Back to 1990 for the memorable match this week as Don Howe's rejuvinated Queens Park Rangers secure an impressive 2-0 home victory against Brian Clough's League Cup finalists.

Memorable Match

Queens Park Rangers 2 Nottingham Forest 0, Saturday March 24, 1990, First Division

The 1989/90 season was definitely one in two halves for Queens Park Rangers, with the bright and promising young team that would take the early Premier League years by storm starting to grow out of an initially traumatic start.

The season began under the leadership of player manager Trevor Francis, and with a 2-0 home win against Crystal Palace with two goals on his debut in the English leagues from Scottish striker Paul Wright who’d joined that summer from Aberdeen. In September Francis scored one of the most unbelievable hat tricks you’ll ever see, silencing the boos of his Birmingham connections with a 3-1 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

But his stewardship of Rangers had been holed below the waterline the previous season when he fined Martin Allen for leaving the team hotel at Newcastle away to be at the birth of his son, splitting the dressing room in the process. Allen played only the first two games of the season before being flogged off to West Ham. The Palace and Villa wins were the only two QPR managed in the first dozen games and although there was an incredible, memorable 3-2 win for second-from-bottom Rangers at home to second-from-top Liverpool at Loftus Road — featuring another brace for Wright, a Mark Falco winning volley for the ages, and a buig slice of tongue for Trevor up in the director’s box — his reign ended a week later.

With him went that strange QPR team he put together towards the end of 1988/89. Nigel Spackman, a big money investment by Francis from Liverpool, left almost immediately for Glasgow Rangers. Peter Reid’s Indian summer was also brought to an end, though not before he’d been able to roll back the years with the world’s oldest central midfield combination with Ray Wilkins — who passed his old mate Francis on his way in, and was hotly tipped for the manager’s job even then but would instead go on to be the club’s midfield lynchpin for many seasons to come.

Don Howe got the job, officially first team coach rather than manager. A memorable FA Cup run through replays with Cardiff, Arsenal, twice with Blackpool and eventually defeat at the second time of asking against Liverpool was one for the ages. And players who would go on to serve Rangers with distinction started to shine through. David Bardsley arrived from Oxford, Andy Sinton was electric in his first full season after arriving from Brentford, Simon Barker was brought back in from the cold after the Jim Smith signing was largely ignored by Francis, Les Ferdinand poked through after an impressive loan spell in Turkey, Roy Wegerle cost £1m from Luton and Clive Wilson would headline the summer arrivals from Chelsea.

The team had a hot streak as winter turned to spring. There was a 3-0 win at Palace with Reid and Wilkins famously paired in midfield, a 4-2 at home to Chelsea when Les Ferdinand announced his arrival on the English football scene with a brilliant brace, and further wins against Everton, Norwich, Millwall, Arsenal and Spurs as the R’s climbed away from that early season relegation strife and soared away to eventually finish in the top half of the table. A week after the double North London destruction of Arsenal and Spurs, came Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side, whose season had threatened to really take off with six wins and three draws from nine matches through January and February but then rather stalled in the league upon their qualification for the League Cup final after a two-legged semi-final victory against Coventry. While they waited for what would prove to be a victory in the final against Oldham (Nigel Jemson with the goal) they went through a patch of eight games without a win which coincided with a visit to W12.

A bright start to the game saw Andy Sinton rob Franz Carr of possession and feed Kenny Sansom who fooled the Forest defence, and just about everybody else in attendance, by cutting back onto his right foot rather than favoured left for an angled shot from 20 yards which Steve Sutton saved brilliantly by the post with his finger tips. Carr then returned fire, tricking past Sansom in the Loft End penalty area, passing up the opportunity to go down for a penalty when tripped, and crossing into the six yard box where Jemson let it run and Stuart Pearce skied over from close range when he should have scored.

At the midway point of the first half the QPR defence was scrambling again as Forest moved the ball intelligently from left to right, through Gary Parker to overlapping full back Brian Laws — future frequent Scunthorpe manager and Ivano Bonetti abuser — who followed Sansom in cutting back inside onto a weaker foot and then couldn’t keep his shot down having beaten Seaman looking for the top corner.

Three of QPR’s brightest prospects, best players and most exciting talents combined to give the home team the lead before half time. Paul Parker, soon to be a big money signing for Man Utd, carried the ball out of defence and fed Andy Sinton, shortly to be England’s Andy Sinton, who tricked past the first despairing challenge and then moved purposefully towards a crowded box. A perfectly executed one-two with Roy Wegerle got Sinton in round the other side of the traffic and now only with Sutton to beat he slid the ball expertly across the goal and into the far corner.

Brian Clough had made clear League Cup final places could not be taken for granted amidst their slump in form, and stern half time words had Stuart Pearce piling forwards at the start of the second half and shooting from long range with an effort that beat Seaman, hit the underside of the bar, bounced down on the line, and came back out into play. Paul Parker was still hunting his first QPR goal at this point (he’d go on to score just the once for Rangers, at home to Luton) and the panic was clear when a patient passing move ended with Alan McDonald playing him into clear space in the penalty area but he snatched at a very decent chance wide of the post. That theme continued two minutes later, just before the hour, as forceful running carried Parker into the penalty area with the ball, he played Simon Barker into the right channel, received the ball back in space, and then fired over.

