Rangers slump to defeat at the City Ground

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Nottingham Forest 2 QPR 0

Goals from Greg Halford and Andy Reid meant QPR left the City Ground empty-handed again.

Rangers, who have never won at Nottingham Forest, improved after a poor first half but the hosts sealed a deserved victory when Reid scored in controversial circumstances with 10 minutes remaining.

Harry Redknapp’s side, already without the suspended Joey Barton, had to make another change because top scorer Charlie Austin is nursing a hamstring problem.

It meant Bobby Zamora returned to the team – his first appearance since a knee operation in September.

Forest, meanwhile, had Halford – a defender – playing in a similar role as their lone striker.

And it was Forest’s makeshift forward who fared better, causing the Rangers defence plenty of problems before heading home Djamel Abdoun’s cross just before the half-hour mark.

A Forest goal had been on the cards, with Halford having had an effort saved by Rob Geeen after going past Richard Dunne, and Henry Lansbury firing into the side netting.

Niko Kranjcar shot wide as Rangers went in search of an equaliser, but they were lacklustre until a double half-time substitution by boss Redknapp, who replaced Zamora and Karl Henry with Andy Johnson and Junior Hoilett.

The visitors were sharper as a result, with Matt Phillips shooting over and Kranjcar sending a free-kick wide in the early stages of the second half.

But Forest remained a threat and Halford missed a great chance to double their lead when he volleyed tamely at keeper Green after being found by a fine cross from former QPR man Jamie Mackie.

And Forest went close when Jack Hobbs was denied by Clint Hill’s goal-line clearance after Green was unable to claim Reid’s free-kick.

Rangers were furious after the all-important second goal stood despite the linesman flagging, seemingly because he believed Halford, who was in an offside position, got a touch Abdoun’s pass.

Referee Keith Stroud decided Halford had not, and Reid finished nicely with the outside of his left foot.

QPR (4-4-1-1): Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto; Phillips (Benayoun 75), Henry (Hoilett 45), Carroll, Kranjcar; Jenas; Zamora (Johnson 45).
Subs not used: Murphy, Traore, Wright-Phillips, Onuoha.

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