The FA Cup Thread 2024

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The draw for the quarter-finals then is as follows:

Fulham will play Crystal Palace
Preston North End will play Aston Villa
Bournemouth will play Manchester City
Brighton will play either Ipswich or Nottingham Forest, who play each other tomorrow.

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FA Cup Quarter Finals

Saturday March 29 2025

We're down to the last eight teams, and perhaps predictably, but somewhat disappointingly and removing the chance of FA Cup magic, all but one of the remaining sides are Premier League teams. All four playing today are, with the last one outside the Premiership kicking off against us tomorrow, flying the lone flag for the Championship.



Teams : Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Plays in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: The Amex

Forest found themselves without their talismanic striker, Chris Wood out with an injury, both teams flying high in the Premiership, Forest at third of course but Brighton not too far away at 7th, a mere seven points separating them. Forest with the first real attempt on goal after 15 minutes but the Brighton keeper equal to it, their own first effort coming ten minutes later but wide of the far post. Another shot for the Seagulls just on the half-hour but this time right at the keeper, and so scoreless it remained at the break. Brighton started the second half, well, brightly, but still no goals. Just before the hour the home side had a great chance but snuffed out by the Forest defence.

BIG penalty shout for Forest, and it was initially awarded by the ref, who was then told to head to the monitor where he changed his mind, which was the right thing to do. The game could have hung on a poor decision. Interesting to see, for the first time ever (for me anyway) the ref talking to the crowd through his mike rather than just making the gestures, and explaining his decision. The game definitely more interesting and played with more passion and pace in the second half, but still nobody looking likely to score as we headed for full time. Extra time and penalties? In the first minute of added time Forest came close to snatching it, but after eight further minutes no goals scored and so into another thirty minutes we went.

As per usual, nothing really happened in the extra time, and Gary makes a good point when he said that the whole idea of another two halves of fifteen minutes is a bit pointless; almost always the end result is penalties, so why not just go directly to the spot kicks? At any rate, that's where we inevitably ended up, so now a place in the semi-finals hung on who could literally step up to the spot and do his club proud, who would break and miss, or which keeper would make himself a hero, or indeed the fall guy? First up were Brighton, who scored, then Forest evened it up, one each. Second Brighton penalty went in, as did that from Forest, all square as Brighton stepped up for their third. This was missed, advantage now with Forest if they could score, but blasted it over the bar! 2-2 it remained, one missed each, though at least Brighton's was saved whereas that by Forest was so poor the keeper didn't even have to work to keep it out. Fourth penalty for Brighton saved also, turning the tie back in Forest's favour, who scored, piling so much pressure on the next Brighton player. When the ball hit the back of the net you could hear the explosion of relief around the Amex. Forest though had only to score and they would be through, and they did, sending Nuno Espirito Santo's team to Wembley.

Scorers: N/A
Result: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Nottingham Forest (Forest win 4-3 on penalties)





Teams : Fulham v Crystal Palace
Plays in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: Craven Cottage

Not that much of a gap between these two either, Fulham at 8th and Palace at 12th, and in fact less of a difference in points, a mere six, but the lower-placed team made the higher look like they were the weaker of the two . Fulham in fact had the first real chance but wasted it, wide of the post, while Palace took their opportunity when it came, Ese bending a lovely shot like Beckham into the top of the net just after half an hour to put Palace ahead in the twin FA Cup quarter final and London derby. Six minutes later it was two, and Fulham seemed to have no answer, though they came close to pulling one back early in the second half, unable to squeeze it past the post. Nketiah then made it certain with Palace's third fifteen minutes from time.

Scorers: Ese, Sarr, Nketiah (PAL)
Result: Fulham 0 - 3 Crystal Palace

Semi-finalists (2 of 4): Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace

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Teams: Preston North End v Aston Villa
Plays in: Championship v Premier League
Matched played at: Deepdale

Our chance to get into the semis, and facing the last Championship side the odds would be heavily in our favour, but this is the FA Cup and Preston are at home, so who knows? Fucking balloons everywhere; that surely was going to distract players and even block a goal? I would have expected when the ball went dead that a few moments might have been allowed to pop the damn things, but no. Villa got a free in the tenth minute but the Preston keeper able to catch it, the Premier League team certainly providing all the pressure in the early part of the game, Preston with barely a shot at the Villa goal, their first real attempt coming as the half-hour expired. Good save by Martinez and then a bit of a mix-up in the home defence stopped the ball ending up in the Villa net. Despite having the lion's share of the possession though, Aston Villa unable to do anything with it, and scoreless at half-time.

Just before the hour we had the breakthrough as Rashford struck to take his first ever Villa goal and put his team in the ascendancy and on the way to Wembley. Mere moments later Ramsay could have made it certain, but blocked. Moments after that, Villa got a penalty, allowing the on-loan striker to double his tally and tighten his team's grip on a semi-final place. That grip became rigid when Rogers scored Villa's third on 70 minutes, the tie safe now.

Scorers: Rashford (2) of which 1 (p), Rogers (AST)
Result: Preston North End 0 - 3 Aston Villa




Teams: Bournemouth v Manchester City
Plays in: Premier League v  Premier League
Matched played at: The Vitality Stadium

As probably expected, Manchester City had the bulk of the possession, and the early chance to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty, Haaland proved unable to convert though, Bournemouth's keeper diving to keep him out. Haaland was at it again and had a second chance to open the scoring but shot high over the bar. Then against the run of play Bournemouth scored when the ball was given away, the first half just twenty minutes old. City have made a habit of losing leads, but this time they had to come back from a losing position, Foden coming close, but they had to wait for the restart before they were able to level, that man again, with his fourth clear effort of the game, this time making the Bournemouth net bulge after they had given the ball away. Again.

City then completed the turnaround just afte the hour when Marmoush scored, and to be honest, it could have been three or four, but two will do it, and Manchester City make up the fourth team who will walk out onto the pitch at Wembley.

Scorers: Evanielsan (BOU); Haaland, Marmoush (MNC)
Result: Bournemouth 1 - 2 Manchester City

Semi-finalists (4 of 4): Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Manchester City

And here's how they'll run out:

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa