Carabao Cup: Nigel Clough says guiding Burton into last eight is 'special'

Burton players celebrate — Scott Fraser (far right) scored and set up another for Burton

Nigel Clough said it is "special" to have guided League One Burton to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time after a thrilling victory over Championship opponents Nottingham Forest.

After a goalless first half, Saidy Janko's own goal and strikes from Scott Fraser and Jake Hesketh secured the win for Burton, who were forced to hold on in injury time after substitute Arvin Appiah added to Lewis Grabban's effort to give Forest hope of forcing penalties.

Clough reached the last four with Sheffield United in 2015 when the Blades were knocked out by an 88th-minute strike from Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.

"To get to the last eight as a League One club is pretty special," Clough told Sky Sports. "We can't wait for the draw. We reached the semi-finals with Sheffield United, so it is possible. You need a bit of luck, like we had tonight."

It was a deserved win for Burton, who were playing at this stage of the competition for the first time in their history.

They could have gone ahead in the first half but Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce sent a penalty well over the bar following a rash tackle by Liam Bridcutt on Jamie Allen. Forest also had goalkeeper Luke Steele to thank for a fine stop to deny David Templeton after he had fumbled another Boyce effort.

Burton did eventually go ahead seven minutes into the second half when Fraser's long-range effort deflected off Forest defender Janko and looped beyond Steele for an own goal. Fraser then doubled Burton's lead 12 minutes later with a smart finish from Boyce's pass.

Forest substitute Grabban converted Gil Dias' through ball to bring the visitors back into the game, only for Hesketh's fine volley to restore Burton's two-goal lead. Another Forest substitute, 17-year-old forward Appiah, scored his first goal for the club in stoppage time but could not deny Burton victory.

"If we had finished our chances in the first half the game would have been over, but it showed great character to come out and do it again," added Clough.

Forest boss Aitor Karanka apologised to the supporters after the game and said he was "embarrassed" by the performance of his side, which showed 10 changes from the team that drew with Leeds at the weekend.

"We had a chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 25 years and it is a real missed opportunity," said Karanka. "If we were complacent then that should never have been the case because we were playing to reach the quarter-finals.

"I'm really angry because a team from League One, a team which has played four games in 10 days, has looked much better than us. They were much stronger and they wanted everything more than we did.

"I can't understand why that was the case and I don't want to say something that I'll regret tomorrow. I just feel embarrassed and sorry for the supporters who travelled this evening because we all came here thinking we could achieve something good."

Burton make history - the stats

Burton Albion have won each of their last three League Cup games against sides from a higher division - they had lost their previous three such games.
Nottingham Forest have lost on each of the past four occasions they have reached the fourth round of the League Cup (also 1994-95, 1998-99 and 2004-05).
Lewis Grabban has been directly involved in 10 goals (nine goals, one assist) in his past 10 games in all competitions for Forest.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Burton

Formation 4-3-3

26Evtimov
12Fox
2Brayford
5McFadzean
10Akins
4Allen
23Quinn
7FraserSubstituted forBuxtonat 85'minutes
8HeskethSubstituted forSbarraat 88'minutes
27Boyce
11TempletonSubstituted forSordellat 70'minutes

Substitutes

3Buxton
9Sbarra
16Myers-Harness
17Sordell
21Hodge
22Wallace
40Collins

Nottm Forest

Formation 4-2-3-1

15Steele
21JankoSubstituted forLolleyat 69'minutes
44Hefele
20DawsonBooked at 47mins
11Osborn
26BridcuttSubstituted forAppiahat 84'minutes
8Watson
14Cash
19Cupido Goncalves
31Bastião Dias
2SoudaniSubstituted forGrabbanat 56'minutes

Substitutes

1Pantilimon
7Grabban
18Robinson
23Lolley
24Yacob
27Darikwa
43Appiah

Referee:: John Brooks
Attendance:: 4,284

Match Stats

Home TeamBurtonAway TeamNottm Forest

Possession: Home40%; Away60%

Shots: Home14; Away16

Shots on Target: Home7; Away8

Corners: Home5; Away6

Fouls: Home10; Away15

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Burton Albion 3, Nottingham Forest 2.
90'+8'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burton Albion 3, Nottingham Forest 2.

90'+5'
Post update
Foul by Lewis Grabban (Nottingham Forest).
90'+5'
Post update
Kyle McFadzean (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+4'
Post update
Delay in match John Brayford (Burton Albion) because of an injury.
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.
90'+2'
Post update
Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Marvin Sordell (Burton Albion).
90'+1'
Goal!
Goal! Burton Albion 3, Nottingham Forest 2. Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt saved. Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Diogo Gonçalves with a through ball.
89'
Post update
Offside, Burton Albion. Stephen Quinn tries a through ball, but Liam Boyce is caught offside.
89'
Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Matthew Cash.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Joe Sbarra replaces Jake Hesketh.
88'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
87'
Post update
Delay in match Jake Hesketh (Burton Albion) because of an injury.
86'
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthew Cash (Nottingham Forest) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Joe Lolley with a cross following a corner.
86'
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Lucas Akins.
85'
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Jake Buxton replaces Scott Fraser.
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Arvin Appiah replaces Liam Bridcutt.

