Brighton & Hove Albion face Nottingham Forest in a tricky Quarter-Final tie in 2024-25 FA Cup.
Victory would see Brighton reach the semi-finals in two of their three recent seasons, whilst Forest chase a first semi-final outing since they finished runner-up in 1990-91 season.
Team News
Solly March is set to return for Brighton after he missed their 2-2 draw at Manchester City in the Premier League due to a knock.
Matt O’Riley (knee) and Lewis Dunk (rib) could also feature if fit for selection.
Jason Steele (shoulder), Joel Veltman (foot), Tariq Lamptey (ankle), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio and James Milner (both hamstring) remain sidelined.
Forest will be without striker, Chris Wood after he suffered a hip injury whilst on international duty for New Zealand.
Carlos Miguel is still sidelined due to a hamstring injury, which he suffered in their Fourth Round victory at Exeter City.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Forest at AMEX Stadium on Saturday 29 March at 5:15pm GMT, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Brighton’s first FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
- Forest are making their first FA Cup trip to Brighton, but the Tricky Trees drew 0-0 in their only previous domestic cup visit to the Seagulls in September 1986 in the League Cup.
- Brighton have come from behind to win 2-1 in their last two FA Cup matches – which saw them beat Chelsea and Newcastle respectively.
- Four of Forest’s five FA Cup goals this season were scored by Ramon Sosa and Ryan Yates, who have both scored two goals apiece whilst Taiwo Awoniyi netted once.
Prediction
Following their 7-0 top-flight mauling at Forest at the start of February, Brighton could of easily let their season implode but they instead knuckled down and now come into this game unbeaten in seven in all competitions and absolutely should of won at Man City if not for two sloppy defensive errors.
Forest though suffered two defeats in that time and needed penalties to get past Exeter then Ipswich in the last two rounds of this season’s competition, yet they can come into this game with a real sense of confidence after a superb counter-attacking win at Ipswich last time out.
Wood’s absence though will hurt Forest up top given his form this season but with a tricky league game at home to Manchester United to come on Tuesday, Forest’s eye could well be on that game given that they’re pushing for Champions League qualification.
Brighton in-turn will have an extra 24-hour period of rest after this tie before their crunch league clash against Aston Villa so my feeling is that they should have the edge if this goes to extra-time as this should be a closely-fought battle between two in-form attacking teams who have leaked goals lately.
Prediction: Brighton 2-1 (AET) Nottingham Forest