David Bardsley’s left footed cross almost tempted an own goal from Laws soon after that, Sutton saved at point blank range as Wegerle re-directed a speculative shot from Barker off a cleared corner, and then Mark Falco almost scored with a near post header with his first touch of the ball after replacing Colin Clarke as sub. The game, though, was eventually sealed by the dominant QPR side when that resulting corner was cleared only as far as Barker on the edge of the box and he hammered an arrow-like shot into the far corner for 2-0.

QPR: Seaman; Bardsley, McDonald, Parker, Maddix, Sansom; Wilkins, Barker, Sinton; Wegerle, Clarke (Falco)

Forest: Sutton; Laws, Walker, Wilson, Pearce; Carr, Gaynor, Parker, Rice; Clough, Jemson

Attendance: 14,653

Classic encounters

LFW regular and AKUTR’s columnist Dave Barton has set up a QPR Memories YouTube channel, with a mixture of clips, classic games, and old highlights packages. His three recent meetings with Sunderland are embedded below, give him a subscribe on YouTube or follow @QPR_Memories on Twitter.

Recent Meetings:

Nottingham Forest 3 QPR 1, Monday April 5, 2021, Championship

As is fairly typical, QPR went from one of their best performances of the season against Coventry at Loftus Road on Good Friday, to one of the worst away at Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday. Rarely at the races at any point in the game, they gifted their hosts an opener when Yoann Barbet was caught faffing around by his own corner flag in the last minute of the first half and Ameobi crossed for Mighten to score. Grabban doubled that lead after half time and the game’s outstanding player James Garner whipped in a brilliant free kick six minutes later to make it 3-0. A decent late cameo from Albert Adomah and a diving bheader from Lyndon Dykes reduced the arrears but Rangers were well beaten.

Forest: Samba 6; Christie 6, Worrall 7, McKenna 6, Blackett 7; Yates 6 (Colback 81, -), Garner 8; Ameobi 6 (Freeman 77, 6), Krovinovic 8, Mighten 7; Grabban 6 (Murray 78, 6)

Subs not used: Ribeiro, Soh, Smith, Dias, Knockaert, Taylor

Goals: Mighten 44 (assisted Ameobi), Grabban 63 (assisted Krovinovic), Garener 69 (free kick won Mighten)

Bookings: Yates 32 (foul), Krovinovic 66 (foul), Christie 89 (foul)

QPR: Dieng 5; Dickie 5, Field 5 (Bettache 80, -), Barbet 4; Kakay 5, Johansen 5, Ball 4 (Dykes 60, 5), Chair 5, Wallace 5; Willock 5 (Adomah 69, 6), Austin 5 (Kelman 80, -)

Subs not used: Lumley, Bonne, Thomas, Hämäläinen

Goals: Dykes 90+4 (assisted Adomah)

Bookings: Johansen 73 (foul)

QPR 2 Nottingham Forest 0, Saturday September 12, 2020, Championship

QPR got the delayed 2020/21 Championship off to the perfect start with a 2-0 opening day victory against Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road. Optimism was high after another summer of mass recruitment at The City Ground, but Forest’s Lewis Grabban missed what chances did come their way and when Figueiredo hauled down Lyndon Dykes for a penalty the Scotsman smashed home himself Rangers were on their way to a victory. That was sealed in injury time when Dom Ball went through for a chance he should have taken, and Ilias Chair netted the rebound off Samba’s save.

QPR: Lumley 6; Kakay 7, Dickie 7, Barbet 7, Wallace 7; Cameron 6, Carroll 7 (Thomas 75, 7); Osayi-Samuel 6 (Smyth 90+3, -), Amos 7 (Ball 84, -), Chair 7; Dykes 7

Subs not used: Kane, Oteh, Masterson, Kelly

Goals: Dykes 54 (penalty, won Dykes), Chair 90+4 (assisted Ball)

Bookings: Dykes 77 (foul)

Forest: Samba 5; Lawrence-Gabriel 5, Figueiredo 4, Worrall 5, Blackett 5; Yates 6, Colback 6; Lolley 5 (Ameobi 59, 6), Freeman 5 (Mighten 73, 5), da Costa 5 (Taylor 73, 5); Grabban 4

Subs not used: Smith, Jenkinson, Dawson, Johnson

Bookings: Figueiredo 53 (penalty concession), Lawrence-Gabriel 62 (foul)

Nottingham Forest 0 QPR 0, Saturday February 22, 2020, Championship

QPR rode their luck to secure a 0-0 draw at The City Ground when these sides met in Nottingham in February last year. Liam Kelly made a spectacular save from Sammy Ameobi in the first half, Ryan Manning made two quickfire goal line clearances in the second, and Joe Lolley should have scored when he steamed onto a free header ten yards out in the dying stages. But the biggest let off came when Joe Worrall headed home unmarked from a Lolley corner only for the goal, belatedly, to be chalked off as the high winds had blown the ball off the spot as it was kicked at the set piece.

