Report and reaction as Albion lose on penalties

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Seagulls beaten 4-3 in Amex shoot-out by Nottingham Forest after 0-0 draw in FA Cup quarter-final.

Bruce Talbot

2025-03-29T20:15+00:00

Albion's players watch the penalty drama unfold. 📷 James Boardman.

Albion’s Wembley dream is over for another year after more penalty shoot-out heartache, this time against Nottingham Forest at the Amex.

Two years ago Albion lost a Wembley semi to Manchester United on penalties and although this was only the quarter-final stage defeat will still sting.

Mat Sels had been the busier keeper and he made a crucial extra-time save to turn substitute Diego Gomez’s header over to keep goalless.

Albion seemed to have the advantage in the shoot-out which took place in front of the North Stand but Sels was Forest’s hero again, saving from Jack Hinshelwood and Gomez. Although Neco Williams blazed over, Forest converted their other penalties to prevail 4-3. Joao Pedro, Brajan Gruda and Lewis Dunk scored their spot-kicks.

Kaoru Mitoma faces up to Ola Aina. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Forest had began brightly and Bart Verbruggen pulled off an important save with his right foot in the 16th minute when Taiwo Awoniyi aimed for the near post from the corner of the six-yard box.

Albion fans created a raucous atmosphere as their team began to find some attacking rhythm. Yasin Ayari’s strike from 25 yards took a deflection and went wide before Pervis Estupinan tried his luck from even further out and Sels unconvincingly shovelled the ball away from danger. Just before the break Forest cleared to the edge of the box and Carlos Baleba’s superbly struck half-volley swerved inches wide of the right-hand post.

Next to threaten was Georginio Rutter at the start of the second half. A lovely feint and turn past Williams created space but his powerful shot was always rising over Sels’ crossbar. Forest responded almost immediately, working the ball to Morgan Gibbs-White in space and his right-foot shot from inside the D was palmed over at full stretch by Verbruggen.

Jan Paul van Hecke attacks a corner. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

From Albion’s first corner on 56 minutes Hinshelwood twisted in the six-yard box but his header went wide. There was controversy when referee Peter Bankes pointed to the penalty spot seven minutes later when Kaoru Mitoma challenged Elliot Anderson, but he was referred to the monitor by the VAR after replays showed Anderson has slipped.

Hurzeler freshened things up but lost Rutter after he slipped in the centre circle and Albion were forced into another switch when Dunk replaced Adam Webster for extra time and became Albion’s third captain of the evening in his first appearance since the fourth round win over Chelsea.

Albion pressed for the winner. Their big chance came when Gomez rose to meet Simon Adingra’s cross, but Sels acrobatically pushed his header over at full stretch. Joao Pedro had a goal disallowed with seconds remaining because Pervis Estupinan was offside in the build-up. Penalties it was and up stepped Sels to make the difference.

Yasin Ayari contests an aerial ball with Ryan Yates. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

The line-up

Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Webster (Dunk 90), Estupinan, Minteh, Ayari (Gomez 80), Baleba, Mitoma (Adingra 72), Rutter (Gruda 75), Welbeck (Joao Pedro 72).

Subs not used: McGill, Dunk, Cashin, O’Riley, Tasker.

Referee: P. Bankes

Attendance: 29,930.

Fabian Hurzeler's thoughts...

Fabian Hurzeler gives out instructions in the second half.

"I didn’t think we did enough in 90 minutes to win the game but in extra time we did, we had some big chances. I don’t know how well prepared their goalkeeper was but in the end he made two saves in the penalties so he was their matchwinner.

"In the penalties I wanted the players to focus on their job and what corner to go for. I chose them, they didn’t volunteer.

"We were not on our highest level in the 90 minutes. We weren’t intense or resilient enough so we weren’t able to play at our highest level but then in extra time I thought we improved but it wasn't enough.

"We’re disappointed but the main things now is to show a reaction, recover good and focus on the next challenge on Wednesday against Aston Villa."