Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Nottingham Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

Queens Park Rangers play host to Nottingham Forest on Friday evening looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing in the EFL Cup fourth round in controversial circumstances.

Forest are also back in Championship action eager to make amends after their heavy defeat at the hands of Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Match preview

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While progress in the EFL Cup does not top Mark Warburton's list of priorities this season, the Hoops boss was not in the mood to hide his anger given the manner of QPR's exit to Sunderland on Tuesday night.

Charlie Austin's late goal should have proven to be the winner, only for the assistant to bizarrely raise his flag despite the forward clearly being in an onside position.

Sunderland took advantage of that reprieve by prevailing in a penalty shootout, denying QPR a place in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 1988-89.

The quick turnaround can only help QPR get over that disappointment, something which feels like a necessity with two defeats also coming in their last three Championship fixtures.

Victory on Friday will catapult them back into fourth position, but they face opponents who will also be looking to get back on track as soon as possible.

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After posting four successive wins, Steve Cooper would have had high hopes for his side taking at least a point off promotion contenders Fulham at the City Ground.

However, Forest were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by the Cottagers, the last three of those goals coming in nine second-half minutes.

The setback was an eye opener for both Cooper and his players, and they must now go back to the drawing board if they want to ease their way back into contention for the playoffs.

Facing a four-point deficit, that is currently well within their grasp, but they must find a way of repelling the joint second-best attack in the division.

Team News

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Warburton will make a number of changes to the QPR team which started against Sunderland, including handing recalls to the likes of Jimmy Dunne and Stefan Johansen.

Austin could get the nod over Andre Gray, but Chris Willock may have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench.

Despite the manner of their defeat against Fulham, Forest head coach Cooper is unlikely to react by making several alterations.

James Garner will expect to be recalled in midfield, taking the place of either Jack Colback or Ryan Yates.

Alex Mighten is also an option in the final third with Brennan Johnson potentially only being named among the replacements.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Adomah, Ball, Johansen, McCallum; Chair; Austin, Dykes

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Samba; Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Lowe; Zinckernagel, Johnson; Grabban

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Nottingham Forest

On the back of their recent setbacks, we expect both sides to be wary of posting successive defeats. With that in mind, do not be surprised to see a low-scoring draw, a result which would keep both clubs ticking over in the short term.