Exeter relish 'amazing' FA Cup draw against Forest

Exeter City are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1981

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says he is excited by the prospect of playing Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Grecians, currently 15th in League One, were drawn at home to Forest, who are third in the top flight, after coming from a goal down to beat Championship side Oxford United 3-1 on Saturday.

"It's amazing," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's obviously brilliant to be in the draw and it's brilliant to have a Premier League club come to St James Park again.

"We'll be really excited about it, but there's a lot of league games to play before then. But it's something for our supporters to really look forward to."

The tie comes 20 years after Exeter took Manchester United to a third-round replay after a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford - the revenues from which helped build the foundations for the side today.

Exeter's last game against top flight opposition saw them beat Luton Town 1-0 in the Carabao Cup last season while the Grecians took Liverpool to a replay in the FA Cup third round in 2016 after a 2-2 draw at St James Park.

"It seems a long time ago now, but we've had a couple of big ones," said Exeter president Julian Tagg.

"The planning is quite extensive and it's going to extend everybody,

"But it's one of those quality problems that I'm sure everybody's looking forward to getting stuck into."

The draw for the fourth round has seen the two remaining sides from Devon draw Premier League opposition at home.

Leaders Liverpool will travel to face Exeter's arch rivals Plymouth Argyle over the same weekend in early February as both clubs hope for an upset.

"For the two West Country teams, one to draw the top of the Premier League and one to draw third in the Premier League is incredible," added Tagg.

"I have to say there is an element of jealousy there, Liverpool is the name that everybody remembers.

"They are a fantastic team, there's no doubt about that, but it is going to be a challenge for them.

"I think both football clubs have a mutual respect for each other. Both clubs have great academies, they do great work in the community

"It's a great day for south-west football."

'Why can't we be that club?'

Exeter's last FA Cup campaign that reached the fourth round ended in a quarter-final loss at Tottenham, against the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles, in 1981

It is the first time Exeter have reached the fourth round of the FA Cup since 1981 when the Grecians eventually went out in the quarter-finals, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

That year they beat top flight Leicester City in the fourth round - so could history repeat itself in 2025?

"I said to the players this season in the very first round when we came into the competition against Barnet 'why can't we be that club this year that has an incredible story and goes through the rounds?'," Caldwell said

"We've created a little bit of history so far by getting to the fourth round, but it would be really special if we could go even further."

Tagg added: "Gary's done a great job.

"He's probably assembled, I've been there a while now, probably the strongest squad certainly that I can remember.

"They won't be relishing coming to see us."

FA Cup disappointment for Exeter's women

Despite their FA Cup loss Exeter City's women made their own bit of history

Hours before the news that Nottingham Forest would be facing Exeter's men's team, Exeter City's women played in their own historic FA Cup tie.

The Grecians, who play in the third tier FA Women's National League South, were thrashed 7-1 by Championship side Sunderland in Newton Abbot.

It was the first time the club had reached the fourth round of the FA Women's Cup but they found the going tough against a side with a number of full-time professionals.

"I just think they were a very good outfit," manager Abbie Britton told BBC Radio Devon.

"The movement they created off the ball and the shape and speed at which they moved the ball was just too much for us.

"But there's absolutely no shame in losing to these guys. They're flying in the Championship, they're a professional outfit and we held a good account of ourselves in large spells of the game."