Forest: Samba 6; Cash 7, Figueiredo 6, Worrall 6, Ribeiro 7; Watson 6, Silva 6 (Carvalho 78, -); Lolley 6, Ameobi 7 (Yates 60, 5), Diakhaby 6 (Mighten 71, 6); Grabban 5

Subs not used: Jenkinson, Dawson, Walker, Muric

Bookings: Diakhaby 54 (foul),

QPR: Kelly 7; Rangel 7, Hall 6, Barbet 7, Manning 7; Cameron 6, Ball 7; Osayi-Samuel 6, Eze 6 (Amos 88, -), Pugh 7 (Chair 76, 6); Hugill 6

Subs not used: Lumley, Kane, Masterson, Clarke, Oteh

Bookings: Rangel 63 (foul), Hugill 76 (foul), Osayi-Samuel 90 (delaying restart)

QPR 0 Nottingham Forest 4, Wednesday November 27, 2019, Championship

QPR suffered their biggest defeat of the season when these sides met in a midweek match at Loftus Road back in November 2019. Forest got to work early, making the most of Rangers propensity to allow an overload at the far post from crosses and set pieces by getting Figueiredo in unmarked on the end of Joe Lolley’s corner. That was actually the end of the scoring until the last ten minutes but Rangers were seriously up against it once Lee Wallace had harshly been adjudged to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity for hauling down Lolley and been sent off on 49 minutes. The back post overload saw Figueiredo have another headed off the line. Ameobi crossed for Grabban to seal the game on 81 and Rangers then fell apart completely allowing Carvalho to waltz through for a third and Semedo to add a fourth from an offside position after a Joe Lumley spill.

QPR: Lumley 3; Hall 4, Leistner 3, Wallace 4; Kane 5, Manning 3; Amos 4 (Hugill 45, 5), Ball 5; Eze 5, Chair 5 (Scowen 53, 4), Wells 4 (Osayi-Samuel 83, -)

Subs not used: Barnes, Pugh, Mlakar, Cameron

Red Cards: Wallace 49 (professional foul)

Bookings: Scowen 57 (foul)

Forest: Samba 6; Cash 7, Figueiredo 7, Worrall 6, Robinson 7; Watson 7, Silva 7; Adomah 6 (Carvalho 60, 8), Lolley 8 (Bostock 75, 6), Ameobi 7; Grabban 8 (Semedo 85, -)

Subs not used: Mir, Dawson, Chema, Muric

Goals: Figueiredo 15 (assisted Lolley), Grabban 81 (assisted Ameobi), Carvalho 88 (unassisted), Semedo 90+1 (assisted Ameobi)

Bookings: Cash 52 (foul), Bostock 76 (foul)

QPR 0 Nottingham Forest 1, Saturday April 27, 2019, Championship

QPR clocked up an unwanted club record of 11 home league defeats in a season for the first time with a dismal 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in an end of year clash. Under the caretaker guidance of John Eustace Rangers traded half hearted blows in the first half with Costel Pantillimon denying Ebere Eze from range and Joe Lumley saving from Ansarifard after he’d run clean through on goal. Ansarifard did score for Forest early in the second period after neat approach work on the edge of the area but Rangers should have been good for a point when they were awarded a penalty late on. Pantillimon saved from Nahki Wells, who’d earlier missed a spot kick at the same end to blow a come back from four goals down to save a point against Birmingham.

QPR: Lumley 7; Furlong 5, Leistner 6, Cameron 6, Manning 7; Osayi-Samuel 7, Luongo 6, Scowen 6, Eze 6 (Wells 75, 3); Walker 5 (Shodipo 59, 6), Hemed 5 (Smith 75, 6)

Subs not used: Ingram, Freeman, Wszolek, Carlyle

Bookings: Manning 90+2 (foul)

Forest: Pantilimon 8; Wague 6, Milosevic 6, Robinson 7; Byram 7, Osborn 6; Yates 6, Cash 7 (Yacob 82, -), Lolley 7; Carvalho 7 (Guédioura 82, -); Ansarifard 7 (Grabban 64, 6)

Subs not used: Watson, Murphy, Steele, Appiah

Goals: Ansarifard 55 (assisted Carvalho)

Bookings: Yates 38 (repetitive fouling), Robinson 90 (foul)

Nottingham Forest 0 QPR 1, Saturday December 22, 2018, Championship

QPR made club history and broke one of football’s longest running hoodoos with a first ever win at Nottingham Forest at the thirty fifth attempt just before Christmas last season. Luke Freeman’s free kick in first half stoppage time was headed in by the outstanding Toni Leistner for the only goal of the game. Joe Lumley preserved the precious victory with a superb save in stoppage time as Forest’s best player Guédioura let fly from long range. Sadly, it turned out to be the high point of the season and Steve McClaren’s brief spell in charge.

Forest: Pantilimon 6; Darikwa 6, Figueiredo 6 (Hefele 75, 6), Robinson 5, Janko 6; Colback 6, Guédioura 7; Lolley 5 (Ansarifard 55, 6), Carvalho 6, Osborn 5 (Murphy 55, 5); Grabban 5

Subs not used: Cash, Steele, Yacob, Dias

Bookings: Carvalho 43 (foul), Ansarifardat 55 (foul), Robinson 78 (foul)

QPR: Lumley 7; Cousins 7, Furlong 7, Leistner 8, Bidwell 7; Scowen 7, Luongo 7; Wszolek 8, Eze 6 (Hall 88, -), Freeman 7; Wells 6 (Smith 86, -)

Subs not used: Ingram, Oteh, Chair, Osayi-Samuel, Kakay

Goals: Leistner 45 (assisted Freeman)

Bookings: Luongo 65 (foul)

QPR 2 Nottingham Forest 5, Saturday February 24, 2018, Championship

QPR were thrashed twice by Nottingham Forest in 2017/18, with the Reds running riot in the second half of the second meeting at Loftus Road. Lee Tomlin had given the visitors the lead before half time, striding onto a left wing cross unmarked during a swift counter attack. There was little indication of the horrors to come, however, at just 0-1 at half time. Tomlin blasted in from long range on 47 minutes then sent Lolley screaming clear into the area for 3-0 a few moments later. Mass Luongo provided some brief respite for Rangers but there were further goals for Matty Cash and Ben Brereton either side of a consolation strike from Matt Smith.

