Football has a funny way of sticking in your throat. Just when you think a result is buried in the history books, something—a stray comment, a lineup change, or a rainy Tuesday night—brings it all flooding back. For the Grecians, the mention of Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest usually triggers a very specific, sharp memory of what almost was. It’s not just about a scoreline. It's about the sheer, unadulterated chaos of the FA Cup and how close a League One side came to toppling a Premier League regular.
Most people look at the record and see a Forest win. Technically, they aren't wrong. On February 11, 2025, Nuno Espírito Santo’s men escaped St James Park with their dignity barely intact. But if you were there, or if you’ve spent any time dissecting the tape since, you know the stats don’t tell the half of it. It was a game defined by Josh Magennis’s predatory instincts and a red card that felt like a punch to the gut for the home crowd.
The Night St James Park Shook
Let’s be real: nobody gave Exeter much of a prayer. Forest had recently dismantled Brighton 7-0 in the Premier League. They were flying. Then they turned up in Devon. Within five minutes, the script was shredded. Josh Magennis, a man who knows exactly where the goal is regardless of the division, poked Exeter ahead. The Big Bank went absolutely mental.
It wasn't a fluke. Exeter didn't just sit back and pray for the whistle; they actually played. Gary Caldwell had them organized in a 5-4-1 that looked more like a springboard than a shield. But quality eventually speaks. Ramón Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi turned the game on its head before the break. Usually, that’s where the "plucky underdog" story ends. The big boys take the lead, keep the ball for 45 minutes, and stroll to a 3-1 win. Not this time.
Magennis struck again in the 50th minute. 2-2.
The atmosphere became toxic for the visitors. Every tackle was cheered like a goal. Forest looked rattled. Ibrahim Sangaré, who usually bosses midfields, found himself in a dogfight with Ed Francis and Ryan Trevitt. The match slowed down, got grittier, and moved toward a conclusion that felt inevitable yet impossible. Then came the 87th minute. Ed Turns, making his debut, saw red. A high challenge, a long walk, and suddenly Exeter were facing thirty minutes of extra time with ten men against a team that cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
Breaking Down the Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest Survival Act
Ten men. Against Chris Wood. Against Morgan Gibbs-White. Most teams fold there.
Honestly, the defensive shift Exeter put in during those extra thirty minutes was heroic. Joe Whitworth, the Palace loanee in goal, turned into a brick wall. He denied Wood from point-blank range with a save that still defies physics. Forest threw everything at them—bicycle kicks, corners, long-range blasts from Nicolás Domínguez. Nothing got through.
✨ Don't miss: Ryan Stanley MMA Chicago: The Truth About the Windy City’s Rising Grappler
Exeter held on for penalties. In the end, that’s where the dream died. Matz Sels, Forest’s Belgian keeper, showed why he’s a Premier League starter. He saved from Reece Cole, and when the Grecians hit the bar, the comeback was over. Forest won the shootout 4-2. They moved on, eventually reaching the quarter-finals where they played Brighton again, but for the Exeter faithful, it felt like a robbery in broad daylight.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Match-up
There’s a common misconception that Forest "rotated" and that's why it was close. Look at the team sheet. Nuno didn't mess around. He started Awoniyi, Sangaré, Boly, and Sosa. When things got hairy, he brought on Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson. This wasn't a Forest B-team; it was a strong Premier League outfit that got dragged into deep water by a team two divisions below them.
Another thing? The "gap" in quality. While Forest finished the game with 31 shots and 662 completed passes compared to Exeter's 110, the "Expected Goals" (xG) were much tighter than you’d think. Exeter didn't just survive; they were efficient. They made their 12 shots count.
Where Are They Now?
Fast forward to January 2026. The landscape has shifted, but the echoes of that night remain. Exeter City recently had a rough exit from the FA Cup Third Round against Manchester City—a 10-1 drubbing that was far less competitive than the Forest thriller. It puts that 2025 performance into perspective. Staying within touching distance of a top-tier side for 120 minutes with ten men is a monumental feat.
Forest, meanwhile, are still navigating the pressures of the Premier League. They’ve had their own drama, including a wild 3-3 draw with Wrexham in the 2026 FA Cup third round that went to penalties. It seems Nuno’s side has a habit of making life difficult for themselves against lower-league opposition.
Practical Takeaways for the Next Big Tie
If you’re a fan of a League One side looking for the "how-to" on giant-killing, the Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest tape is the gold standard.
- Early Pressure is Key: You cannot let a Premier League side settle. Magennis scoring in the 5th minute changed the entire psychological profile of the game.
- Fitness Matters: Even with ten men, Exeter’s conditioning allowed them to cover the spaces that Forest’s wingers, like Neco Williams, tried to exploit.
- The Power of the Home Crowd: St James Park is tight. The fans are on top of the pitch. That noise disrupts the rhythm of players used to the cavernous, slightly more detached atmosphere of the top flight.
The beauty of the FA Cup is that these stories never truly end. Exeter might be out for now, and Forest might be looking toward the next round, but the next time these two meet, nobody in Nottingham will be calling it an "easy draw." They know better now.
🔗 Read more: Triston Casas Nationality: What Most People Get Wrong
If you're following the Grecians this season, keep an eye on their league form. They’ve picked up solid wins against the likes of Luton and Wimbledon recently. The resilience they showed against Forest seems to have baked itself into the club's DNA. For Forest fans, the lesson is simpler: never, ever take a trip to Devon for granted. It almost cost them everything.
Check the latest League One standings to see how Exeter is positioning themselves for a potential promotion push, as that 2025 cup run proved they can compete with much higher-caliber talent when the lights are brightest. If you're looking for match tickets for upcoming fixtures at St James Park, the club's official portal is the only reliable spot, especially for high-demand games. Don't forget to review the disciplinary records before betting on cup games; as Ed Turns found out, one moment of madness changes everything.