest fan Sam Perkins, who died recently.

The home side began to put the Blues under pressure, Ola Aina hitting a shot from the edge of the area, which was blocked.

Following the second of two corners, Ibrahim Sangaré stooped to flick a header from Anthony Elanga’s right-sided flag-kick across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.

On 13, Woolfenden was forced to hook a ball down the middle out for a corner with Palmer having advanced out of his goal as Elanga chased him down to his left and centre forward Taiwo Awoniyi burst towards him on his blind side, momentarily causing panic.

Three minutes later, Luongo was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Callum Hudson-Odoi not far outside the area to the left. Palmer punched away Elanga’s free-kick.

In the 19th minute, the Blues almost played themselves into trouble on the edge of their area, Palmer passing out to Luongo on the 18-yard line with Sangaré in close attention, but the Australian international calmly stroked it back to the keeper and the danger was averted.

Forest continued to see most of the ball but with Town getting more of a foothold in the game.

On 23, Elanga shot well over from just outside the box, then almost immediately the Blues put together a move which ended with Townsend sending over a dangerous cross which was nodded behind by a Forest defender. From the corner, the ball fell to Johnson on the edge of the box but the ex-West Ham man’s shot was blocked.

As the half moved into its final 15 minutes, the home side began to see more of the ball again and on 35 a cross from the right deflected out to Danilo five yards outside the box but Woolfenden got in the way of the Brazilian’s powerful strike. Four minutes later, Sangaré shot well over from the right.

After an uneventful additional minute in keeping with much of the rest of the half, referee Tony Harrington brought the period to a close.

Forest will feel they had shaded the half but aside from Sangaré’s header past the post, hadn’t seriously threatened.

The only attempt on target in the entire 45 minutes was Broadhead’s flick in the third minute.

Town will feel happy with their overall display having limited the Tricky Trees to so few opportunities, while having spells in control, creating one or two openings themselves.

The Blues made two changes at the break with Tuanzebe and Burgess, who had picked up a knee injury in the first half, making way for O’Shea, who went to right-back, and Greaves.

Two minutes after the restart, Taylor and Johnson did well on the right with the ex-Hammer sending over a cross which Broadhead wasn’t able to get enough of his head on.

Five minutes after the restart, Hudson-Odoi broke down the right at pace and fed Elanga, whose shot was well saved by Palmer, other than Sangeré’s first-half header, the home side’s best chance up to that point. Moments later, Danilo struck another effort which deflected but the Town keeper was again able to save.

On 53, the ball dropped to Broadhead just inside the area but the Wales international scuffed his effort. Play continued, however, and Morsy smashed a brilliant 30-yard strike which Sels did well to tip over his bar.

And from the resultant corner, the Blues went in front. Johnson, one of Town’s top performers, whipped over a deep ball to the far post and an unmarked Hirst nodded down and under Sels to send the fans behind the goal wild. It was the former Leicester man’s third goal of the season in only his third start this season.

Three minutes after the goal, Morato was booked for a two-footed challenge on Taylor with Town players calling for a greater punishment. However, VAR upheld the initial decision.

As the game reached the hour mark, Forest made a double change with Morgan Gibbs-White, perhaps the main reason England head coach Thomas Tuchel was at the game, and Elliot Anderson replacing Sangaré and Danilo.

The home side began to put the Blues under a bit of pressure, sub Anderson hitting a shot which Morsy charged behind in the 65th minute. The Egyptian international nodded away the corner. On 67, Town swapped Luongo and Broadhead for Cajuste and Clarke.

And a minute later, with star striker Wood stripped on the sidelines ready to come on, Forest levelled.

An Elanga free-kick was half-cleared but the Sweden international, who played under McKenna at Manchester United, whipped in a second ball and skipper Yates headed past Palmer. As the home crowd celebrated Wood returned to his seat on the bench.

The goal turned the volume at the City Ground up a notch but it was Town who were next to threaten, Taylor floating a ball into the box for Hirst, whose header looped just wide.

Almost immediately, Awoniyi flicked a cross from the right against his standing leg, then Anderson shot wide.

Forest briefly thought they’d taken the lead in the 75th minute when Yates headed into the net again after the Blues had failed to clear a corner but having strayed offside.

On 79, Anderson was booked for failing to retreat at a Town free-kick, then on 81 Murillo unleashed a powerful effort from distance which was on its way just under the bar until Palmer got a solid hand on it to divert it behind for a corner.

