Premier League rivals Brighton and Nottingham Forest will meet in the FA Cup for the first time ever in their quarter-final clash this weekend.
The two clubs have an amazing opportunity to win football’s oldest trophy, with five of the traditional ‘Big Six’ out of the competition.
Manchester City are the only quarter-finalist to have lifted the FA Cup in the last 40 years.
Forest are two-time FA Cup winners, the most recent of which came back in 1959, while Brighton have never claimed the famous trophy.
The Seagulls have seen off Chelsea and Carabao Cup winners Newcastle to reach this stage but lost 7-0 to Forest two months ago.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest: Knock on wood
The Tricky Trees have suffered a major blow after star striker Chris Wood was ruled out of the quarter-final.
The 33-year-old has scored 18 goals and three assists in this season’s Premier League.
The New Zealander has scored more goals against Brighton than against any other opponent in his English club career.
In all competitions, Wood has found the net 12 times when facing the Seagulls, which includes four in two games against them this term.
However, the forward suffered a hip injury while on international duty and has now been ruled out of the FA Cup last-eight tie.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “He went for a scan today. We are still waiting. He has been to a specialist for a scan. We will wait on the information and see.
“He will not be available for this game. He felt a kick really hard on his hip, so there is pain there. We have to wait.”
- This is the first ever FA Cup meeting between Brighton and Nottingham Forest. The Tricky Trees have progressed from both previous cup ties against the Seagulls – 3-1 in the 1977-78 League Cup quarter-final, and 3-0 on aggregate in the 1986-87 League Cup second round.
- Nottingham Forest have won 7-0 and drawn 2-2 with Brighton so far this season. They last scored 10+ goals against an opponent in a single season in 1997-98 (10 vs Doncaster), while Brighton last conceded 10 against a side in 1980-81 (10 vs Manchester United).
- Brighton have progressed from their last two FA Cup quarter-final ties, beating Millwall on penalties in 2018-19 and beating Grimsby Town 5-0 in 2022-23.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest: Team news
The home side are in the midst of an injury crisis headlined by Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, Jason Steele, James Milner, and Ferdi Kadioglu.
Fabian Hurzeler will hope to have Lewis Dunk, Matt O’Riley, Solly March, and Joel Veltman, having been doubts before the break.
The visitors will be without Wood, who has not started any of Forest’s three FA Cup ties this season.
In his absence, Taiwo Awoniyi will continue leading the line while backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel remains in the treatment room.
- Nottingham Forest have lost their last three FA Cup quarter-final ties, all by a 1-0 scoreline. They last reached the semi-final of the competition in 1990-91, ultimately reaching the final and losing to Tottenham Hotspur.
- Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, only Manchester City (48) and Manchester United (33) have scored more FA Cup goals (first round onwards) than Brighton (30 in 11 games).
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest: What has been said?
Forest manager Santo has discussed Morgan Gibbs-White not getting any minutes for England after being a late call-up to the squad.
He said: “We are proud of all of our players that went on international break. Morgan went and he was in the squad and hopefully, he gets a chance in the future.
“With Morgan, I know him so well and he knows me. We don’t need to talk. For me, Morgan is a top, top player with so much talent and quality.
“The level of performance and quality he has been giving to us with and without the ball – I admire Morgan.”
On whether Gibbs-White needs to prove Thomas Tuchel wrong: “He doesn’t have to prove anybody wrong.
“This is not the state of mind that he should have. He has to compete and play and give his teammates and Nottingham Forest everything he has. Things will come naturally.”
- Three of Nottingham Forest’s last five FA Cup ties have gone to a penalty shootout, with Forest progressing from all three. Overall they’ve won all four of their FA Cup shootouts, with only Macclesfield Town and Stevenage (both 5/5) having a better 100% record in the competition proper.
- Brighton’s João Pedro has been involved in seven goals in his last four starts in the FA Cup, scoring six and assisting another.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest: talkSPORT coverage
This FA Cup quarter-final clash will take place on Saturday, March 29.
Kick-off at the Amex is set for 5:15pm.
talkSPORT will have live coverage from the south coast, with commentary from Jim Proudfoot and ex-England captain Stuart Pearce.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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It will also be screened live on free-to-air BBC One.
