Nottingham Forest romped to a 5-2 win at QPR
HAVING scored just three times in their 10 previous league games, Nottingham Forest hit five within an hour against woeful QPR.
On-loan midfielder Lee Tomlin scored the first two before setting up Joe Lolley’s third. The hosts managed two scrappy consolation goals, through Massimo Luongo and Matt Smith, either side of Matthew Cash’s first for Forest.
Teenage striker Ben Brereton sealed an impressive victory for Aitor Karanka’s side in stoppage time.
“It was an amazing game,” said Karanka, whose team are now unbeaten in three matches. “I told the players before the game that today should be a reflection of our improvements.
“I wasn’t concerned that we’ve missed a lot of chances [recently] because I knew one day they [goals] would arrive. Today has been the best example of that.
“This is the way for us to build some momentum. Before we had good games and bad games; we were like a carousel.”
The game could have been different had Smith’s flicked header from Luke Freeman’s corner gone in after 14 minutes, but his effort came off the underside of the bar and failed to cross the line completely.
QPR’s mid-table league position is the result of a strong home record at Loftus Road, but Forest pressed them high, attacked in numbers and caused endless problems, much to the delight of 1,709 away fans.
There were warning signs before the opener. Tomlin shot wide on 11 minutes, while Alex Smithies blocked Brereton’s attempted chip.
Tomlin scored his first eight minutes before the break, as Lolley’s cutback found the midfielder 12 yards out, who sent Smithies the wrong way with a neat finish.
Cue a crazy second half. Within 30 seconds of Luongo, making his 100th appearance for the hosts, almost equalising with a low shot, Forest broke and Tomlin exquisitely curled into the top corner from outside the box.
Scorer turned provider on 51 minutes, as his neat pass found Lolley, who controlled the ball with his chest before beating Smithies with a powerful halfvolley.
Karanka added: “Tomo is a player who sometimes creates doubt about him, but once again with me he is playing very well.”
Forest squandered the opportunity to complete a 4-0 double over the West London club when Luongo scrappily poked home from a Freeman corner.
This poor defending wasn’t a patch on Rangers’ for Forest’s fourth. Right-back Tendayi Darikwa was allowed to run half of the pitch unopposed before playing in substitute Kieran Dowell. His long-range shot was only parried by Smithies, before an unmarked Cash converted the rebound.
Smith briefly reignited Rangers hopes with a header from Freeman’s cross on 78 minutes. However, Forest scored their fifth and best goal of the game in stoppage time, a fine solo effort from the energetic Brereton.
QPR boss Ian Holloway criticised his side, saying: “That was as bad as I’ve seen. I’ve watched all the goals back and they’re horrendous.
“They’re the same mistakes for every goal. It’s inexplicable. Can I explain it? No. Whose fault is it? Mine.”