Watford required a late Odion Ighalo strike to overcome a stubborn Nottingham Forest side 1-0 at the City Ground in Saturday afternoon's FA Cup fourth-round tie.
The contest struggled to really get going throughout, and in the end it required in-form striker Ighalo to come off the bench and fire home the winner from close range in the final minute of play.
Forest had just two shots on target across the 90 minutes, with their best chance being squandered by Jamie Ward in the final act of the first half.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in the East Midlands below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup fourth-round meeting between Nottingham Forest and Watford at Vicarage Road. The Reds head into this game on the back of an impressive recent run, having now gone 13 games without defeat, but that is not to say things are currently all smiles at the City Ground.
A few murmurs of discontent could be heard following the bland, goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers in midweek, coming hot on the heels of an impressive triumph away at league favourites Middlesbrough at the Riverside just a few days prior. It may be two months without tasting defeat, yet too many draws have blighted Forest's copybook during that spell.
Regardless of that, Freedman has certainly turned a corner following what he described as one of his darkest spells in management during Forest's previous barren run, and now the chance is there to keep the famous club's hopes alive on two fronts heading into the final third of the season. Victory today and a place at Wembley will not be too far away whatsoever.
Before taking a look at both sides' fortunes in a little more depth so far this campaign, let's first switch attention to the team news which has just been released at the City Ground. Will Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores name a weakened lineup as expected, or will he instead go with a strong side like the one fielded to face Newcastle United in the last round?
TEAM NEWS!
NOTTINGHAM FOREST XI: De Vries, Lichaj, Wilson, Hobbs, Cohen, O.Burke, Gardner, Vaughan, Grant, Ward, Blackstock
WATFORD XI: Pantilimon, Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake, Watson, Guedioura, Abdi, Deeney, Anya, Amrabat
Starting with the Watford starting lineup, then, and Sanchez Flores has opted to make seven changes to his side in all. As widely expected, the Spaniard is using today's game as a chance to rest the vast majority of his senior pros - unlike in the last round at Newcastle - meaning that two players get to make their full debuts in the East Midlands.
Nordin Amrabat and Costel Pantilimon will both run out for their new side for the first time this afternoon, while Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Adlene Guedioura, Almen Abdi and Ikechi Anya are also brought back into the first-team fold. Sanchez Flores may have rung the changes, then, but this is still a strong Watford side that should have plenty of quality to trouble their Championship opponents.
Gomes, Paredes, Britos, Capoue, Behrami, Jurado and Ighalo are the seven players to make way, so there is a place for Troy Deeney in the starting lineup. Ighalo is the most high profile of the absentees, having found the net in nine of his last 14 outings for the Hornets. The goalscoring weight will now be firmly on Deeney's shoulders, with the Englishman certainly enjoying life at Vicarage Road at this moment in time.
Dougie Freedman has also decided to change his Forest side around slightly, bringing in Wales international David Vaughan following his recent suspension. Ryan Mendes was a doubt after picking up a knock earlier this week, and he has seemingly failed to overcome that setback as he misses out on the squad entirely this afternoon. Dexter Blackstock has been tasked with leading the line for Forest in what appears to be a 4-5-1 formation.
BENCH WATCH!
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: Evtimov, Jokic, Mancienne, Mills, Oliveira, Walker, Osborn
WATFORD SUBS: Gomes, Britos, Holebas, Paredes, Behrami, Jurado, Ighalo
Sanchez Flores talked of his "respect" for the FA Cup in the build-up to today's game, which perhaps explains why he has decided to name Ighalo among his back-up options at the City Ground. This competition certainly provides supporters with some added excitement, and this is a Hornets squad boasting plenty of talent both in the starting lineup and on the bench.
Forest have decided to keep some first-team regulars out of the matchday XI this afternoon, largely due to the vast number of games in the second tier at this time of the year. Matt Mills is among those who must watch on from the bench, as does former Premier League player Nelson Oliveira. Should Freedman be looking for a bit of midfield influence, then young prospect Ben Osborne certainly fits the bill.
No Odion Ighalo in the starting lineup for Watford this afternoon, but there is a place in the matchday XI for fellow hitman Troy Deeney. The visitors have made seven changes in all from last weekend's victory over Newcastle United at Vicarage Road - their first win in six league outings.
