Goalkeeper Brice Samba helped deliver Nottingham Forest’s penalty plan to perfection as the Reds booked their ticket to Wembley.
Forest’s play-offs semi-final tie against Sheffield United went to spot-kicks on a pulsating night at the City Ground, after the score was locked at 3-3 on aggregate following extra-time. Samba had already made two stunning saves to keep out Iliman Ndiaye during the second leg, then proved the hero in the shootout as he denied Ollie Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White.
The 28-year-old had notes about the Blades’ penalty takers written on a piece of paper stuck to a water bottle, which he hid in a towel. Meanwhile, boss Steve Cooper had brought on midfielder Cafu in the 119th minute with penalties in mind, as he is “a good penalty taker”.
