Exeter City exit FA Cup in the cruellest way
Exeter City exited the FA Cup in the cruellest of fashions after their penalty shootout defeat to Premier League Nottingham Forest. The Grecians battled bravely at St James Park and played for 40 minutes with ten men only to lose on spot kicks.
Josh Magennis put the Grecians ahead with just five minutes gone, but before half-time, Forest had turned it around. Firstly Ramon Sosa danced into the box and squeezed an effort through and just over the line to level it up. And then after a sustained period of pressure, Taiwo Awoniyi on a rare start curled a beautiful finish in from the edge of the box.
Magennis though made it 2-2 early in the second half as the striker bundled home from a corner with the aid of a deflection. Ed Turns was sent-off late in normal time for a dangerous challenge, but City hung on for penalties. Reece Cole’s effort was saved, and Angus MacDonald hit the bar, as Forest won 4-2 on penalties to progress.
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“These are the types of nights you want to live for,” Magennis said. “Going down to 10 men killed the momentum a little bit. I was entrusted to be captain of the team so I thought it was my responsibility to step forward and take the first penalty.
"Listen, they're not in their position in the Premier League for no reason. It's back to bread and butter and we've not been in a rich vein of form. But we can take positives from this. We can take confidence. Everyone left the stadium knowing that it was an entertaining match.
"I think that is the identity that the manager has tried to create. It was a great game even though we got beat. We are under no illusion they are a fantastic team, especially on the transition. It has to be a catalyst for us.”
MacDonald, who was making his debut, and who had only played seven times for Aberdeen this season, added: “It was some debut and one of the games you want to play in.
“Each player has done themselves proud, we had a game plan, stuck to it, and a cruel way to go out, but now have 17 big cup finals to focus on.
“We wanted to start fast and the FA Cup, upsets can happen, and we were hoping we’d be one of them. We frustrated them, on another night we could have won the game, and forced it all the way.
“It was one of them, a cruel way to go out but we can take the positives for getting to penalties and another night could have gone the other way. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.”
On his penalty miss, he added: “I was gutted when it hit the bar, no one wants to miss. I put myself forward and no-one means to miss a penalty and one of those things, just unlucky. There was no better way to make a debut chucked in at the deep end, I couldn’t ask for any better. I am hungry to play games and win and Exeter gave me a chance to do it.”