QPR: Smithies 5; Onuoha 4, Robinson 4, Lynch 4 (Eze 53, 5); Wszolek 4, Bidwell 4 (Washington 70, 4); Scowen 3, Luongo 3, Freeman 5; Smith 5, Smyth 5

Subs not used: Ingram, Furlong, Manning, Perch, Osayi-Samuel

Goals: Luongo 68 (assisted Smith), Smith 78 (assisted Freeman)

Bookings: Scowen 84 (foul)

Forest: Pantilimon 6; Darikwa 7, Figueiredo 7, Fox 7, Osborn 8; Watson 8, Colback 7 (Guédioura 90, -); Cash 8, Tomlin 9 (Dowell 69, 8), Lolley 8 (Worrall 85, -); Brereton 8

Subs not used: Mancienne, Bridcutt, Kapino, Vellios,

Goals: Tomlin 37 (assisted Lolley), 47 (unassisted), Lolley 51 (assisted Tomlin), Cash 76, Brereton 90+1 (assisted Cash)

Bookings: Tomlin 35 (foul), Pantilimon 72 (time wasting)

Nottingham Forest 4 QPR 0, Saturday November 5, 2017, Championship

Another chapter in QPR’s infamous record at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground played out when these sides last met in November 2017. Buoyed by victories against the top two in the league earlier in the week, Rangers went in search of a first win on that ground in 34 attempts but returned with their tales between their legs after a right shellacking. Wonderful, pacy, creative, dangerous performances from youngsters Walker, McKay and particularly Dowell as a front three behind veteran target man Daryl Murphy laid the platform for a 4-0 win. Walker scored twice either side of goals from Dowell and McKay. It was the fifth time QPR have lost 4-0 in that part of Nottingham, and there are a couple of five goal beatings in there as well.

Forest: Smith 6; Lichaj 6, Worrall 6, Mancienne 7, Traore 6; Bridcutt 7, Osborn 8; Walker 8, Dowell 9 (Bouchalakis 77, 6), McKay 8 (Ward 86, -); Murphy 7 (Carayol 85, -)

Subs not used: Mills, Clough, Henderson, Cummings

Goals: Walker 15 (assisted Dowell), Dowell 44 (assisted Osborn), McKay 52 (assisted Osborn), Walker 84 (assisted McKay)

Yellows: Walker 73 (foul)

QPR: Smithies 5; Baptiste 3, Lynch 5, Robinson 3; Wheeler 5 (Mackie 45, 4), Bidwell 5; Scowen 5, Luongo 5, Freeman 5 (Ngbakoto 74, 5); Sylla 4 (Smith 45, 5), Washington 4

Subs not used: Furlong, Cousins, Manning, Lumley

Yellows: Freeman 70 (foul)

Queens Park Rangers 2 Nottingham Forest 0, Saturday April 27, 2017, Championship

QPR snapped an alarming run of six straight defeats, belatedly securing their status in the Championship in the process, by beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Loftus Road in the final home game of 2016/17. Conor Washington settled nerves by storming through a weak Worrall challenge and finishing coolly straight after half time. Then the impressive Ryan Manning hooked a corner back into the danger zone for Joel Lynch to head home against his former club.

QPR: Smithies 8; Perch 5, Onuoha 8, Lynch 7, Bidwell 6; Wszolek 7, Luongo 6, Freeman 6 (Doughty 82, -), Manning 7; Smith 6 (Ngbakoto 82, -), Washington 6 (Mackie 66, 6)

Subs not used: Ingram, Lua Lua, Furlong, Sylla

Goals: Washington 49 (assisted Luongo), Lynch 60 (assisted Manning)

Bookings: Onuoha 3 (foul), Manning 58 (foul)

Trees: Smith 6; Lichaj 6, Worrall 5, Mancienne 6, Pinilos 6 (Mills 62, 5); Vaughan 6, Cohen 6, Osborn 6, Carayol 6 (Cash 62, 6); Brereton 6 (Ward 61, 6), Assombalonga 5

Subs not used: Tshibola, Evtimov, Lam, Vellios

Bookings: Osborn 72 (dissent), Vaughan 76 (foul), Ward 80 (foul)

Nottingham Forest 1 Queens Park Rangers 1, Saturday November 5, 2016, Championship

One fresh out of the Keith Stroud house of horrors when these two met earlier that season. Britt Assombalonga rounded Alex Smithies and beat Grant Hall on the line from a tight angle for the opener and Idrissa Sylla headed home Nasser El Khayati’s near post cross to equalise four minutes from time for Rangers. But it was the sendings off of Karl Henry and Hldeberto Pereira, reducing both sides to ten men, amidst an absolute snow storm of red and yellow cards, that were the main talking point until Rangers abruptly sacked Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager straight after the game.

