Nottingham Forest 0-0 Queens Park Rangers (EFL Championship) 22.02.20

Nottingham Forest were held to a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers at the City Ground amidst blustery conditions Trentside.

The Reds did have the ball in the back of the net when Joe Lolley’s twelfth minute corner was met perfectly by Joe Worrall who headed home to a standing uproar of home support but the linesman had spotted that the ball moved in the wind as Lolley struck the ball and what otherwise looked like a perfectly legitimate goal was instead ruled out.

That frustration led to a flurry of Forest pressure as Sammy Ameobi forced the best out of Liam Kelly in the Rangers goal with a rasping drive from twenty-five yards. The QPR shot stopper diving to his right to flick over the bar athletically.

Shortly after a deep corner was floated into the box eventually falling to Lewis Grabban who blazed over from just inside the area.

QPR’s best chance of the half came when the lively Eze went down the left and crossed low which evaded everyone, the two sides going in at the break with Forest more frustrated than the two with the result.

In the second half QPR to their credit were the better team. Manning overlapping down the left to cross which was fisted away by Samba.

Forest did go close when Grabban headed wide from Silva’s cross and he should have done better when a free kick by the Portuguese man floated in to the box, Grabban prodding a right foot at the ball straight at a relieved goalkeeper.

The best chance of the half though for the Reds came when Lolley cut in from the right, his deflected shot found Cash who crossed in low as Diakhaby slid in his effort was cleared off the line the Referee eventually calling for an infringement before a last chance for Lolley who timed his run to perfection heading a Ribeiro cross inches wide.

It wasn’t to be for the Reds who may look back on their 12^th minute goal being ruled out as a key moment but a point nonetheless in the playoff chase keeps the Reds fighting within the promotion pack.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro, Watson, Silva (Carvalho 78), Ameobi (Yates 60), Lolley, Diakhaby (Mighten 71), Grabban.

Queens Park Rangers: Kelly, Rangel, Hall, Barbet, Manning, Ball, Cameron, Osayi-Samuel, Eze (Amos 88), Pugh, Chair 76), Hugill.

Venue: City Ground (28,750)

*Main image @NFFC Diakhaby in action for the Reds against QPR.