2024-25 FA Cup: Fifth Round – Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich

Nottingham Forest host Ipswich Town in the concluding tie of the fifth round in 2024-25 FA Cup. 

Victory will see Forest reach the Quarter-Finals for the second time in four seasons, whilst Ipswich seek a first appearance beyond this stage since 1992-93 season.

 

Team News

Forest have no fresh injury concerns following a goalless league draw at home to Arsenal, with only Miguel Pereira (hamstring) still ruled out.

Ipswich will be without Omari Hutchinson after he suffered a knee injury during their 3-2 league loss at Manchester United.

Arijanet Muric (shoulder) and Conor Chaplin (knee) could be available but Christian Walton (groin), Kalvin Phillips (calf), Wes Burns (ACL), Julio Enciso (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Forest host Ipswich on Monday 3 March at the City Ground in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off, live on ITV4 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Forest have won two of four previous FA Cup meetings against Ipswich across three ties (W2, D1, L1), after their first clash in this competition ended in a 3-3 draw before Ipswich won the replay 1-0 in March 1981.
• Ipswich are yet to win away at Forest in the FA Cup (D1, L2).
• Forest have scored three goals in each of their three previous FA Cup clashes at home to Ipswich, which included a pair of 3-0 results in their last two such meetings in this competition.
• Two of Forest’s four FA Cup goals this season have been scored by Ramon Sosa.
• Three of Ipswich’s seven FA Cup goals this season were netted by Jack Clarke.

 

Prediction

Having produced a well-organised defensive display to grind out a deserved goalless draw against Arsenal in the league despite lacking their usual final touch, Forest certainly will view this game as a chance to bounce back because the FA Cup offers another chance to qualify for Europe despite their league position.

Ipswich meanwhile are in thick of a battle for top-flight survival but this competition is a chance to continue building confidence and momentum, but their defensive sloppiness cost them at Man Utd especially from set-pieces so an improved defence is needed if want to win here.

Forest though should fare much better than they did in the last round at Exeter given the better opposition and I do expect them to find a way through to the last eight, especially if can target Ipswich’s weak defence which is there for the taking at set-pieces.

Prediction: Forest 2-1 Ipswich