The most open FA Cup in years moves to the grand stage of Wembley for the semi-finals next month.

Nottingham Forest overcame Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties to book their first appearance in the competition’s final four since 1991, which will come against Manchester City, who needed to come from behind to beat Bournemouth in Sunday’s early evening tie.

Crystal Palace were comfortably superior against Fulham earlier on Saturday and are poised to duke it out with Aston Villa, who also made light work of second-tier Preston.

The four lucky clubs competing in this year’s semi-finals will have to wait four weeks before they get a run out at Wembley Stadium. This season’s two ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday 26 April and Sunday 27 April.

The showpiece fixture for this year’s competition will also be held at England’s largest stadium, although at the unusually early date of Saturday 17 May – before the final round of Premier League fixtures. This is an uncharacteristic break from tradition. No top-flight matches will be scheduled on the same day or Friday 16 May to ensure that the contest is given prime billing.