Forest: Stojkovic 4; Pereira 5, Mills 5, Perquis 6, Lichaj 6; Worrall 6, Kasami 6, Cohen 5 (Lam 82, -), Lansbury 6, Osborn 5; Asombalonga 7 (Vellios 90+3, -)

Subs not used: Dumitru, Fox, Lica, Henderson, Grant

Goals: Assombalonga 38 (assisted Kasami)

Red Cards: Pereira 71 (two bookings, see below)

Bookings: Deep breath… Worrall 50 (foul), Stojkovic 61 (time wasting), Pereira 66 (time wasting), Cohen 68 (foul), Pereira 71 (foul), Lichaj 90+3 (foul)

QPR: Smithies 7; Perch 6, Onouha 5, Hall 6, Robinson 6 (El Khayati 84, -); Henry 3, Cousins 6; Wzsolek 5 (Shodipo 55, 7), Chery 5, Washington 6 (Sylla 77, 7); Polter 6

Subs not used: Lynch, Gladwin, Ingram, Hamalainen

Goals: Sylla 85 (assisted El Khayati)

Red Cards: Henry 34 (two bookings, see below)

Bookings: Henry 11 (dissent), Henry 34 (foul), Robinson 67 (foul), Sylla 86 (over celebrating)

Forest 0 QPR 0, Tuesday January 26, 2016, Championship

The value of dropping Robert Green for Alex Smithies started to shine through almost immediately as the former Huddersfield man made a series of saves to secure a 0-0 draw at Forest on a cold January night in 2016. The two most spectacular saw him tip a header from Michael Mancienne over the bar at a back post corner, then almost immediately tip Ben Osborn’s drilled shot onto the post. That would have been enough for a win had Ale Faurlin’s second half free kick not been tipped onto the underside of the bar and out by Smithies’ opposite number Dorus De Vries at the other end.

Forest: De Vries 7; Lichaj 6, Mills 5, Hobbs 6, Jokic 6; Mendes 5 (Burke 55, 6), Mancienne 7, Tesche 6, Osborn 6; O’Grady 5 (Ward 55, 6), Oliveira 7 (Blackstock 88, -)

Subs not used: Wilson, Cohen, Gardner, Evtimov

Bookings: Mendes 35 (foul)

QPR: Smithies 7; Perch 5, Onuoha 6, Hall 7, Konchesky 5; Faurlin 6, Luongo 6; Phillips 6 (Chery 90+3, -), Hoilett 6 (Washington 62, 7), Fer 5, Polter 6

Subs not used: Mackie, Angella, Henry, Tozser, Ingram

Bookings: Perch 71 (foul), Luongo 85 (foul)

Forest 1 QPR 0, Saturday January 9, 2016, FA Cup Third Round

The ground where QPR find it impossible to win, in a competition the club has consistently embarrassed itself in over the last 20 years — January 2016’s Third Round tie really was the perfect storm. Despite Forest, like Rangers, picking a scratchy side, they took the lead before halftime when Jamie Ward tapped in from close range after good work by Olly Burke. They never really looked likely to relinquish that and the R’s were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first possible stage once more.

Forest: De Vries 7; Mancienne 6, Hobbs 6, Wilson 6, Cohen 6 (Lichaj 71, 6); Tesche 5, Gardner 6 (Lansbury 62, - (Jokic 79, -)) Osborn 6, Burke 8; Blackstock 5, Ward 7

Subs Not Used: Mendes, Burke, Walker, Evtimov

Goals: Ward 24 (assisted Burke)

QPR: Lumley 6; Onuoha 5, Hall 6, Angella 6, Hill 6 (Perch 67, 5); Tozser 6; Mackie 5 (Petrasso 61, 6), Luongo 5, Doughty 6, Gladwin 6 (Chery 52, 6); Emmanuel- Thomas 4

Subs Not Used: Polter, Hoilett, Faurlin, Brzozowski

Yellow Cards: Hall 17 (foul), Doughty 43 (foul)

Queens Park Rangers 1 Nottingham Forest 2, Saturday September 12, 2015, Championship

Another one of those special Robert Green moments turned a QPR win into a defeat when these sides met at Loftus Road back in September 2015. Despite a lacklustre display, Rangers had been apparently cruising to victory after Charlie Austin powered a shot through a weak attempted save by Dorus De Vries to give the R's the lead on the hour. But struggling Forest were invited back into the game when Green miscontrolled Nedum Onuoha's pass back on 71 minutes and then hacked down Mendes after he stole the ball from him. Henri Lansbury scored the resulting penalty and with Rangers collapsing with only ten men Oliveira slid a winning goal under substitute goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who should have done better. Not a day for the keepers.

