29-03-2025
Live Brighton vs Nottingham Forest: Lineups and latest updates from FA Cup quarter-final
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup sixth-round tie between Brighton and Nottingham Forest from dear old Sussex by the Sea. Brighton, one of the four quarter-finalists who have never won the Cup, have been semi-finalists twice in the past six years when they were narrowly beaten under Chris Hughton by Manchester City 1-0 in 2019 and on pens, under Roberto De Zerbi, by Manchester United two years ago. In their only final in 1983 they took it to a replay courtesy of Gordon Smith and on their Thursday night were walloped to the tune of 'Stevie Foster, Stevie Foster, what a difference you have made'.
Forest, by contrast, have won the Cup twice, in 1898 when they beat their cherished friends Derby 3-1 at Crystal Palace and again in 1959 when Elton's Uncle Roy broke his leg when they were 2-0 up with an hour still to play but they clung on in those pre-substitute days to beat Luton Town. It was the one trophy that eluded Brian Clough though their last appearance in the semi-final, and indeed final, came under their greatest manager in 1991.
Today they go to Brighton with their 7-0 victory over Albion at the City Ground in February warming their cockles and hopes. The home side would point out that they have won four and drawn one of five in the league and knocked Chelsea and Newcastle out of the Cup since then so are in fine fettle to face the Trees who have not won at the Amex in their last three visits.
Fabian Hüzeler's side have Matt O'Riley, Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman and Solly March facing late fitness tests and Ferdi Kadioglu, Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio and James Milner ruled out. Nuno Espirito Santo said yesterday that Chris Wood's hip injury will keep him out for another week but is bullish about breaking their 34-year semi-final drought. 'As a group and as a club we have managed to change many things. We've broken records that have stood for 30, 40 years,' he said. 'Suddenly we have another chance to break another. This is how we think. Since the beginning of the FA Cup, we have had only one ambition: to go as far as possible.'
