FOREST DIG DEEP TO SEE OFF DOGGED BRISTOL CITY

BRISTOL CITY are hardly pulling up trees in the Championship but they gave Nottingham Forest plenty of problems as this FA Cup fourth-round replay went into extra time last night. Liam Manning’s side, 14th in the second tier, were more than a match for their Premier League hosts as Manchester United awaited the victor. Divock Origi gave Forest an early lead but they were lacklustre thereafter and, after City captain Jason Knight equalised, they had chances to add another top-flight scalp to West Ham from the last round. It took a nervy extra time and penalty shootout before the Premier League side booked their next round tie against Erik ten Hag’s side. Already deep in a relegation dogfight, with the prospect of a points deduction looming over them, you sensed a replay was the last thing Forest needed. Nonetheless, they started on the front foot and Morgan Gibbs-White forced City goalkeeper Max O’Leary into a sharp one-handed stop. The hosts went in front from the resulting corner. Gibbs-White’s inswinger was glanced on by Felipe, who darted out of a crowd of players to the near post, and the goalhanging Origi allowed the ball to brush his body to guide it home. City’s defenders immediately appealed for handball against the scorer but VAR Michael Oliver saw no reason to disallow his goal. If a full house at the City Ground thought that would be the precursor to a comfortable night, they were mistaken. The visitors had nothing to lose from a bit of adventure. They levelled six minutes after going behind. Andy King — formerly a stalwart of Forest’s bitter rivals Leicester — was given space to drive into and his 25-yard strike hit a post and bounced across to hit the other. Sam Bell retrieved the ball fastest and cut it back for Knight, the ex-Derby County midfielder, to caress home. You can imagine that didn’t go down well. City continued to hold their own and Matt Turner pushed away Tommy Conway’s low effort. The away fans, not used to VAR, chanted enthusiastically in favour of it when Oliver considered a penalty shout, before quickly changing their tune when nothing was given. The moans in the home stands became more audible as Forest laboured, only to be swallowed by the sound of relief when they eventually booked their passage.