From the flag-kick, after Neco Williams and Wood had replaced Moreno and Awoniyi, Forest went close again, Hudson-Odoi curling a shot from the edge of the area which clipped the top of Palmer’s bar away to his left.

Town threatened on 86, O'Shea and Taylor doing well to tee-up Clarke on the left of the box but the former Sunderland man was unable to get a clear effort at goal and the ball bounced wide.

As the match moved into six additional minutes with Greaves and Yates having received treatment following a clash of heads, Morsy was booked for arguing with the referee about where the uncontested drop ball should take place, with good reason with play having been rather further away than a yard outside the Town area when it had been stopped for the head injuries

As it was, it came to nothing with referee Harrington quickly giving a free-kick for a foul on Johnson.

Town brought on Delap for Hirst, who had battled gamely and will be pleased with his third goal of the campaign in only his third start.

With Forest the side looking most likely in the latter stages of injury time, referee Harrington brought the 90 to an end, signalling an additional 30.

The Blues had started the second half well and got their noses in front but found themselves under a fair bit of pressure and Yates’s equaliser was deserved when it came.

Town weathered some more Forest pressure but also created a couple of further openings with Clarke probably feeling he ought to have done better with his opportunity.

As had been in the case at the start of both halves, the Blues began extra-time brightly and on the front foot but without creating a chance until the 95th minute.

Following a flowing move down the left, Morsy checked inside his man on the edge of the box before hitting an outside of the boot effort wide of Sels’s right post. A minute later, Yates was booked for a foul on Clarke.

On 96, Murillo sent Delap flying five yards outside the area but Townsend’s free-kick was straight down Sels’s throat.

Forest top scorer Wood nodded his first effort since coming on wide in the 101st minute from a cross from the right, then two minutes later Hudson-Odoi curled a shot just wide as the home side began to turn the screw.

Gibbs-White blazed over from distance, the final action of a first period of extra-time in which the Blues had started positively and had gone close with Morsy’s effort before Forest had got back on top.

Four minutes after the start of the second half of extra-time, with Forest having dominated the ball up to then, Delap burst way into the home side’s half past Morato and then went to ground close to the edge of the box as he went past Murillo with Morato having got back. Delap and the Town fans appealed but referee Harrington and VAR saw nothing wrong. On 111, Forest switched Elanga for Jota Silva.

Two minutes after coming on, the sub, who won the penalty which separated the sides in the league meeting, screwed a shot wide from just outside the area.

In the 116th minute, Murillo blasted a goalbound shot which was blocked by Forest captain Yates. Town immediately broke through Delap and Clarke with the latter fouled, however, Townsend’s free-kick was too long.

After one additional minute, referee Harrington brought extra-time to an end and the two teams assembled on the touchline ahead of penalties.

Forest saw most of the ball in extra-time but with Town defending solidly and preventing them from forcing Palmer into a save, while Morsy’s shot was closest either team came to a goal.

Overall, the 120 minutes had been a closely contested affair with Forest having most of the ball but with Town having had spells on top and as many serious chances as the Premier League’s third-placed side.

Penalties were taken at the opposite end to the Blues support with ex-Town loanee Wood powerfully slamming the first kick past Palmer to the keeper’s right.

Skipper Morsy took Town’s first and after a stuttering run-up found the same corner of the net.

Gibbs-White took an age before taking his kick but found the opposite corner to the previous takers with Palmer going the right way.

There was no messing about from Delap, who smashed his kick low and hard into the corner of the net to Sels’s right to make it 2-2.

Anderson was next and found the same corner to give the home side the lead but Cajuste shot straight down the middle to restore parity.

Williams smashed Forest’s fourth spot-kick into the top corner to Palmer’s right, then Johnson equalised again with an almost identical penalty.

Hudson-Odoi made it 5-4 to the home side then Taylor hit Town’s final kick low to Sels’s left but not far enough across and the keeper saved to trigger an enormous roar from the home fans.

It had been a high quality shootout with Taylor’s the first which had given either keeper much of a chance, but it was unfortunate for the Ireland international, who has played such an important part for the Blues this season, and also missed in the shoutout at AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

It will be Forest who travel to Brighton for a quarter-final tie, while the Blues continue to wait for their first win at the City Ground since 1999 and a first sixth-round FA Cup tie since 1993.

