QPR got on the goal trail with five against Nottingham Forest
GARY BRAZIL effectively ruled out Nottingham Forest’s chances of making the play-offs as an emphatic QPR extended his side’s winless streak to 13 games.
Brazil’s summer successor Stuart Pearce, who was watching from the stands, saw his future employers go behind after just 70 seconds when Yossi Benayoun pounced on Tom Carroll’s saved shot.
Jamaal Lascelles equalised against the run of play before Junior Hoilett put Rangers ahead again at the end of the first half.
Matt Derbyshire brought Forest back once more, but Nedum Onuoha, Ravel Morrison and Bobby Zamora stole the show in the final five minutes for QPR’s first win in four matches.
“I think it makes it very hard for us to get in the playoffs now,” said Brazil, who is yet to win as caretaker boss.
“It’s not impossible and we have to believe that we can win the last four games, but it isn't the result to keep our hopes alive properly.
“We had opportunities to win the game but to lose the goals at the end is bitter for everyone in the changing room and it’s very disappointing that we didn’t take the chances to win.
“QPR were very open and they gave us opportunities. We knew that we would cause them problems from set pieces but I don't think we opened them up enough in open play. “We’ll take a look at the last three goals, but they make it look like we’ve been done over, which wasn’t the case when you look at the game.”
QPR have had their own recent struggles, but they were soon forgotten when Benayoun converted his third goal of the season in the second minute.
Ten minutes later Henri Lansbury had Forest’s first chance on goal, drawing a good save from Rob Green, who stretched to tip the ball over his bar.
Lascelles’ equaliser came out of the blue, as Forest exploited QPR's frailty at defending corners. But Hoilett struck straight back, charging at Karl Darlow’s goal before lifting the ball over the keeper.
Substitute Ben Osborn's second-half corner was met by the head of Greg Halford, but Danny Simpson’s goal-line clearance denied the right back.
Forest's second equaliser was a carbon-copy of their first, a corner from the right headed past a helpless Rob Green, this time by Derbyshire from Osborn’s ball.
But the visitors’ hopes of a vital point were dashed as new father Onuoha curled a shot past Darlow, followed swiftly by clinical finishes from Morrison and Zamora in the 90th minute to bolster hopes of a play-off place.
“I was surprised by the scoreline, I didn’t see it being what it was with ten minutes to go,” said Rangers’ assistant manager Kevin Bond.
“It came for us right at the end, Bobby did well when he came on at the end, and Ravel did terrifically for the goals.
“It was really nice for Nedum on the back of a week where he’s had a new addition to the family, so that'll probably account for the celebration in some way.
“We’re not taking anything for granted yet, we need to secure a play-off spot and then we need everyone fresh.”