Key Points
- Wrexham defeated Nottingham Forest on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup third round at the Racecourse Ground.
- Forest, with eight changes from their previous match, needed a late Callum Hudson-Odoi brace to force extra time but were beaten 4-3 in the shootout.
- Media analysis highlighted underperforming Forest players and warned that such displays are not enough to keep places in Sean Dyche’s side.
Wrexham (The Wales Times) January 9, 2026 – Wrexham knocked Premier League side Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw, prompting sharp criticism of several Forest fringe players who were told they “cannot expect to get in the side” after such a display.
The Championship club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, twice led by two goals at the Racecourse Ground before winning 4-3 in a shootout, with analysts and reporters concluding that Forest’s rotated line-up failed to take its opportunity to impress ahead of a congested top-flight campaign.
How did Wrexham stun Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup?
According to match reports from Sky Sports and ESPN, Wrexham raced into a 2-0 first-half lead through Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone, capitalising on defensive indecision and sloppy play from Forest’s reshuffled back line and midfield.
Reporting by ESPN’s news services states that Forest, who made eight changes from their midweek Premier League win, saw an early Douglas Luiz effort ruled out for handball before Wrexham seized control with two goals in three minutes and then added a third through Dominic Hyam after the break.
As reported by Sky Sports’ football desk of Sky Sports, Forest boss Sean Dyche responded with a triple substitution at half-time, introducing Neco Williams, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolás Domínguez to try to rescue the tie, but Wrexham still restored a two-goal cushion before substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late double forced extra time and, ultimately, penalties.
Why are Nottingham Forest’s ‘new guard’ under scrutiny after Wrexham loss?
Coverage of the tie highlighted that Dyche had entrusted several squad and recent signings with starting roles, only for them to struggle against opponents from a lower division in terms of recent league status.
According to analysis from both Sky Sports and ESPN, Forest’s heavily rotated side looked disjointed in possession and vulnerable in transition, with several players guilty of turnovers that led directly to Wrexham chances, including the opening goal after Omari Hutchinson lost the ball on the edge of his own area.
As reported by ESPN News Services of ESPN, the manager’s decision to leave key figures on the bench until half-time underscored that many of the starting players are battling for regular minutes, and the manner of the defeat has raised questions over who can genuinely stake a claim for a consistent place in Forest’s Premier League XI.
Which Forest players failed to grasp their opportunity?
Media outlets did not single out one individual alone, instead pointing to a collective failure among those entrusted to start. Reports noted that goalkeeper Matz Sels, Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson were retained from the previous league fixture, while others were drafted in as part of the eight changes.
Sky Sports’ account of the match explains that Hutchinson’s early error, which led to Cacace’s opener, typified a night in which Forest’s technical security let them down in dangerous areas, with Wrexham quick to punish any hesitation at the back.
ESPN’s game analysis further highlighted the inability of Forest’s makeshift midfield to control the tempo, allowing Wrexham to press aggressively and create repeated openings, while late substitutes such as Hudson-Odoi and Gibbs-White were credited with changing the dynamic only after the damage had largely been done.
How did Wrexham’s performance expose Forest’s wider issues?
According to The Football Association’s official report on the tie, Wrexham repeatedly exploited gaps between Forest’s lines, with quick transitions and direct running unsettling defenders who are still bedding into Dyche’s system or operating on the fringes of the first team.
FA Cup coverage noted that Wrexham, promoted to the Championship and on a strong run of form, looked the more cohesive unit for long spells, underlining the importance of rhythm and understanding even when there is a nominal gap between divisions.
As reported by The FA’s match centre editorial team of The Football Association, Arthur Okonkwo’s two penalty saves from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson in the shootout capped a night when Wrexham’s intensity and belief highlighted the inconsistency that continues to trouble Forest beyond their core of established starters.
What did the result mean for Wrexham and Nottingham Forest?
Sky Sports reported that the victory sent Wrexham into the FA Cup fourth round and marked their first win over top-flight opposition in the competition for 26 years, a landmark moment for a club that has climbed from non-league to the Championship under Hollywood ownership.
For Forest, ESPN’s match recap emphasised that the defeat comes after last season’s run to the semi-finals and serves as a setback to hopes of another extended cup campaign, while also increasing scrutiny on squad depth as the club balances Premier League survival with domestic cup ambitions.
Post-match analysis across outlets suggested that while Hudson-Odoi’s impact and Dyche’s half-time changes demonstrated Forest’s quality in key areas, the early team selection and subsequent performance will strengthen the manager’s resolve to be more cautious with rotation in high-stakes fixtures.
What are the implications for Forest’s selection and season ahead?
According to coverage from multiple sports desks, the loss is expected to influence Dyche’s future squad management, with fringe or newer recruits likely facing a tougher route to the starting XI after failing to convince in a high-profile audition.
Reports indicate that Forest now revert full focus to the Premier League, where consistency and defensive solidity will be crucial, and where the manager may lean more heavily on experienced or previously trusted players rather than those who struggled in the cup.
The Wrexham defeat has become an immediate reference point in media commentary on Forest’s season, serving both as a warning to players that places must be earned through reliable performances and as a reminder that, in elite competition, “you cannot expect to get in the side when you are delivering that.”