QPR: Green 3; Perch 5, Onuoha 6, Angella 7 (Hall 32, 6), Konchesky 5; Tozser 6 (Gladwin 86, -), Henry 4; Chery 5, Luongo 6 (Smithies 73, 4), Phillips 5; Austin 5

Subs not used: Hill, Emmanuel-Thomas, Doughty, Hoilett

Goals: Austin 65 (unassisted)

Red Cards: Green 71 (Idiocy)

Bookings: Perch 20 (“foul”)

Forest: De Vries 4; Lichaj 6, Mills 6, Wilson 6, Pinillos 6; Mancienne 5 (Ebecilio 52 4 (Oliveira 69, 7)) Vaughan 7, Lansbury 7, Mendes 6; Walker 6 (Ward 45, 6), O’Grady 5

Subs not used: Blackstock, Hobbs, Evtimov, Burke

Goals: Lansbury 73 (penalty won O’Grady), Oliveira 81 (assisted Mendes)

Bookings: Lansbury 87 (kicking ball away), O’Grady 90 (repetitive fouling)

QPR 5 Nottingham Forest 2, Saturday April 12, 2014, Championship

With automatic promotion out of reach but a play-off position secure, QPR went through a run of indifferent form and poor performances in the spring of what turned out to be their promotion year of 2013/14. Comfortable away defeats at Brighton, Bournemouth, Sheff Wed and Blackburn felt like something of a slump but Rangers randomly hit form again at Loftus Road against Nottingham Forest. Yossi Benayoun headed the first in front of the Sky cameras after just a minute when Forest keeper Karl Darlow made a hash of a long range shot from Ravel Morrison. The R’s looked vulnerable at set pieces all day though, conceding first to a Lescelles header in the first half and then, after Junior Hoilett had poked them back in front, to Matt Derbyshire 15 minutes from time. But the home side cut loose in the final 15 minutes with first Nedum Onuoha after neat approach work from Little Tom Carroll, and then Ravel Morrison sweeping home classy goals. Bobby Zamora bundled in some cake icing in stoppage time.

QPR: Green 6; Simpson 8, Dunne 6, Onuoha 6, Assou-Ekotto 7; Carroll 7, Jenas 6 (Henry 13, 7); Benayoun 8, Morrison 7, Hoilett 7 (Kranjcar 77, 6); Austin 5 (Zamora 73, 8)

Subs not used: Keane, Suk-Young, Hughes, Murphy

Goals: Benayoun 1 (assisted Carroll), Hoilett 43 (assisted Carroll/Benayoun), Onuoha 84 (assisted Carroll), Morrison 90+1 (assisted Zamora), Zamora 90+3 (assisted Morrison)

Forest: Darlow 4; Halford 6, Lascelles 6, Wilson 5, Fox 5; Peltier 5, Jara 6 (Greening 65, 5); Lansbury 5 (Osborn 65, 6), Mackie 5, Cox 5 (Henderson 74, 5); Derbyshire 7

Subs not used: Harding, de Vries, Gomes, Vaughan

Goals: Lascelles 37 (assisted Lansbury), Derbyshire 75 (assisted Osborn)

QPR slipped to their annual meek defeat at the City Ground in a televised fixture on Boxing Day earlier that season. Despite picking defender Greg Halford up front, Forest were by far the better side with Djamel Abdoun, Henri Lansbury, Jamie Makcie and others particularly impressive. Halford had missed several gilt edged chances when he finally opened the scoring with a powerful header after half an hour. There was a degree of controversy about the second, with scorer Andy Reid initially flagged offside only for the goal to be allowed when referee Keith Stroud deemed the ball had travelled through to him without touching another team mate en route. But the moaning and groaning about that only provided QPR with a cover story for an abject performance and defeat that should have been far more severe.

Forest: Darlow 6; Jara 6, Lascelles 6, Hobbs 7, Lichaj 6; Vaughan 6 (Chalobah 67, 6), Lansbury 8; Mackie 7 (Derbyshire 86, -), Reid 7, Abdoun 8 (Paterson 82, -); Halford 6

Subs not used: Harding, Majewski, de Vries, Osborn

Goals: Halford 29 (assisted Abdoun), Reid 80 (assisted Abdoun)

Bookings: Darlow 84 (time wasting)

QPR: Green 6; Simpson 6, Dunne 5, Hill 6, Assou-Ekotto 5; Carroll 6, Henry 3 (Hoilett 45, 5); Phillips 5 (Benayoun 76, 5), Jenas 4, Kranjcar 6; Zamora 2 (Johnson 45, 6)

Subs not used: Traore, Wright-Phillips, Onuoha, Murphy

Bookings: Assou-Ekotto 48 (foul)

QPR 1 Nottingham Forest 1, Sunday February 13, 2011, Championship

With Nottingham Forest bang in form and boasting two games in hand over league leading Queens Park Rangers, the televised meeting between Neil Warnock and Billy Davies’ sides in February 2011 was absolutely crucial. Things seemed to be going QPR’s way when Tommy Smith cut in from the flank and curled home a trademark low shot from the edge of the area and when Radoslaw Majewski dived in on Adel Taarabt and was sent off by referee Mark Clattenburg before half time the writing seemed to be on the wall. But David McGoldrick equalised almost immediately and Forest could easily have won the game in the second half despite their numerical disadvantage. They made a serious error at full time though. Former QPR keeper Lee Camp and Forest boss Davies led on-pitch celebrations in front of the away end more akin to a league championship than a point away from home. Forest could scarcely have been more pleased with themselves, but they ultimately won neither of their games in hand over Rangers and made no impact in the end of season play offs either while Neil Warnock’s side won the title and went to the Premier League.

