8 November 2006
VIDEO: First Round - Coventry Sphinx v Nottingham Forest

Watch the action from Forest's trip to Coventry Sphinx, where goals from James Reid and Liam Hook sealed a 2-0 win for the visitors.

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
7pm, Wednesday 20 December 2006
The Recreation Ground, Aldershot FC

Nottingham Forest Academy Director Nick Marshall says his young stars face a huge challenge when they take on Chelsea in The FA Youth Cup Third Round tonight.

The young Reds travel will be massive underdogs when they travel to Aldershot's Recreation Ground, where Chelsea host their Reserve and Youth team games.

"It will be very difficult," admitted Marshall. "They will be full of quality players in all positions. We have some top drawer players here too but it's going to be a difficult game."

But Forest will take heart from Chelsea's premature exit from the competition last year, beaten 2-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion, while the East Midlands side made it to the Fifth Round before losing to eventual finalists Manchester City.

"We are just viewing this as another game," added Marshall. "It's 11 boys against 11 boys. We have some good players here - people will know Paddy Gamble, James Reid (pictured), Brendan Moloney and Lewis McGugan as they are all internationals, but they are all good players."

Forest have beaten Coventry Sphinx 2-0 and Port Vale 4-0 on their way to the Third Round, and Marshall has been pleased with the performances to far.

"It was a professional performance against Coventry Sphinx," he said. "We did not play as well as we would have liked, but we got the job done. We did not know what to expect, but there was not a real chance of an upset.

"We played very well against Port Vale. They dropped off and gave us room, we passed it very well and scored some very good goals. It was comfortable."

Forest take great pride in their youth development and a number of stars currently gracing the Premier League - Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas and Andy Reid to name just a few - learnt their trade under the tutelage of Marshall and his staff.

While league football is the staple diet of most young footballers, Marshall believes The FA Youth Cup is a vital part of a young footballer's development.

"I like The FA Youth Cup," added Marshall. "In the league, you will take a result on the chin if you are trying out something new, but you only get one chance in the Youth Cup. It's also normally the only chance you get where you can put your best team out.

"We have had some excellent players come through the youth system, ones who have gone on to play in the Premier League, and I have seen a number of them in tears when they were knocked out of the Youth Cup."

Can Forest cause an upset? TheFA.com will be there to find out, so log on tonight for a full match report.