Nottingham Forest youngster Tyler Walker suffered FA Cup heartache as Lincoln City were cruelly dumped out by Ipswich Town.
With the game goalless and heading into extra-time, Alan Judge fired a winning goal with the very last kick to leave the Imps gutted.
Forest man Walker was left on the bench for the game. He was introduced as an 80th-minute substitute but couldn’t find a goal.
(Photo by Chris Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Ipswich progress to face Coventry City at St Andrew’s in round two.
Lincoln were the better side throughout last night’s contest. If Walker had started the game they might have won.
Ipswich dug in though and found a way to win. Appleton will certainly take a lot of positives from the contest; although he may well rue the decision to leave his main talisman out.
Discussion
It is a hot topic among Forest fans over whether or not Walker should be recalled during in January.
The 23-year-old is now on nine goals for the campaign and is enjoying his football and a prolonged run in a team.
His 26 goals at Mansfield Town during 2018/19 prompted some people to petition for him to earn a first-team shot at Forest this season. Sabri Lamouchi opted to go with Rafa Mir on loan from Wolves as the backup to Lewis Grabban, however.
Walker’s time at Forest will come but the Reds must make a wise decision for the sake of the player’s development.
(Photo by Chris Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images)
If Grabban stays fit this season he will play. That would mean recalling Walker and putting him on the bench which may well set his development back a few months.
At Lincoln, he has played regularly during their league campaign and the Imps are heavily reliant on his goals.
If he is happy, playing football and scoring goals then Forest might be wise pursuing another option and letting Walker continue leading the line for Lincoln.