Nottingham Forest: Penalty king Chris Wood can claim first Forest glory

Wood’s spot-kick, struck high beyond Amy Martinez, was the 200th goal of his career and gives Forest something to defend at Villa Park next week.

The New Zealand international only returned this month, having been sidelined since October with a knee problem.

He missed the entirety of Sean Dyche’s reign, undergoing surgery in December, but started in the quarter-final first-leg draw at Porto three weeks ago.

Lucas Deegan’s surprising decision to lift the arm and handle the ball as Omari Hutchinson tried to keep the game open gave Wood a chance with 19 minutes remaining.

There was an audible cheer when Wood stepped up to take the penalty – Morgan Gibbs-White has missed from the spot against Strum Graz and Braga this season.

There was a sense of anticipation, which was only fair as Wood hadn’t missed a penalty in 10 years – since failing to score against Hull. Leeds In April 2016.

He has now taken 28 consecutive spot-kicks.

“That’s what I have to do and that’s what I try to do. It’s the job, the responsibility that my team gives me,” he told TNT.

“It’s a cup competition. They come down to small margins sometimes. Both teams played very well. But it’s the small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully it went our way tonight and hopefully again next week.

“It’s one leg of the tie. It’s good to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They’re good at their place. But we’ve done the work here at home and now hopefully we’ll build on that next week.”

He scored in a 5-0 win in the Premier League last Friday Sunderland – his first goal since a penalty against Midtjylland in October – and has six goals in 19 appearances for club and country this season.

Wood, 34, has Explained he had to deal with his knee injury For the rest of his life – but after watching many of Forest’s battles against the Premier League sidelined from the sidelines, he is delighted to be back in action and scoring goals.

“That’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “I wanted to get back fit and firing at the end of the season to help my team as much as possible. I knew when I was struggling to get fit we had a lot to play for and it shows. It has to be part of some big competitions.

“We are at the end of the season. We have to perform in both parts and we will definitely want to do that.”