Nottinghamshire

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There is little point of whispering it quietly any more. Nottingham Forest are on the brink of something extraordinary.

Into the FA Cup quarter-finals to play Brighton after Monday's shootout victory over Ipswich and third in the Premier League, their dream season continues.

It comes just a year after being docked four points for breaching profit and sustainability rules and falling into the bottom three.

Like Leicester's historic Premier League title win nine years ago everything appears to be in perfect harmony; a squad in sync with a manager who has tapped into the heart of their talent and personalities.

The spirit and unity was evident at the City Ground on Monday during the penalty shootout, with Morgan Gibbs-White giving Matz Sels an encouraging fist bump after scoring Forest's second spot-kick.

That is not for show. The togetherness has been evident all season.

Last month at the training ground, when the players were set a social media task to spin an American football for as long as possible several, including Gibbs-White, hung around to play a game of catch with each other.

It was clear those close alliances helped Forest over the line against Ipswich and could produce something special in the final few weeks of the season.

We asked for your views on the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich.

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans:

Rob: It is all about progressing to the next round, doesn't matter how you get there! Ryan Yates epitomised everything about Forest - grit and determination. Suspect he may have impressed a watching England manager...

Nathan: Ipswich made it hard for us and were tough to break down, but we did well to get the equaliser and thought we looked most likely as the game went on. Solid all round and the result is all that matters. Wary of Brighton's reaction after the 7-0.

Adam: I'm glad that we're through to the quarter-finals but we sure made it harder than it needed to be. We were the better team throughout the game but just could not finish our chances. It was a decent game of football but just frustrating as a Forest fan to watch.

Fosi: We have not played well for six matches now, defence not quite as solid and attack lacks penetration. Think we need better quality back up players, and slightly bigger squad to cope with all the games. Overall good fighting display.

Ipswich fans:

Robert: Scrappy game, but what I don't understand is why clubs (not just Ipswich but Forest and Manchester United) field weakened teams from the start. Surely the prospect of taking your loyal fans to Wembley in a final is worth playing the best XI?

James: Small margins again. We took a good side in Forest to 120 minutes. It is a shame to lose but the bigger focus was always the league. Full effort and attention now needed for a crucial part of the season.

Matt: We defended well but offered little attacking threat. Lots of passing backwards demonstrated a lack of confidence. Improved in extra time but we were always going to lose when it came to penalties - it was just a question who would miss. Need to win matches to stay up now - which I cannot see happening.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Sport: "I'm really happy. We have so many hopes and in the FA Cup we want to go as far as we can. On penalties, the emotions are always high.

"We proceed in our journey together. We are delighted for them. It's a good moment and it's important for the club to give it a real go. Now we have to focus on the Premier League but the FA Cup is always going to be on our mind."

On it going to penalties: "In every FA Cup draw we have to practise penalties and we kept the same order as Exeter. We did really well and they were good penalties.

"I believe it makes part of the game preparations, the same time as the goalkeeper is to practise and get as much info as possible. It's dedication.

"It's not nice at all - anxiety, nervous, mix or emotions. I try not to watch and just wait for the noise!

"It was huge for us [Matz Sels' save]. The players did their jobs well, they were good penalties and Matz [Sels] - amazing for us."

Did you know?

• Winger Anthony Elanga made 20 crosses in this match, the most by a Premier League player in any match this season.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of the display, Nottingham Forest fans?

Ipswich fans - tell us your thoughts here

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna made 11 changes when his side beat Coventry in round four and I suspect he will do something similar here.

You might have heard about 'Sutton's Super Computer', which were the calculations I did for the Monday Night Club this week, where I worked out the results of all the remaining Premier League fixtures.

According to my secret formula, which is obviously extremely scientific, the Tractor Boys only have an outside chance of staying up. Along with Leicester, they were in my 'no-hopers' category.

Maybe Ipswich can surprise me and go on an FA Cup run, but you have to fancy Nottingham Forest here.

Defeat would just leave a grim fight against relegation for McKenna's side, so I feel for my daughter's teacher, Mr Fields, who regular readers will know follows the Tractor Boys, but not so much for my 5 Live colleague Ali Bruce-Ball, who is a phony Ipswich supporter - when I asked him, he could not remember the last time he went to watch them as a fan.

One thing I really can't stand are people like Bruce who attach themselves to a club which has a bit of success, claiming some tenuous link from the past.

My boyhood team, Forest, may make changes too because they are still in a good position for a Champions League spot, but I am backing Chris Wood to come off the bench and get us a winner.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1 after extra time

Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says he will need all of his squad between now and the end of the season if they are to qualify for Europe.

Forest remain third in the Premier League but are being chased down by reigning champions Manchester City and Chelsea in fifth.

"We are going to need all of the players," said Nuno. "Nobody should disconnect and we try to make sure that everybody is involved.

"There's no other way. Players must be patient, responsible and respectful for who's playing."

That includes Monday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at home against Ipswich Town, in which Matz Sels is expected to return to the matchday line-up following Carlos Miguel's injury.

Experienced goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is not "the best decision" added Nuno.

"I think Matz should start again. It's very difficult for a goalkeeper to come into the team. Wayne [Hennessey] is doing a fantastic job but he got injured last season so it's about getting him back."

Following Monday's game, Forest host Manchester City in an encounter which could have big consequences in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Nottingham Forest will compete with Everton and Newcastle to sign Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, 23, from Marseille this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

This is the fourth FA Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich. The Tractor Boys progressed via a replay in 1980-81, while Forest have won the past two meetings 3-0 (January 1989 and January 1997).

Ipswich have been eliminated from their past 13 FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, since beating Blackburn Rovers in the third round in 1995-96.