So today certainly offers Forest boss Dougie Freedman the chance to build some momentum following a prolonged unbeaten run. I mentioned a little earlier that, despite this 13-match run without defeat, supporters are still not fully convinced. Four points from games against Middlesbrough and QPR has to be seen as a positive, though, with the playoffs still very much an achievable target this term.
The problem for Freedman has been the vast number of draws, with seven matches in this 13-game unbeaten run ending in a stalemate - including three 1-1 draws in a row. It means that a top-six finish is still remaining even so slightly out of reach, despite a turnaround in fortunes over the past two months or so. Seven points is the difference now, so draws must simply be turned into wins if the gap is to be closed in time.
Forest face trips to high-flyers Hull City and Burnley before February is out, however, although having just got the better of Middlesbrough at the Riverside, the Reds must surely fancy their chances in those key fixtures. The league takes a back seat over the next few hours, though, as Forest aim to build on their slender win over QPR in the last round to book a place in round five of the competition.
DID YOU KNOW? Watford are winless in five away outings in the FA Cup. The caveat to that stat is the fact that four of those games have come against either Chelsea or Manchester City, so the Hornets' hopes of getting a win in the East Midlands this afternoon should not be written off just yet.
Sticking with the Hornets, it has certainly be a fine campaign on their return to the big time. Not an awful lot was known about Sanchez Flores when taking over in the summer, other than his impressive work at Atletico Madrid, but he has certainly proved the club's board right in making a change upon promotion. The wheels did appear to fall off at one point recently, yet victory over Newcastle last week has got the Londoners back on track.
Having won four in a row at the back end of last year, the Hornets' form took a turn for the worse when winning just two out of the next seven in all competitions. In the league, it is now one win in six thanks to their triumph over the Magpies, leaving the club sitting pretty in 10th place. A top-half finish is certainly on the cards - some achievement for a club who many had written off for promotion a little over 12 months ago.
Relegation is surely out of the question now, knowing that the magic 40-point mark is just a few wins away, and attention can turn towards turning this Hornets side into an established Premier League force once more. With games against a seemingly improving Chelsea side and title-chasers Tottenham Hotspur to come in the next week, it is important that Watford keep their eyes firmly on the prize.
In terms of the club's cup exploits, Quique Sanchez Flores named a strong side to face Newcastle in the last round and was rewarded with a slender victory in the North East. Deeney was the match winner in that one, scoring late on in the first half to secure a 1-0 triumph and a place in round four. It is usually at this stage of the campaign that teams begin to weigh up expectations and, with Premier League safety essentially in the bag, a cup run must surely now be on the agenda for Watford.
Troy Deeney's first-half strike gave Watford victory over Newcastle United in the last round of the competition, setting up this intriguing tie against Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands. The Reds themselves claimed a narrow win last time out in the FA Cup, seeing off Queens Park Rangers by the same scoreline.
The one issue, if you can call it that, for Watford has been their lack of scoring on the road of late. They have failed to score in each of their last two away outings; last going three in a row in January 2012. With Deeney leading the line this afternoon, the Hornets certainly boast a striker with the capability of finding the net, having recently written his name in club folklore thanks to his prolific scoring rate since joining the club.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These sides have met plenty of times in league competition in the past, but what about specifically in the FA Cup? Well, their last encounter came in 1989, when Forest were 3-0 victors at Vicarage Road in round five of the competition. Their only other previous match was way back in the 1940s, shortly after World War II, with the Hornets progressing through that tie thanks to the aid of a couple of replays.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These sides have met plenty of times in league competition in the past, but what about specifically in the FA Cup? Well, their last encounter came in 1989, when Forest were 3-0 victors at Vicarage Road in round five of the competition. Their only other previous match was way back in the 1940s, shortly after World War II, with the Hornets progressing through that tie thanks to the aid of a couple of replays.
This is not the only FA Cup tie taking place this afternoon, of course, and we have already seen the conclusion of one match today. Tottenham Hotspur made light work of Colchester United in the end, coming out on top 4-1 at the Colchester Community Stadium a little earlier. West Ham United face fellow Premier League side Liverpool in the late kickoff, in what is a repeat of a classic cup meeting from the last decade.
Our attention will firmly be fixed on events at the City Ground across the next two hours, with the occasional update from elsewhere. This game provides both these teams with a real chance of taking their place in the proverbial hat for round five, and a place in what is essentially the latter stages of the competition. Both will also feel confident of picking up the win required, having named fairly strong lineups.
