Brave Exeter City suffered FA Cup heartbreak on penalties after an absorbing cup tie against Nottingham Forest. 2-2 after normal time and extra time, the Premier League outfit won 4-2 on penalties as the Grecians bowed out of the competition.

The cupset was on with just five minutes on the clock when the Grecians took a shock lead. Demetri Mitchell’s shot was spilled by Carlos Miguel and Josh Magennis was alive to poke home from close range to make it 1-0. It was his fifth in the FA Cup and a ninth of the season.

But before half-time, Forest had turned it around. Firstly Ramon Sosa danced into the box and squeezed and 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.

READ MORE: Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest - live updates of FA Cup tie

READ MORE: Worthing 2 Torquay United 2 - Gulls snatch point in stoppage-time

Magennis, or perhaps a Wily Boly own goal, 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. And in the 23^rd minute of second half stoppage-time, Jota Silva saw an effort hit the post and into extra-time we went.

Both sides had chances to win it in extra-time, but neither could, and to penalties we went. Reece Cole’s penalty was saved, and then Angus MacDonald saw his rattle the crossbar. Nico Williams stepped up and won it for Forest who survived a massive scare, as City came so close to a famous win.

Following the 4-1 defeat to Stevenage ten days ago, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made five changes to the Grecians side. In came deadline day signings Angus MacDonald and Turns for their debuts, while Jake Richards, Mitchell and Ryan Trevitt also came in. There was no Ryan Woods, Tony Yogane and Caleb Watts, all of whom were on the bench, while Alex Hartridge and Cheick Diabate were cup-tied. As is City’s other deadline day signing Andrew Oluwabori.

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo made 10 changes to the starting line-up from the 7-0 thumping of Brighton and Hove Albion with Danilo the only player to keep his place. But most of the big guns were on the bench in reserve if needed.

City had the first chance with only three minutes on the clock. Vincent Harper whipped in a cross which Boly nearly turned into his own net. But from the resulting corner, Exeter went ahead.

Trevitt’s corner was only half cleared and Turns kept it alive. The defender floated the ball back into the box and found Mitchell. His shot was straight at Miguel, but the goalkeeper spilled it. Magennis was lurking and the skipper poked into the empty net from only two yards out. St James Park went wild.

Forest suddenly were in trouble, but fashioned some chances shortly after. Awoniyi saw an effort saved by Joe Whitworth, Danilo then flashed a shot wide, before Awoniyi got on the end of a long ball, beat Whitworth to it, but Harper did brilliantly to clear off the line.

But in the 15^th minute, the Premier League side levelled. The pressure told as after a good Forest move, Sosa danced into the box after an exquisite touch. His shot squeezed past the goalkeeper and despite getting a hand to it, he couldn’t stop it from trickling over the line to make it 1-1.

It was one-way traffic with Nuno’s side on the offensive, but City’s defence was resolute and keeping them at arm’s length, restricting the chances to a premium. Awoniyi on the volley forced a brilliant save from Whitworth who tipped it wide after Danilo clipped the ball into him.

And in the 37^th minute, Forest took the lead. It came in avoidable circumstances as Harper’s poor touch on the break saw City give the ball away. It was worked neatly to Awoniyi, who took a turn on the edge of the box, and curled a beautiful finish into the far corner giving Whitworth no chance. It had been coming.

Ryan Yates nearly made it three in first half stoppage-time but his close range went narrowly wide, albeit after an offside flag had been raised. City were in the game at the break, but had fairly threatened the Forest goal.

Neither manager made a change at half-time as Exeter hoped the Big Bank could suck the ball in to keep the cup tie alive. And in the 50^th minute, it was 2-2, and the crowd went wild. Ed Francis’ corner was deep and Magennis rose highest at the back post. His header was saved by Miguel, but he pushed it straight to veteran striker who bundled the rebound home from inside the six yard box, although Boly may be credited with the own goal as he sliced the clearance in off the post to turn it into his own net.

Trevitt then flashed over from 30 yards as City were now on top. Miguel was then forced off with injury, but Matz Sels, arguably the best keeper in the Premier League this season, was a more than able replacement. Nicholas Dominguez also replaced Danilo. Magennis then set up Ilmari Niskanen, but the Finn’s effort was straight at Selz.

Watts replaced Trevitt in City’s first change with 20 minutes to go. For Forest, Ryan Yates and Ibrahim Sangare came off, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White came on, just the £80m of talent. Anderson flashed a strike into the side netting from a tight angle with his first touch, Gibbs-White fired straight at Whitworth after a good move. Yogane then replaced Mitchell with Caldwell’s second sub.

City were going for the winner and nearly got it. Niskanen’s cross after a corner wasn’t cleared found Turns at the far post, and his shot was cleared off the line. City were piling on the pressure with a series of corners.

Woods, Reece Cole and Pat Jones replaced Jake Richards, Francis and Harper in a triple change. Forest had a chance to win in when they had a three-on-two on the break, but Yogane did brilliantly to track back and make a vital challenge.

But in the 88^th minute, City’s task got tougher. Turns clattered into Gibbs-White and referee Andrew Kitchen took his time before brandishing the red card. It looked harsh in real time, on the replay, the new signing clearly caught him with his studs on the knee.

Ten minutes of stoppage-time were added-on, somehow. And that was before Awoniyi was seemingly knocked out after an aerial challenge and a heavy landing. Play eventually resumed with 102 minutes on the clock, and Chris Wood on for Forest.

Alex Moreno, Jota Silva and Anderson all came close for Forest in stoppage-time as City were hanging on. But the Grecians nearly won it. Jones skipped into the box and his shot went inches wide of the post with Magennis just unable to get a touch on it sliding in.

In the 23^rd minute of stoppage-time, Forest should have won it. Watts dallied on the ball in his own area and lost it, it was played to Jota Silva, and from eight yards out, his strike lashed the post. It was extra-time.

City had the first chance. Magennis, now playing centre-back, saw a volley saved by Selz. Nico Williams, another Forest sub, then saw his powerful strike saved. Anderson fired over as it was just chance after chance.

Wood was next to come close, his point-blank header from a corner kept out by Whitworth. It was real back to the wall stuff for City now as they were desperately hanging on for a penalty shoot-out. Gibbs-White with a dipping strike was inches wide, Dominguez with the flick just over from a corner as penalties loomed – and then arrived after his late late header was saved.

Magennis, and Wood scored their kicks, but Cole’s penalty was saved by Sels diving low to his right. Gibbs-White scored his, but MacDonald’s penalty rattled the crossbar. Anderson then put Forest on the verge of winning. Yogane kept it alive, but Williams smashed his home to give the Premier League side the win.

They will host Ipswich Town in round five. Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Cambridge United for a 12.30pm kick-off in League One.

Exeter City: Joe Whitworth, Jack McMillan (Jay Bird, 90), Angus MacDonald, Ed Turns, Ilmari Niskanen, Ed Francis (Pat Jones, 82), Jake Richards (Ryan Woods, 82), Vincent Harper (Reece Cole, 82), Ryan Trevitt (Caleb Watts, 71), Demetri Mitchell (Tony Yogane, 73), Josh Magennis

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Ben Purrington, Jack Aitchison,

Booking: McMillan, Yogane

Sending Off: Turns