A devastating eight-minute spell which produced three goals kept Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and earned them a fourth-round meeting with Chelsea at the expense of Oxford at the Manor Ground.

First Division Forest were heading for defeat after Oxford full-back Paul Powell, who scored the equaliser at the City Ground to force the replay, scored a magnificent goal after 72 minutes.

He raced past three defenders and lashed the ball past Dave Beasant from an acute angle.

But nine minutes later Chris Bart-Williams equalised with a goal of similar quality - and disaster followed for Oxford 60 seconds later.

Goalkeeper Paul Lundin was red-carded for bringing down Dougie Freedman, and Bart-Williams scored from the penalty.

Forest, who had lost the previous six away games, made the game safe in the 89th minute.

They broke quickly after an Oxford corner was cleared, and substitute Alan Rogers ran through from the half-way line and easily beat United substitute goalkeeper Andre Arendse.

Teams:

Oxford Utd: Lundin, Folland (Francis 85), Watson, Whelan, Powell, Robinson, Beauchamp, Murphy, Cook, Lilley (Arendse 83), Anthrobus.

Subs Not Used: Fear, Tait, Davis.

Sent Off: Lundin (82).

Booked: Anthrobus.

Goals: Powell 72.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Gray, Scimeca, Bart-Williams, Dawson, Brennan, Johnson, Prutton, Williams (Rogers 62), John, Harewood (Freedman 52).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Cooper, Melton.

Booked: Bart-Williams, Dawson, Rogers.

Goals: Bart-Williams 81, 83 pen, Rogers 89.

Att: 7,191

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).