With around 10 minutes to go before kickoff, let's check out the pre-match views from both camps heading into this FA Cup showdown.
Dougie Freedman: "We're always looking to move forward and embrace what happened in the past to this football club, try to learn from it and move on from it. When we talk about the current group of players, and the youngsters we've got in the team - like Ben Osborn and Oliver Burke - what can we do in the future next excites me just as much as looking back."
Quique Sanchez Flores: "Forest have a very good side, they are really organised. Sometimes they play with two strikers, and they have very energetic players in the middle. We respect them a lot and we are away so it is a pleasure and an honour to play against them."
As ever when Forest are involved in cup competitions, plenty of the pre-match talk has surrounded the club's illustrious past. European Cup joy seems a million miles away this time moment in time, but Freedman knows that he can make history of his own by guiding the Reds back into the big time. FA Cup success will also go some way to putting him somewhere close to Brian Clough in terms of success at this proud Midlands outfit.
Opposition coach Sanchez Flores also talked up the past achievements of Forest, claiming that he remembers watching on as a youngster as the Reds triumphed in Europe. The final against Hamburg was played in his home city of Madrid, which may explain why he stated on a couple of occasions that it will be an "honour" to manage a side at the City Ground this afternoon.
Both sets of players are making their way down the tunnel, with kickoff now just a couple of minutes away. A great atmosphere already building around this famous ground, which is being helped by a strong away contingent in the Midlands. Let's just hope for an entertaining cup tie!
Around 4,000 Watford supporters in attendance at the City Ground. Plenty of home fans here, too, showing that this famous competition still has plenty of magic about it.
KICKOFF! Watford, sporting their black away strip this afternoon, get things underway at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest boast the Football League's best current unbeaten run heading into this showdown.
A case of keep ball in these early stages for the visitors. Forest are more than happy to sit back, with a large part of their game built around counter-attacking play. Just two teams can boast a better defensive record this term in the second tier.
Oliver Burke looking to make inroads down the right flank, but he can only run the ball out of play. A slow start to the contest, in truth, with neither side really able to find any sort of momentum in the attack third thus far.
The first attempt of the afternoon comes courtesy of Guedioura, who absolutely belts the ball high into the stands on his return to Forest. Prior to that, Deeney's cross was well headed away in a central area.
Forest seeing more of the ball over the past few minutes; keeping possession in the opposition half without truly asking any questions in an attacking sense. Both sides remaining strong at the back in these opening nine minutes or so.
Burke does well to cut inside into a central position, but he loses the ball without doing too much with it. Watford looking frustrated at the moment, with all their attacks breaking down before Deeney can really get on the ball. Very slow start to this game.
A shot apiece for both sides so far; Ward for Forest and Guedioura for the visitors, neither of which could trouble the respective goalkeepers. Just no momentum to this game at the moment, which is not making the best viewing from a neutral perspective.
This game is crying out for someone to take things by the scruff of the neck. All very simply at the back for both defences so far, with no attacking moves of note. Ake is the latest to waste a decent crossing opportunity when getting into an advanced position.
Amrabat gets away from his marker on his first start for Watford, but his pullback is very weak and is intercepted by a red shirt. Pretty much sums up the frustration for both sides, as Gardner becomes the latest to blast over the bar up the other end of the field.
For the first time in the game really Watford are enjoying a prolonged spell of possession in the Forest half. A free kick won next to the corner flag is well swung in by Watson, but not a single Hornets players was anywhere to be seen towards the back-post area.
Adlene Guedioura's volley, just like his first shot of the match a little earlier, is smashed high and wide. Still no chances created and no shots on target with nearly a quarter of the game now played.
Very little for Quique Sanchez Flores to get excited about thus far in this FA Cup fourth-round tie, with neither side able to muster a single shot on target so far.
Amrabat showing some good work ethic by running the channels, but his efforts account for little as the ball runs out of play. Watford without a goal in each of their last two away outings, remember - could this be another shutout on their travels?
Cohen swings in a decent cross from the left, which Blackstock manages to get on the end of. He was under plenty of pressure, though, and struggled to direct the ball goalwards. Better from Forest, but will that be enough to spark them into life?