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136 comments

Comment posted by Alex, at 22:03 30 Oct 2018
Why were there two articles about Real Madrid's new manager and one about Rooney getting a coffee before I could even locate the live text of the League Cup tonight? No doubt it'll be top billing tomorrow when there's some Premier League interest
Comment posted by Jeff Draper, at 22:12 30 Oct 2018
Brian would be proud
Comment posted by Neil Mullens, at 22:00 30 Oct 2018
Well played, Burton!
Comment posted by toffeeblue, at 22:35 30 Oct 2018
Don't get it.
10 changes to a Forest side that played so well against Leeds.
Doesn't make sense.
Unless he's 'saving' his first eleven for the weekend league game.
Can't players these days play two games in a week, then???

Good luck Burton, hope you go all the way.
Comment posted by FOREST1992, at 22:29 30 Oct 2018
We were so poor, burton fully deserved to go through completely outplayed us
Comment posted by wedontcarrybottles, at 22:41 30 Oct 2018
24 Mark

You said “ for forest, nothing to play for in the league ”

They are a couple of points outside the play offs with only a 3rd of the season gone

Please explain ?
Comment posted by suzuki, at 22:04 30 Oct 2018
Well done the Brewers. The best team won.
Comment posted by U17161877, at 23:10 30 Oct 2018
As a forest fan working a night shift in Derby I have to say I have had better days .
Well done to Burton and I sincerely wish you the best in the Quarters
Comment posted by Londonfirst, at 00:42 31 Oct 2018
Just got home. Forest awful.

Very disappointed in the singing.

"Build a bonfire........" just three days after the Chairman and 4 others killed in a fireball?

Ashamed.
Comment posted by Rob, at 22:13 30 Oct 2018
@8 JayRM.
Silly comment. Have you ever been at Wembley and seen your club win it?
Comment posted by Goat, at 23:23 30 Oct 2018
Great game, delighted we continue to play beyond our financial position, a club who cant afford 1K for overnight accommodation in Portsmouth are in the LC quarters! Credit to Forest fans for some very sporting comments all the best in the Championship
Comment posted by Ellie , at 06:08 31 Oct 2018
Karanka like most modern managers refuses to believe players prefer to play rather than train and rest. Forest lost because Burton had played four games in ten days not in spite of the fact. They were 'match fit', whereas most the Forest players hadn't kicked a ball in anger for weeks.
Comment posted by The Neutral, at 22:22 30 Oct 2018
Huhhhh @ 8 JayRM

I bet you`d be one of the first in the queue to get a ticket if your team managed to get to... this Pub League Cup Final...
Comment posted by Jeff Draper, at 22:21 30 Oct 2018
Odds on Burton going all the way.... 5000 to 1?.... 3 ties. Don't think bookies would take those odds. Point is, has been done before in football, and would be huge for Clough family. Good luck, Nigel.
Comment posted by Furrowed Brow, at 05:50 31 Oct 2018
Another of example of just how much importance clubs place on this competition. NF, who are a possible play-off side in the C'ship make 10 changes in a pretty small squad. I can understand this from PL sides who are playing in Europe, but when things get to this point it shows just how pointless this cup really is viewed, even by 2nd tier sides. Well done Burton & good luck in QF. Deserved.
Comment posted by U16864298, at 02:13 31 Oct 2018
that comment by karanka that it was a missed opportunity, what the hell did he expect making ten changes, his arrogance cost their supporters, Bristol city got to the semis last year because the first two premier league sides they beat did the same thing, man utd and man city didn't make the same mistake, serves forest right have only themselves to blame.
Comment posted by Dr David Banner, at 23:33 30 Oct 2018
Well done Burton who wanted it more and deserved victory. Karanka keeps changing the team around and the inconsistency is frustrating. Hope Burton reach the final now
Comment posted by devonbrewer, at 23:24 30 Oct 2018
Amazing result and performance...well done Cloughy!!
Comment posted by Alex, at 22:36 30 Oct 2018
@8 JayRM

Thanks for your input. I'm entitled to my opinion and you're entitled to Guardiola's. Hope Burton go far, which will probably matter more to their fans than to Real's if they won another Champions League
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:30 31 Oct 2018
Well done Burton and Nigel Clough. I admire his candour and humility in expressing the little bit of luck they had. It would be great to see the Brewers get a good draw and progress further.

The great man himself Brian Clough would indeed be very proud.