FOREST HISTORY · Historic event
FA Cup final heartbreak vs Spurs
On this day in 1991 Forest lose the FA Cup final to Tottenham Hotspur after extra time.
Nottingham Forest fell short in Brian Clough’s only FA Cup final appearance as manager, losing 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur after extra time at Wembley.
Forest were given the perfect start when Stuart Pearce curled in a powerful free-kick after Gary Charles had been brought down on the edge of the box. The goal sent the Forest supporters behind the goal into celebration and gave Clough’s side an early grip on the final.
Tottenham gradually settled, but Mark Crossley kept Forest ahead by saving Gary Lineker’s penalty. The match became increasingly tense and physical before Spurs levelled after half-time, forcing the final toward extra time.
The decisive moment came when Des Walker diverted the ball into his own net from a corner, giving Tottenham the lead for the first time. Forest pushed during the closing minutes, but the equaliser never came.
For many Forest supporters, the 2-1 defeat remained one of the great missed opportunities of the Clough era. The club had reached Wembley, taken the lead, and had chances to hold the match, but the FA Cup slipped away in extra time.
Sources
The FA; BBC Sport; Wikipedia (1991 FA Cup Final)
Forest timeline
Explore more Nottingham Forest history
Browse the timeline to discover more events from this day and beyond:
0–2
3–0
1–1
1–2
4–1
1–0
1–0
2–1
2–0
0–1
0–2
2–2
0–0
1–2
0–1
14:00
16:30
20:00
15:00
17:30
15:00
20:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
16:30
19:30
15:00
19:30
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
16:00
Nottingham Forest fell short in Brian Clough’s only FA Cup final appearance as manager, losing 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur after extra time at Wembley.…
Nottingham Forest’s attempt to escape League One collapsed in extraordinary fashion as Yeovil Town won 5-2 after extra time at the City Ground and…
Evangelos Marinakis completed his takeover of Forest, bringing the Al-Hasawi ownership era to an end and opening another major chapter in the club’s modern…