SAVE! We have a shot on target at long last, and it has come through the man who has looked the most lively so far. Adlene Guedioura has blasted a couple of shots well wide, but this one on the swivel from range had to be kept out by De Vries between the sticks. Simple enough in the end, but a save nonetheless.
That Guedioura shot does appear to have sparked the game into life a little, as both teams begin to get more bodies forward. It really has been a bland affair for the best part of half an hour, but hopefully we will now see more in the attacking third.
SAVE! Anya becomes the second Watford player to test De Vries, with a shot at the Dutchman's near post. Well kept out in the end, as Watford look to take control of the contest.
Just the end product lacking for Forest now, having finally managed to get in a couple of shots on goal over the past 10 minutes. Forest looking strong in a defensive sense, doing well to keep Deeney out of the game so far with a number of red shirts getting back.
Some respite for Forest as they finally put an attacking move of their own together, but a throw down the right in a dangerous position goes short and is well defended by the visitors. Just under 10 minutes to go until half time at the City Ground.
Forest play heir way out of danger well thanks to some pinpoint passing, but they are struggling to really get forward. Still, this is a good period of play for the hosts following the Hornets' own best spell of the contest.
SAVE! Ben Watson pushing high up the pitch now in an attempt to stop Forest knocking the ball around at the back. Amrabat takes on a shot to nothing around 25 yards out, which was never going to truly trouble De Vries who was there to comfortably collect.
Burke finds the ball at his feet inside the area, but he is unable to pick out a teammate with his flick. That was a decent opening for the hosts - possibly their best of the half so far - but still that shot on target has alluded them. Defensively speaking, though, they have looked very strong.
Amrabat wanted a penalty a little earlier following a little challenge from the returning Vaughan, but having now seen a replay it would have been harsh had it been given. Neil Swarbrick the man in the middle this afternoon, incidentally.
CHANCE! The best chance of the opening 45 minutes comes in the final seconds of the half, as Ward capitalises on some slack defending to race in behind the Watford defence. The midfielder had plenty of time to pick his spot, but he fired wide of goal with the final kick.
HALF TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-0 WATFORD
Certainly not the most entertaining games so far, then, but we did at least have a few talking points provided in the closing 15 minutes of the half. Forest have largely been second best, having focused almost exclusively on defending so far, but Ward's late chance really should have been the difference at the end of the opening 45 minutes.
Forest did not even manage to actually get a shot on goal and, prior to that late Ward chance, they failed to put together any attacking move of note. Watford were not much better in the opening 30 minutes or so, in truth, but they did at least manage to click into gear somewhat for the remainder of the half.
Guedioura tested De Vries with the game's first shot on goal at the third attempt, before Anya did likewise with a near-post effort. Amrabat, making his first start for the Hornets this afternoon, was the next player to try his luck when putting his foot through the ball 25 yards out, but De Vries was once more on hand to make a comfortable stop.
That really has been as good as things have got, though at least the late Ward chance provides us with some hope that this second half can improve. Forest have looked very strong at the back, yet they may have to push out a little more if they are to claim a victory today. A replay will not be wanted by either side.
Let's remind ourselves of both sides' benches this afternoon. Watford made seven changes to their starting lineup and Forest eight, so players remaining fresh should not be too much of an issue.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: Evtimov, Jokic, Mancienne, Mills, Oliveira, Walker, Osborn
WATFORD SUBS: Gomes, Britos, Holebas, Paredes, Behrami, Jurado, Ighalo
The players are now back out on the field of play ahead of the second half of this FA Cup tie. Will one of these sides seize the initiative following the 15-minute break in play? Let's find out...
RESTART! Forest get proceedings back underway at the City Ground, looking to build on that late chance that Ward squandered prior to the half-time interval.
Ward is already looking lively down the flank, but his cross goes straight out of play for a goal kick. He was claiming a corner, but referee Neil Swarbrick was having none of it. Livelier start to this second period.
Still awfully congested in the middle of the park, with Forest continuing to get bodies behind the ball. You get the sense that the changes made be either manager this afternoon could have a big say on the end outcome.
Ward shows some good movement to try to get in behind the opposition defence, but a pass over the top to him was a little overhit. Forest now looking to keep Watford deep in their own half from a throw-in.
