Nottingham Forest vs QPR preview
Friday 21 December 2018 11:20, UK
Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka has decisions to make in defence when picking his team to face QPR.
The Reds kept a clean sheet against rivals Derby as Monday's clash at Pride Park finished goalless, but Karanka has at least one, and possibly two, players returning to contention for the weekend.
Tobias Figueiredo is available after serving a three-match suspension while Danny Fox could be back following a foot injury. Michael Dawson (hamstring) is not ready yet and Hilal Soudani and Sam Byram are both unlikely to make their comeback from knee problems until 2019.
QPR defender Joel Lynch is expected to be fit to line up against his former club at the City Ground. Lynch, at Forest between 2008 and 2012, limped off during the home win against Middlesbrough but it transpires the injury was merely a dead leg.
Centre-backs Alex Baptiste and Grant Hall are unlikely to be fit enough for this weekend but it is hoped they will play some part over the festive period. Former Forest boss Steve McClaren will also return to his old club without Angel Rangel, who has a muscle injury, and Geoff Cameron (ankle).
Opta stats
Nottingham Forest are looking to record three consecutive league victories against QPR for the first time since January 1998.
QPR lost both of their league games against Nottingham Forest last season, conceding a combined nine goals across those meetings (0-4 away and 2-5 at home).
QPR have never won away at Nottingham Forest in all competitions (D14 L20) - the most a team has played away at another without ever winning in all competitions in English football.
Nottingham Forest have lost just two of their last 14 home league games (W7 D5), although those defeats have come in the last five at the City Ground.
This will be the fifth Championship meeting between Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka and QPR's Steve McClaren - Karanka has won each of the last three without conceding a goal, all as Middlesbrough manager against McClaren's Derby County side.
After failing to score in 27 consecutive league appearances (including play-offs), QPR striker Nahki Wells has found the back of the net in five of his last nine.
Prutton's prediction
David Prutton predicts: 2-0 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
