Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson all scored from the spot before fellow substitute Neco Williams wrapped up a marathon tie with the final kick of the contest at 23:03 GMT.

Josh Magennis and Tony Yogane were on target for third-tier Exeter, but substitute goalkeeper Matz Sels saved Reece Cole's poor penalty and Angus MacDonald struck the crossbar as Forest prevailed 4-2.

Magennis scored twice for Exeter during normal time, giving the League one side an early lead, and then equalising at the start of the second period. Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi, who left the action in stoppage time on a stretcher after being attended to by medics for a long period, scored for Forest, third in the Premier League.

Exeter debutant Ed Turns was handed a red card for a thigh-high challenge on Gibbs-White three minutes from time, but Forest had to settle for an extra 30 minutes after Jota Silva thundered a shot against the crossbar.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo took the opportunity to rest almost his entire regular starting XI after his squad had spent the week away at a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. Brazilian midfielder Danilo was the sole survivor from the side that had demolished Brighton 7-0 at the beginning of the match.

February 11, 2025

Magennis gave Exeter a dream start in the fifth minute when Carlos Miguel spilled Demetri Mitchell's effort at his feet. Ten minutes later Ibrahim Sangare spied Sosa, and the Paraguayan found the net, with Awoniyi putting Forest in front in the 37th minute.

Exeter equalised five minutes after the restart when Magennis rose highest at a corner to force Miguel into a point-blank save. Magennis was on the rebound in a flash and Willy Boly turned it into his own net off a post.

It was one-way traffic in extra-time and Wood was twice denied by Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth as Forest were taken all the way. "It was a hard game," Nuno told ITV.

He added: "We started in a bad way but the response was good. We had another setback after half-time and it became so hard. Credit to Exeter. I am happy in the end that we are going through."

Ramón Sosa

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