Alious**Nottingham Forest Aim for FA Cup Fifth Round as Nuno Prepares to Shuffle the Pack Against Exeter City**
Nottingham Forest will be looking to secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight as they travel to face League One side Exeter City. Having edged past Luton Town in the previous round, the Reds now face another challenge against lower-league opposition, with the Grecians having earned their spot after defeating Championship outfit Oxford United.
Despite Exeter competing two tiers below Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo will be well aware of the potential threat they pose, especially with an away fixture adding to the difficulty. Complicating matters further, Nuno is dealing with several injury concerns within his squad, which could lead to significant rotation as he looks to balance squad fitness with progression in the cup.
Adding extra incentive to tonight’s clash, the winner will earn a home tie against Ipswich Town in the next round, presenting a golden opportunity to push for a quarter-final berth—something Forest fans would relish.
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI vs Exeter City
Defensive Changes on the Cards**
With rotation likely, Carlos Miguel is expected to step in as the starting goalkeeper, replacing Matz Sels between the sticks. In defense, Morato could be rewarded with more minutes after featuring against Brighton, while veteran Willy Boly may also return to the starting lineup to add experience at the back.
On the flanks, Alex Moreno—who hasn’t featured regularly in recent weeks—is tipped to start at left-back, providing him with a chance to impress. On the opposite side, promising youngster Eric da Silva Moreira could be given the nod at right-back as Nuno looks to rest key players.
Midfield Reinforcements
In the midfield engine room, Ryan Yates—unused in the Brighton match—is likely to captain the side, bringing leadership and energy to the middle of the park. Alongside him, Ibrahim Sangare could make a welcome return to the starting XI after recovering from injury. This fixture offers an ideal opportunity to help the Ivorian regain full match sharpness.
Attacking Options and Rotation
With Forest failing to secure a new striker during the January transfer window, Nuno is expected to manage Chris Wood’s workload carefully. Instead, Taiwo Awoniyi could be handed a start, using this FA Cup tie to build up his fitness and sharpness following his own injury struggles.
Supporting Awoniyi in the attacking third, Jota Silva might be deployed on the right wing, offering fresh legs and creativity. On the left, Ramon Sosa—who impressed in the previous round with both a goal and an assist—will be eager to continue his strong form.
Through the middle, Brazilian midfielder Danilo could feature in an advanced role as a number 10, giving him the opportunity to gain valuable minutes and showcase his playmaking abilities.
Predicted Starting XI:
**Carlos Miguel; Eric da Silva Moreira, Willy Boly, Morato, Alex Moreno; Ryan Yates (C), Ibrahim Sangare; Jota Silva, Danilo, Ramon Sosa; Taiwo Awoniyi**
With a mix of youth, experience, and returning players eager to impress, Forest will hope this rotated lineup has enough quality to overcome Exeter and keep their FA Cup dream alive.
Alious
