Nottingham Forest narrowly overcame a resilient Exeter City side in the FA Cup, securing a 4-2 penalty victory after a thrilling 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.
Despite suffering a broken nose during the match, Taiwo Awoniyi scored his second goal of the season and was one of Forest’s standout players on the night.
The game, however, was more about the impressive performance of the League One team. Gary Caldwell’s side can consider themselves unlucky not to progress, with striker Josh Magennis particularly noteworthy.
Forest showed composure in the penalty shootout, converting all four of their attempts, with a quartet of substitutes confidently scoring from the spot.
Roy Keane praised Forest’s penalty performance, stating that it was the one area that didn’t prove dramatic for the Reds. The penalties were well taken, showcasing their calmness under pressure.
Roy Keane criticizes Jota Silva’s performance
After scoring his first Premier League goal against Brighton, this was seen as a big opportunity for Jota Silva. He has played a secondary role this season, so facing lower-league opposition might have been his chance to impress.
However, Silva’s performance frustrated Forest fans. He missed a crucial opportunity in the final moments of the game, striking the post when it seemed easier to score.
Keane was critical of the miss, telling ITV Sport: “That’s a big miss, it’s a criticism I’m afraid. You’ve got to hit the target, make the keeper save it; you can’t hit the post there.”
Surprisingly, Silva played the full 120 minutes, with Anthony Elanga on the bench as Nuno Espirito Santo opted to save him for Saturday’s match.
Jota Silva’s stats vs Exeter:
Total Minutes: 120
Pass Accuracy: 60.9%
Fouls: 2
Possession Lost: 22
Ground Duels Won: 3/12
As the game went on, Silva appeared increasingly frustrated, frequently conceding unnecessary free kicks. His current form is far from the level of teammates like Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and he’s struggling to adapt.
Silva may still be effective as a substitute, but based on his performance against Exeter, he seems unlikely to start in Forest’s upcoming Premier League match at Fulham.
While Silva is undoubtedly hardworking, his performance against Exeter left much to be desired, and his late miss essentially summed up his night.
‘It’s a criticism’: Roy Keane shocked at awful moment from £5.9m Nottingham Forest ace vs Exeter City