Town, who have only ever won five of 17 penalty shootouts in their history, must now put the disappointment behind them quickly as they get back to Premier League action at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Forest: Sels, Morato, Murillo, Sangaré (Gibbs-White 60), Aina, Danilo (Anderson 60), Yates (c), Elanga (Jota 111), Moreno (Williams 82), Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi (Wood 82). Unused: Hennessey, Dominguez, Sosa, Boly.

Town: Palmer, Tuanzebe (O’Shea 46), Woolfenden, Burgess (Greaves 46), Townsend, Morsy (c), Luongo (Cajuste 67), Johnson, J Taylor, Broadhead (Clarke 67), Hirst (Delap 92). Unused: Muric, Davis, Philogene, T Taylor. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). VAR: Jarred Gillett. Att: 29,171.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Leejames99 added 23:18 - Mar 3 Sorry got carried away with reality apologies. We were brilliant tonight, Morsy was immense, his passing was sublime, Luongo our best midfielder has to start on Saturday, Forest defence were petrified of the skill and pace of Broadhead and Taylor on the flanks and Hirst is just a superstar, like Harry Kane, he may of only made 11 passes but what passes they were just brilliant, has everything. Got to say Mckenna was spot on with his team selection tonight, it was absolutely nessacary to leave those signings on the bench and make 8 changes, no doubt about that. His tactics of side pass or pass back works by stopping the flow of the game and his new idea of putting 5.7 wingers against 6ft 5 defenders on set peices is just genius. He has certainly earned his 6 million this year and then some and his lads have seen some lovely grounds, something to tell their kids about no doubt about that! If only for those dam fine margins, gets us everytime, fine margins every single game its unexplainable because it goes with out saying being in bottom 3, staring relegation in the face and no idea of a starting 11 but a good group of lads it's not their fault or Mckenna no doubt about that, can someone write a book about this season "Band Of Brothers" winners every game but for fine margins. Same team but maybe 5 changes for consistency. Can't wait well done lads and Mckenna, hope you had a great day and enjoyed the experience, brilliant pat on back all round.

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IP9 added 23:19 - Mar 3 @jcb2007 Spot on with the Morsy comment. He is a player which can only play when he is given time and space, which Forest give everyone. Hence, he looked back to his usual powers tonight but don't expect it to last. Still, he scored a lovely pen!
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Leejames99 added 23:27 - Mar 3 @SuperTabby Goes without saying those dam fine margins hey! Let's let them off the hook because they 'tried hard" it was the most boring game of the season, we did zilch in their half, no creativity lucky we have a good defence and keeper, Forest had 22 shots, 4 on target which if it wasn't for Palmer would of been in, to get to penalties was very flattering but gives the tinkerman more excuses for the weekend that the lads are tired, no doubt about that, it's those fine margins of extra 2 days rest and beauty sleep, the finest of fine margins, we would be in top half if it wasn't for fine margins no doubt about that!

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:29 - Mar 3 Three things certain in life. 1. Death 2. Taxes. 3. RobsonWark talking rubbish
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:35 - Mar 3 Battling performance. Palmer apart from one poor pass very good again. Townsend can deliver some really good crosses . Wolf was excellent. Johnson had a solid game . Mass, Broadhead and Taylor didn't make the most of their chances. We really needed one of Omari, Enciso, Szmodics for creativity . Onto Palace . COYB
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Leejames99 added 23:37 - Mar 3 Morsy was incredible tonight, his eye for a pass to our forwards puts de Bruyne, Rice, Fernandes etc to shame. How he gets the ball and just glides forward with ease, his forward passing and connection with Broadhead and Taylor was magic and his partnership with Luongo is so dynamic they are surely key to survival. He was back to himself tonight, giving away fouls so brilliantly, getting his yellow card and shot over the bar, was just like turning back the clock to the Cambridge game, great times. He is a role model to young footballers on controlling midfield and delivering defense splitting passes and his fitness gives Ronaldo a run for his money. Well done Captain outstanding, where would we be without you...oh yeah not in the bottom three

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chepstowblue added 23:37 - Mar 3 A decent effort against a team who will soon be a division above us. Teams at this level are faster, stronger, pass more accurately, control the ball better, think quicker etc. We are desperately slow individually, and for 85mins of most games play at a ridiculously pedestrian tempo that wouldn't harm nine players, let alone ten or eleven. Not many players are performing at a level that nail down a place. Townsend is a must start on Saturday. As a defender he is on a different level to Leif. Decent games for Woolfy and Johnson, though i dont trust either. Broadhead again proved himself to be a player who we all want to see start games, but when he does he flops. In the main i don't care who starts now, because we don't have an eleven that will get us out of the current predicament. Our first eleven(whoever they are) is no better than our second eleven(whoever they are). Disappointed and deflated.