QPR: Kenny 6, Orr 6, Connolly 5, Gorkss 5 (Chimbonda 73, 6), Hill 7, Faurlin 8 (Moen 79, 6), Derry 7, Smith 8 (Miller 46, 7), Taarabt 6,Routledge 6, Hulse 5

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Hall, Helguson, Shittu

Booked: Taarabt (unsporting conduct), Gorkss (foul), Derry (foul)

Goals: Smith 16 (assisted Faurlin)

Nottm Forest: Camp 6, Gunter 7, Chambers 8, Morgan 8, Konchesky 7, Cohen 6,Majewski 5, McGugan 6 (Anderson 68, 6), McKenna 7, McGoldrick 7 (Tyson 74, 7), Tudgay 7 (Lynch 46, 5)

Subs Not Used: Smith, Adebola, Earnshaw, Moloney

Sent Off: Majewski 23 (serious foul play)

Booked: Tyson (foul)

Goals: McGoldrick 26 (assisted McGugan)

Nottingham Forest 0 QPR 0, Saturday November 13, 2010, Championship

Camp was predictably the star of the show at the City Ground in November as QPR were denied a win only by the form of their former keeper and the incompetence of referee Andy D’Urso. The match officials failed to spot a blatant trip on Tommy Smith in the Forest penalty area in the first half as he raced through on goal — a penalty and red card would have been the only outcome had the foul been seen. Camp made several fine saves in the first 80 minutes of the game, including an acrobatic tip over from a Taarabt lob, but it was Forest who finished the stronger and only a fine stop from Paddy Kenny and some brave blocks in the area in the closing stages prevented the annual QPR defeat on this ground.

Nottm Forest Camp 8, Gunter 6, Morgan 6, Chambers 6, Bertrand 6, Anderson 6, McGugan 7 (Tyson 79, 6), McKenna 6, Majewski 6 (Earnshaw 61, 7),Cohen 6, Blackstock 5 (Adebola 61, 6)

Subs Not Used: Smith, McCleary, Moussi, Lynch

Booked: Blackstock (foul), McKenna (foul)

QPR: Kenny 7, Mackie 7, Hill 7, Gorkss 7, Walker 7, Derry 7, Faurlin 6, Ephraim 5 (Clarke 79, 5), Taarabt 8 (Rowlands 89, -), Hulse 5 (Agyemang 67, 6).

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Hall, Borrowdale, Andrade

Booked: Hulse (foul), Derry (foul)

Previous Results

Head to head >>> QPR wins 18 >>> Draws 22 >>> Forest wins 33

2020/21 Forest 3 QPR 1 (Dykes)

2020/21 QPR 2 Forest 0 (Dykes pen, Chair)

2019/20 Forest 0 QPR 0

2019/20 QPR 0 Forest 4

2018/19 QPR 0 Forest 1

2018/19 Forest 0 QPR 1 (Leistner)

2017/18 QPR 2 Forest 5 (Luongo, Smith)

2017/18 Forest 4 QPR 0

2016/17 QPR 2 Forest 0 (Washington, Lynch)

2016/17 Forest 1 QPR 1 (Sylla)

2015/16 Forest 0 QPR 0

2015/16 Forest 1 QPR 0**

2015/16 QPR 1 Forest 2 (Austin)

2013/14 QPR 5 Forest 2 (Benayoun, Hoilett, Onuoha, Morrison, Zamora)

2013/14 Forest 2 QPR 0

2010/11 QPR 1 Forest 1 (Smith)

2010/11 Forest 0 QPR 0

2009/10 Forest 5 QPR 0

2009/10 QPR 1 Forest 1 (Leigertwood)

2008/09 Forest 2 QPR 2 (Alberti 2)

2008/09 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Balanta, Buzsaky)

2004/05 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Bircham, Curtis OG)

2004/05 QPR 0 Forest 3 **

2004/05 Forest 2 QPR 1 (Santos)

2000/01 Forest 1 QPR 1 (Wardley)

2000/01 QPR 1 Forest 0 (Crouch)

1999/00 Forest 1 QPR 1 (Ready)

1999/00 QPR 1 Forest 1 (Kiwomya)

1997/98 QPR 0 Forest 1

1997/98 Forest 4 QPR 0

1995/96 Forest 3 QPR 0

1995/96 QPR 1 Forest 1 (Sinclair)

1994/95 QPR 1 Forest 1 (Barker)

1994/95 Forest 3 QPR 2 (Allen, Ferdinand)

1992/93 QPR 4 Forest 3 (Ferdinand 3, Wilson)

1992/93 Forest 1 QPR 0

1991/92 Forest 1 QPR 1 (Sinton)

1991/92 QPR 0 Forest

1990/91 QPR 1 Forest 2 (Wegerle)

1990/91 Forest 1 QPR 1 (Wegerle)

1989/90 QPR 2 Forest 0 (Sinton, Barker)

1989/90 Forest 2 QPR 2 (Sinton, Wright)

1988/89 Forest 0 QPR 0

1988/89 QPR 1 Forest 2 (Stein)

1988/89 Forest 5 QPR 2* (Stein, Kerslake)

1987/88 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Coney, Fereday)

1987/88 Forest 4 QPR 0

1986/87 QPR 3 Forest 1 (Bannister, Fereday, McDonald)

1986/87 Forest 1 QPR 0

1985/86 Forest 4 QPR 0

1985/86 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Bannister, Fenwick pen)

