Nottingham Forest stun Leicester as FA investigates fan’s attack on players

Twenty five miles, 18 places and one division may separate Nottingham Forest from Leicester City but ultimately it was the crazy seconds in the first half that exemplified the difference between these East Midlands rivals.

That was the time between goals from Philip Zinckernagel and Brennan Johnson as Forest, from the Championship, deservedly knocked out FA Cup winners for the second round in succession to land a fifth-round tie at home to Huddersfield Town.

The FA has confirmed it will investigate the unsavoury scenes that followed Joe Worrall’s goal nine minutes later as a Leicester fan found his way on to the pitch and took two punches at the celebrating Forest players before stewards took him to ground.

It is eight years since these teams last met but, with some of the form Forest are producing under Steve Cooper, it is not inconceivable the next time they will meet will be in the Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers has talked about changing his squad around this summer but Leicester, without an away win in seven games, need to do something about reviving this season before this rot goes any deeper. They were not just beaten here; they were humiliated.

The pivotal spell of three goals in nine minutes simply took the breath away as Leicester were blown away. When Nottingham Forest have been good this season they have been very good – and when Leicester are bad they have been very bad – but this was something else.

Only Fulham can better Forest’s record in the Championship since Steve Cooper took charge in September and the confidence he has instilled was clear to see, especially after Keinan Davis had chested down Brennan Johnson’s lofted pass back into the area and volleyed, left-footed, against the angle of post and