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TimmyH added 23:38 - Mar 3 Posters coming out with 'take the positives' is also a tad laughable as if they were McK himself in the post match interview...if you hadn't noticed Premier league games have a much higher tempo than the Cup games I've seen this weekend and have all been close probably due to 'bigger/clubs doing well in the league' with expectations on other things. Will be interesting to see how we get on at Palace and particularly how we defend.

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PortmanTerrorist added 23:44 - Mar 3 Leejames99 you are pathetic. Morsy is the first proper capain we have had in years who is giving everything he has got to adjust to a level he has never played at before. Moreover our best spell of results this season was up to the point he got on to the edge re Yellow Cards. You may not like the guy, but to me he is the epitome of this team which would be mid Champs at best right now, if not still in League 1, without him. Get a grip.

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armchaircritic59 added 23:46 - Mar 3 That eventually worked out more or less as I expected, though it took longer, largely thanks to a spirited, battling performance, that lacked class but certainly not effort. One or two of the usual problems reared their heads again, notably a front man isolated with little help, though he did get his goal and wasn't far off another. Two best outfield players for us in my opinion, Johnson and Woolfenden, former coped with his speedy wide man well, and the latter cleared, blocked, and headed away lots of stuff in the box. Townsend was ok too, especially in the first half, as was Morsy, again in the first half. Palmer again, did nothing wrong. I think we may have at least found ourselves a bargain there. Greaves did little wrong when he got the go ahead. It's plain to see the side just lacks that bit of Premier League class and guile, I think a maybe a step too far too quickly for some. They will have learned a lot this seaon, wherever we are next season, it will stand them in good stead.

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IRONBLUE added 00:03 - Mar 4 Minutes in legs, competed well against a near starting 11 Forest side, the ghosts of Lincoln and Barrow are exorcised with actual efforts on goal and most importantly all the motivation gained from that defeat to now beat Palace immediately then get Forest back.
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cpaz97 added 00:16 - Mar 4 Went away from that game not really feeling much to be honest. There was hardly anything to criticise from that game but we just didn't attack the goal once again. Got to feel for Jack Taylor. Alex Palmer once again outstanding.
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Leejames99 added 00:46 - Mar 4 @portmanterrorist -scariest name so far! You are absolutely right without Morsy we would still be in league 1 he is so good thank goodness he turned down al those Premiership offers to stay with Town and take us out of the doldrums phew I thought it was Mckenna but no I stand corrected, yep Morsy was responsible for our amazing start to the season and didn't give any fouls or penalties away at all. Super Morsy 10 out of 10 for effort in a league that is too much for him. And I'm pathetic lol you fans who want to stay in Prem but with the league 1 lads it's hilarious, you all mark down or respond with nonsense. What would we do without Sam Morsy the beating heart of our team, pivotal to us staying in the Premier League, let's hope Man City or Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea don't come in for him, he has to be worth 50 mill minimum, another masterclass. I stand corrected.

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 00:56 - Mar 4 That has to have been one of the best opportunities to have won in again since '78 this season what with the teams remaining and we lose out to a lousy penalty shoot contest. Frustrating doesn't really come close, it's a shame, it's a pity, perhaps above all else it's a missed opportunity. Can't fault the manager or players, a strong team was picked and we gave it a go. Years back under different managers we would have gave up without trying but this time at least we showed commendable courage and determination. It was just one player at the end of it all with a poor penalty effort that cost us but you got to spare thought for the player involved. Such a shame the team has to go out after such a determined effort. If the players put enough effort and focus into league games we wouldn't be where we are or at least in with a very good chance of surviving a relegation. Unfortunately now nothing much remains except to avoid the last relegation slot behind Saints and LCFC. If we had won today it would have provided extra morale for the rest of season, something else to shoot for, and there's just a feeling of dismay to have been beaten in the manner we were. Brighton Hove Albions would have been tough for sure in Round 6 but we went to a team today challenging also for a European place and held them to a tied game over 120 minutes. Therefore all things were possible. Fortunate enough to recall and witness Town being an FA Cup winning club name but got to ask oneself : is it to repeat again in this lifetime. The honest answer being No. Proud and encouraged by todays performance and that we didn't actually lose the game in regular or overtime, but that we went out and can't continue, hell it does sting to a certain extent.

