Brighton v Nottingham Forest: FA Cup quarter-final – live

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To whet the appetite / summon up old demons, here’s how Brighton came so close in 1983. One of the great finals, and such a shame the replay was a competitive non-event. (No need for us to link to that and pour more salt into the wound, bringing up Gordon Smith again is more than enough.)

Meanwhile this is how Forest won the cup in 1959. Not such a classic, this one, and the Pathé summariser wants a clip around the lug for repeated references to “Notts”.

Both of these teams go into this early-evening quarter-final with the wind in their sail. Brighton are unbeaten in seven, a run that has included two wins over Chelsea, victory in the FA Cup at Newcastle, and a come-from-behind draw at Manchester City. Forest meanwhile are four without defeat, a sequence that has seen them frustrate title hopefuls Arsenal and beat champions City. Good luck calling this one.

Brighton make two changes to the starting XI named for the 2-2 draw at Manchester City. Danny Welbeck and Yasin Ayari replace João Pedro and Diego Gómez, who drop to the bench.

Forest make three changes after their 4-2 win at Ipswich. Ryan Yates, Taiwo Awoniyi and Danilo replace Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who drop to the bench, and the injured Chris Wood.

The teams

Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Welbeck.
Subs: McGill, Dunk, Gruda, Joao Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gomez, O’Riley, Tasker.

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Yates, Danilo, Awoniyi.
Subs: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Toffolo, Alex, Jota Silva, Elanga, Boly.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).

Preamble

“And Smith must score!” Brighton & Hove Albion dream of putting an end to 42 years of Peter-Jones-soundtracked yearning. So near and yet so far away from a first FA Cup. Nottingham Forest have won the thing before, of course, but you’d have to be of stately vintage to have witnessed the last time they did so, in 1959, Elton John’s cousin and all that, and there are even a couple of generations who’ll be too young to have seen Brian Clough’s close call of 1991. Both teams desperate, then. Both teams believing. Both teams certainly good enough to lift the old pot come May. But only one will remain standing by the end of the night, which could stretch as far as extra time and penalties if needs be. Kick-off is at 5.15pm. It’s on!