1984/85 Forest 2 QPR 0

1984/85 QPR 3 Forest 0 (Fereday 2, Bannister)

1983/84 QPR 0 Forest 1

1983/84 Forest 3 QPR 2 (Dawes, Stainrod)

1978/79 Forest 0 QPR 0

1978/79 QPR 0 Forest 0

1977/78 Forest 1 QPR 0

1977/78 Forest 1 QPR 1** (Shanks)

1977/78 QPR 1 Forest 1** (Busby)

1977/78 Forest 3 QPR 1** (Bowles)

1977/78 QPR 0 Forest 2

1972/73 Forest 0 QPR 0

1972/73 QPR 3 Forest 0 (Givens, Bowles, McCulloch)

1968/69 Forest 1 QPR 0

1968/69 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Marsh, Hazell)

1961/62 QPR 1 Forest 2* (Towers)

1951/52 Forest 3 QPR 1 (Muir)

1951/52 QPR 4 Forest 3 (Smith, Hatton, Shepherd, Gilberg)

1948/49 Forest 0 QPR 0

1948/49 QPR 2 Forest 1 (Hartburn, Pattison)

1933/34 Forest 4 QPR 0**

* League Cup

** FA Cup

Connections

Gary Bannister >>> QPR 1984-88 >>> Forest 1992-93

Born in Warrington in 1960 Bannister was one of the most consistent goal scorers of the 1980s, especially at Loftus Road. A product of the Coventry youth system, Bannister broke his way into the first team to make his debut in May 1978. To gain some first-team experience he was sent on loan to American side Detroit Express impressing with a goal every other game in a three month spell. Once back at City he found it difficult to break into the team and decided to drop a division, joining Sheffield Wednesday for £100,000. At Wednesday, Bannister started to show his predatory instincts and was top scorer for the club in each of his three seasons at Hillsborough, and helped the Owl’s gain promotion to the First Division. However Gary never got to play for Wednesday in the top flight as he was snapped up that summer by QPR who bought him to fill the void left by Clive Allen.

He made an immediate impact on the R’s faithful by scoring on his debut against West Brom and went on to have steady first campaign in the hoops, with most of his strikes coming at Loftus Road. But when Jim Smith took over the R’s in 1985 things really took off for Bannister and he flourished on Rangers plastic pitch and formed a formidable partnership with John Byrne. Their goals led R’s to Wembley, in their first League Cup Final since 1967, beating Liverpool in the semis on route. Sadly the final was a day Rangers would rather forget, as Oxford running away with it 3-0.

Bannister’s finest hour however came on Easter Monday 1986 when Rangers entertained local rivals Chelsea, who were within a shout of the title at the time. Many expected them to rollover Rangers but on a day that’s gone down in R’s folk law, QPR hit Chelsea with six without reply — Bannister getting three of them.

He stayed at the Loft for another season until the arrival of Trevor Francis and Marc Falco saw him pushed out the picture and he moved back to first club Coventry. Spells at West Brom and Oxford followed before he joined Nottingham Forest in time for the inaugural season of the Premier League. But despite scoring against Rangers, the season at the City Ground was a disappointing one as Forest were relegated. He moved to Hong Kong side HK Rangers and played for Stoke and Darlington before retiring in 1996. Now owns a holiday apartment business in Cornwall. Famed for having one leg shorter than the other.

Others >>> Luke Freeman, Forest (loan) 2020-2021, QPR 2017-2019 >>> Todd Kane, QPR 2019-2021, Forest (loan) 2015 >>> Jack Robinson, Forest 2018-2020, QPR 2014-2018 >>> Armand Traore, Forest 2016-2018, QPR 2011-2016 >>> Jermaine Jenas, QPR 2013-2015, Forest (loan) 2012-2013, 2000-2002 >>> Jamie Mackie, Forest 2013-2015, QPR 2015-2017, 2010-2013 >>> Shaun Derry, QPR 2010-2013, Forest (loan) 2004-2005 >>> Clint Hill, QPR 2010-present, Forest (loan) 2011 >>> Mick Harford, QPR (manager) 2010, 2007, Forest (manager) 2004-2005 >>> Dexter Blackstock Forest 2009-2016, QPR 2006-2009 >>> John Curtis, Forest 2005-2007, QPR 2007 >>> Danny Cullip, QPR 2007-2008, Forest 2005-2007 >>> Lee Camp, Forest 2009-2013, QPR 2007-2009, (loan) 2004 >>> Gino Padula, Forest 2005-2007, QPR 2002-2005 >>> Junior Agogo, Forest 2006-2008, QPR 2002 >>> Nigel Quashie, QPR 2010, 1995-1998, Forest 1998-2000 >>> Andy Impey, Forest 2004-2005, QPR 1990-1997 >>> Dougie Freedman, Forest 1998-2000, QPR 1992-1994 >>> Steve Hodge, QPR 1994-1995, Forest 1988-1991 >>> Trevor Francis, QPR 1988-1990, Forest 1978-1981 >>> Stan Bowles, Forest 1979-1980, QPR 1972-1979 >>> Chris Woods, QPR 1979-1981, Forest 1976-1979 >>> Steve Burke, QPR 1979-1986, Forest 1978-1979 >>> Dave Needham, Forest 1977-1982, QPR 1977

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