Walker fires at the double as Hoops hoodoo goes on

QPR’s nightmare run at the City Ground continued in emphatic fashion as Nottingham Forest romped to a 4-0 win – ensuring an unwanted Football League record for Ian Holloway’s men.

The Hoops have never won at Forest – and they never looked likely to yesterday as Mark Warburton’s men cruised to a victory inspired by two-goal Tyler Walker and a rampaging performance from Barrie McKay.

QPR have now failed to win in 34 visits to the City Ground – including 29 games in the league – which is now officially the worst run of any Football League side at one venue – eclipsing Grimsby’s failure to win in 28 visits to Blackburn.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway said: “I have won here a lot so I was hoping it would rub off.

“To win any game at this level you need to have at least eight of your players at the top of their game.

“And some of them, with the decisions they were making, looked tired and lacklustre.

“It was a long, horrible day.”

The visitors made a bright start but Forest took the lead in the 13th minute, as they hit the Hoops on the break.

Kieran Dowell sent Walker skipping into the box and while the young striker’s first touch looked strong, his second was decisive, as he fired a precise finish beyond Alex Smithies and into the bottom corner.

A nice interchange between Dowell and Ben Osborn ended with Walker being fed in the box again but this time the striker fired wide.

Forest were pushing hard and they got the second they deserved just before half-time when Osborn fed Dowell and he rounded Smithies to fire home.

The visitors brought on Jamie Mackie and Matt Smith for the second half and former Forest man Mackie should have reduced the deficit but planted his header the wrong side of the post.

And it was Forest who scored again as Osborn’s cross picked out an unmarked McKay and he drove home an emphatic finish in the 52nd minute.

McKay was denied a second by a fine save from Smithes, after the former Rangers man had twisted and turned brilliantly to make room for a shot.

Murphy should have scored following more good work from McKay but Walker did make it four in the 84th minute when he attacked another fine cross from McKay to hammer home.

Forest boss Mark Warburton said: “We created a lot of chances against a very good QPR team, that’s very pleasing.

“When we move it quickly and don’t take an unnecessary touch, we look very, very good.”