In a match when they should be favorites, Espirito Santo may start some Forest Academy players against Exeter, but at this point in the season, maintaining momentum will most likely come first.
Nevertheless, Ibrahim Sangare is expected to return from injury and start in the FA Cup to hone match sharpness, so some other periphery players might have a chance to play on Tuesday.
Taiwo Awoniyi, who has contributed slightly to the record-breaking Forest scorer Chris Wood, might be someone in a similar situation. The Exeter match was an opportunity to demonstrate why Forest made the rather unexpected decision to retain Awoniyi rather than buy a new striker.
With the Forest squad looking likely to be freshened up, another welcome relief for fans will be the lack of VAR involved in the game, a decision that the FA explained ahead earlier in the season.
Nottingham Forest receive welcome VAR break in the FA Cup
Forest and VAR haven’t had the best relationship over the years, with the infamous Forest VAR statement after the Everton defeat last season still fresh in the minds of football fans who ridiculed the communication.
It’ll be a welcome relief for Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis then that VAR will not be in operation for the clash with Exeter, with the FA releasing a statement in December on the matter.
The statement said: “It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.
“VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.
“This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”
Marinakis went on a VAR rant in December as Forest continued to have issues with the system so the fact they won’t have to think about the technology on a matchday will be a moment of clarity, as long as the referee on the day doesn’t make a mistake that is.
This news comes on the back of another suspected VAR error being confirmed in the press to the frustration of all at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest’s VAR break comes after further controversy
Forest fans were left in a familiar state of frustration in January as a result of VAR after Nikola Milenkovic had a goal disallowed against Southampton.
Time passed to leave the decision out of the minds of the club, but it came back into the news cycle after the Key Match Incident panel deemed the Milenkovic VAR call incorrect.
Given the lack of faith in the system since the April 2024 announcement, there is almost a sense of melancholy surrounding VAR rather than hostility, even though it is obvious that the news was frustrating for Forest supporters.
Since the FA Cup gives Espirito Santo and his Forest coaching team an opportunity to chat on the field without the possible distraction of officials, everyone at the club will welcome a respite from the gloom during the Exeter game.
In December 2023, when relegation from the Premier League was certain and the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo was clearly successful, Forest fired Cooper.
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