At 11.04pm, at last there was a result, Nottingham Forest avoiding an FA Cup upset against 10-man Exeter City after prevailing from the final fourth-round tie via a 4-2 penalty shootout victory. Neco Williams scored the decisive penalty after Matz Sels, who replaced Carlos Miguel midway through the second half, saved from Reece Cole before Angus MacDonald blasted his spot-kick against the crossbar. It was an absorbing contest – locals craned their necks from the windows of the terrace houses on St James Road to get the best view – but a cruel crescendo for third-tier Exeter.

Forest had a man advantage for 53 minutes after Ed Turns was given a straight red card for a high challenge on Morgan Gibbs-White, 23 of which were in second-half stoppage time after Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a head injury. At the end Awoniyi was well enough to salute the Forest fans, some of whom will do well to return home by 4am.