SAVE! What a superb stop by De Vries to deny Amrabat a dream goal on his first start for the Hornets. The new signing connected with a volley perfectly on the edge of the box, and the ball was heading for the top corner if not for the Forest stopper's strong hand to turn it aside.
Watford's turn to have a penalty appeal turned down, as Prodl goes down inside the area. He did have a shout, to be fair, but again the referee was more than happy to wave play on. This contest appears to have burst into life at long last!
Forest's turn to knock the ball around in the opposition half, but it is a case of same old as they struggle to create any sort of chances. The first-half opening for Ward came about after some slack Watford defending, so maybe that is the key to breaking the visitors down.
We are approaching the stage in the game when both managers will surely be thinking about changing things around. Sanchez Flores has Ighalo among his back-up options, remember - a striker with nine goals in his last 14 outings.
YELLOW CARD! Just the one goalless FA Cup match so far today - this one! No real sign of a breakthrough at the moment, besides that impressive strike from Amrabat a little earlier. Ward now shown a yellow for cynically chopping down Ake.
CHANCE! Some good play by Anya down the right, who skips past his man and gets a cross into the box for Amrabat to latch on to. The striker went for a casual back-flick, which ended in the welcoming hands of De Vries. Good opening for the visitors, that.
Watson delivers another decent cross from a free kick, which Forest struggle to clear at the initial attempt. It is punted to safety in the end, but they can't seem to stop the Watford momentum at the moment. Still no sign of any changes.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUB! Osborn has replaced Ward in the first alteration of the game. A decent enough shift from Ward, who was on the end of his side's only opening of the contest up until this stage.
WATFORD SUBS! Double change for the Hornets, and it is worrying for the home side as Ighalo has been introduced. Juardo is the other player to come on, with Deeney and Anya the men to make way.
So Sanchez Flores has rolled the dice with that double change, but will it make the desired impact? This really is anyone's game at this stage, yet it is the visitors who still look the more likely to make the breakthrough.
Odion Ighalo is now on the field, replacing fellow forward Troy Deeney a few minutes ago, but so far he has been unable to make an impact. Still 15 minutes or so for that to change.
We have gone back into a bit of a slump since those changes, which will suit Forest a little more because Watford had just a little momentum at that stage. One goal will win this cagey tie.
The attendance has been announced at 24,703, including 3,771 visiting fans. Not been the greatest of cup ties for the neutral, but at least it will remain tight and tense heading into the closing stages.
Still awaiting Forest's first shot on target, by the way. It has been a decent enough gameplan by the hosts, who have looked to contain their Premier League opponents, but they have lacked the balance in a sense that their attacking play has not quite been at the levels we know they can reach.
YELLOW CARD! Amrabat has had a fairly decent debut so far, but he has now gone into the referee's book for a sloppy challenge. More subs being readied on the touchline...
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUB! Oliveira is on for Grant in Forest's second change. Lichaj tested Pantilimon prior to that alteration, with a speculative volley down the middle.
These substitutions are certainly not helping to build any momentum, and there is more to come by the looks of it. Still neither side can take the initiative and carve out a killer chance.
WATFORD SUB! Third and final change for Watford as Paredes replaces Amrabat. Sanchez Flores perhaps happy with the battling draw, then.
CLOSE! A decent opening for Blackstock late on, as he just about stays onside to meet a cross into a central position. The striker can only direct the ball narrowly wide of the post, though, as Pantilimon gratefully watches on.
GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-1 WATFORD (ODION IGHALO)
We have a breakthrough goal at the City Ground at long, long last. It came about following a mistake at the back, too, as a cross from the right was not cut out by Forest, meaning one of the most prolific forward's in the game at this moment in time was able to fire home from close range. Ighalo has had nothing to feed off since coming on, but that is now 10 in 15 for him.
A good response from the hosts, who looked to have caught Pantilimon out, but he did well to keep out substitute Oliveira. Just seconds remaining now for the home side.
FULL TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-1 WATFORD
So there we have it - Watford will take their place in round five of the FA Cup, courtesy of Odion Ighalo's late strike in this bland tie. It was a game that failed to really spark into life throughout, and it was perhaps fitting that such a sloppy goal was needed to decide the outcome.
That concludes Sports Mole's coverage of events at the City Ground, but be sure to stick around for live text commentary of Liverpool's meeting with West Ham United in the day's late kickoff. That can be found by clicking here. Thanks for joining!