4

Dissboyitfc added 07:49 - Mar 4 Oh well on to the league and Palace, thought our second string did ok in the main! dont need to mention those that were off the pace but do want to mention Morsey, best game in ages! Strange decision for our finally penalty taker, he looked so not prepared for that had miss all over his face. We take the positives and move on! Not going to name any names but someone posting on here used to play on a sunday morning and thinks they were/ was or should have been a pro!

0

Dissboyitfc added 07:49 - Mar 4 Oh well on to the league and Palace, thought our second string did ok in the main! dont need to mention those that were off the pace but do want to mention Morsey, best game in ages! Strange decision for our finally penalty taker, he looked so not prepared for that had miss all over his face. We take the positives and move on! Not going to name any names but someone posting on here used to play on a sunday morning and thinks they were/ was or should have been a pro!

0

Alphawhiskey added 08:14 - Mar 4 Proud of them. A great effort, it just wasn't to be I'm afraid. All great pens apart from the last one. Can't really understand why Taylor took it. He was dead on his feet towards the end, and went down with cramp. Also looked so unconfident before the pen, you could see he wouldn't score. Still that's pens for you, at least he had the balls to take one, someone has to miss etc. Overall a decent effort from the lads. Now lets get to more important things, like finding a way to beat Palace.. COYB

4

Tedray added 08:40 - Mar 4 Credit to the players,they put in a shift and the manager used quite well what we have. In reality I do not think that things will change. We desparately need two top class midfield players to claim more possession,create chances for the forwards and give the overloaded defence some respite.Poor Delap without the ball which was quite often got himself in very good pockets of space but no one in the team had the ability to find him with a pass.Sadly we seem to lack that extra 10% and I do not forsee anything changing until the end of the season.

1

londontractorboy57 added 08:55 - Mar 4 Reading all that dross from Lee james makes you long for a post from bluebore. Gallant effort think it was a questionable choice to let Taylor take last pen The game showed our failings we fight for the ball then our second ball is wanting. We just lack that bit of quality to get us over the line .whilst it's mathematically possible I will still have hope.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:05 - Mar 4 Hirst battled well, as did the whole team, but he's not a Delap-style player. He needs support around him and I thought he was often isolated last night. Delap can take on the whole world alone occasionally. Both good players, but with different characteristics.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 09:11 - Mar 4 Wont comment on the game but i cant understand why Taylor was a penalty taker , he wasnt fit and he had missed a penalty previously the pressure on him taking that last penalty was too much for him .Imo big mistake .
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BangaloreBlues added 09:12 - Mar 4 I thought Townsend was absolutely superb last night. Morsy was solid, Woolfy was immense, Palmer is one of the best signings recently. First half was very sluggish, but that was an incredible performance with mostly the B-team. Our injury list is now so long it is very concerning, but the players that stepped up last night have shown they can do the job. Nine superb penalties, but someone has to miss, just a shame it was us. A great cup tie from the second half onwards, really enjoyed the game. Gutted we lost, but we need these players now to fill in for injuries and I think it's clear KMK has put an excellent squad together. Two very close games against Forest, I think we can get a result at home against them.

4

oldelsworthyfan added 09:12 - Mar 4 Hirst 3 starts this season, 3 goals. Lays the ball off well. I wonder how he would do paired up front with Delap? Surely worth a try? Remember Crawford and Phillips, etc?
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BlueSkies added 09:26 - Mar 4 BBC match report has Luongo as Player of the Match. I give up.
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blues1 added 09:39 - Mar 4 Same old diatribe from some on here. If all u can do is slag players off after all they put in last night, then just sod off and go support some1 else. Slagging off a player for missing a penalty is pathetic. Do think personally,he should probably have not been on the 5th one, should have gone earlier, when there have been less pressure on him, having missed against Wimbledon. But he still had the balls to step up and take one. Something clearly other players didn't want to do.

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