Gerry McDonagh’s late strike ensured Nottingham Forest booked their spot in the fifth round of The FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 victory over Birmingham City.
The Irishman popped up with just over ten minutes of normal time remaining to power home a header from close range, with Blues failing to score for the first time in 12 games.
In a cagey opening 45 minutes, both sides struggled to create many clear-cut chances, but McDonagh came close when he went clean through and forced a smart save from Max Beardmore in the Birmingham goal.
Forest took charge in the second half and the pressure told when McDonagh found the net on 79 minutes.
Blues did go agonisingly close to a stoppage-time equaliser but Jack Challis' powerful effort from distance whistled inches wide of the post, and Forest held on to progress.
On Tuesday evening, Wigan Athletic edged a tight contest against Derby County 1-0, with Christopher Sang’s deflected effort enough to ensure the Latics achieved their furthest ever progress in The FA Youth Cup.
But it was the Rams who made the early headway, and Elsnik Jakobsen should have done better from close range before Alex Babos then went close for the visitors on two occasions before the ten minute mark.
The Latics hit back on 20 minutes when Callum Lang saw his fine effort cleared off the line by Ethan Wassall, with Josh Barnes in the Derby goal well beaten.
And in first-half stoppage time the hosts squandered another golden opportunity when Alex Lingard expertly worked his way into the area, before crossing for James Barrigan who was somehow denied by a last-ditch challenge from Alex Cover.
It took until just past the hour mark for the hosts to open the scoring when Sang saw his shot deflect off Calum MacDonald into the bottom left-hand corner of Barnes’ goal.
The Rams responded with more intensity in their attacks, and even though Callum Lang went close 12 minutes from time for Wigan, it was a resolute defensive effort that won them the tie.
The visitors launched countless balls into the penalty area but the hosts stood firm, creating history for Wigan and setting up a fifth round tie at home to Manchester City.
And on Monday, Reading were able to come from behind and claim a 3-1 triumph at Fulham.
It could have been a very different story for the Royals, after Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson struck early for the hosts.
Luke Southwood then saved Dennis Adeniran’s penalty before the ten-minute mark to keep Fulham’s lead to just one.
It was late in the second half that the fightback began, with Reading finally equalising with just 15 minutes to go through Tyler Frost, who gratefully hammered home Daniel Akinwunmi’s cross from the right.
Reading then missed a penalty of their own, Josh Barrett fluffing his lines when Fulham goalie Taye Ashby-Hammond saw red for a foul on Sam Smith, but Ryan East soon stabbed in for the Royals.
And with Fulham throwing every man forward to try and grab a last-gasp equaliser, Smith took full advantage and tucked in the third.
