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QPR may have their one or two new reported players at QPR by then. And the "great" news for QPR is that Robert Earnshaw will be back for Nottingham Forest!
Thus far, Nottingham Forest, currently bottom of the table, have lost all five away games in the championship (which means...!) See Complete Nottingham Forest Stats for the season
As noted below, Nottingham Forest have the far superior record in meetings between the two clubs - Head to Head Results .
A couple of the famous QPR victories over Nottingham Forest: Tommy Docherty did achieve his sole QPR victory in his month in charge of QPR (and one of QPR's four league victories that season), back in November 1968, Rodney Marsh scoring one of QPR's goals and his first QPR goal in the First Division (one of only four he ever scored for QPR in the First Division! - Tony Hazell getting the other QPR goal - as QPR beat Nottingham Forest 2-1. Ian Gillard made his debut in this game. Kelly Clement Watson Hazell Gillard - Morgan Sibley McGovern Morgan - Bridges Marsh
And Stan Bowles made his debut against Nottingham Forest, back September 16, 1972, making the first and scoring the second (and Andy McCulloch the third) as QPR won 3-0! From Bowles' autobiography "Stan The Man" "...[A]s luck would have it, I scored one and made another for Don Givens in my first game - against Nottingham Forest on September 16th, 1972. We won 3-0, and the fans seemed to take to my style of play; which, to them, was a bit like Rodney's..." QPR's team that day: Parkes - Clement Evans Hazell Watson - Venables Francis Busby - Givens Bowles Mcculloch - Sub: Salvage
- The two clubs last met in April 2005. QPR won, Nottingham Forest were relegated, and the QPR team included a appearance by Rossi in goal for QPR. QPR: Rossi, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula, Rowlands, Gallen, Bircham (Bean 90), Cook, Thorpe, Furlong. Subs not used: Day, Edghill, Cureton, Miller.
Among the players who played for both teams: Stan Bowles, Dave Needham, Chris Woods, Steve Burke, and Danny Cullip.
See Also:
- Nottingham Forest Squad Profiles
- Nottingham Forest Results
Nottingham Forest Official Site - Robert's Rangers Return
Robert Earnshaw will make his Nottingham Forest return against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday.
The club's leading five-goal scorer has missed Forest's last three games after picking up a hamstring injury in last month's goalless draw with Charlton.
The fitness setback also forced him to withdraw from the Welsh squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Lichtenstein on Saturday and tonight's meeting with Germany.
But the £2.65millionsigning has successfully resumed full training this week and manager Colin Calderwood has confirmed to www.nottinghamforest.co.uk that he will figure against Rangers. Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest Official Site - Preview QPR vs Nottingham Forest
QPR v Forest Preview
Nottingham Forest will return to action at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday hoping the two-week international break brings a change in fortunes.
The Reds have lost six of their last seven games and are rooted to the foot of the table, five points adrift of safety.
QPR, meanwhile, have not made the kind of start many expected after their big-spending exploits during the summer.
They are without a win in four Championship games and have been beaten by Derby and held to a draw by Blackpool in their last two home games.
Team news
Forest could have a new face in their line-up at Loftus Road, the club having confirmed they hope to land Crystal Palace midfielder Carl Fletcher on loan.
And Fletcher's international team-mate, five-goal leading scorer Robert Earnshaw, could also be available to The Reds after a three-match lay-off with a hamstring injury.
He suffered a slight reaction after resuming full training yesterday but there's still a good chance he will get the all-clear from the club's medical staff to travel.
Paul Anderson will be hoping he has done enough to force their way into Calderwood's plans for the trip to West London.
The winger, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, is still waiting to make his Reds debut after being sidelined since pre-season by a groin injury.
But he has appeared twice at reserve level - scoring in both games - and is eager to get the chance to make his mark on the first team scene.
The same applies to striker Joe Garner, although the summer signing from Carlisle is unlikely to be considered for the game at Loftus Road.
He has also made two appearances since being given the green light to resume his career after eight months out with a knee ligament injury.
But he has been laid low this week by a bout of tonsillitis and Calderwood has hinted he will be overlooked.
Lewis McGugan hit the comeback trail at reserve level earlier this week after a nine-match lay-off with a thigh injury.
He played for just over 30 minutes of Tuesday's 7-1 win over Walsall and although it's very much early days in his comeback, he's hoping to make the squad for the Rangers game.
Julian Bennett and Garath McCleary, both of whom missed last week's trip to Ireland due to slight knocks, are expected to be fit.
But The Reds will be without midfielder Guy Moussi, who is nursing an ankle ligament problem.
He played for both
Danny Cullip
Less than a year ago Danny Cullip was plying his trade in the Championship with QPR - now he's a member of the Lewes side battling to avoid relegation from the Blue Square Premier Division.
Cullip turned down the offer of a one-year contract with Gillingham to join Lewes during the summer.
The tough-tackling central defender had ended last season on Gillingham's books having joined them as a non-contract player following his release by Rangers in February.
But the lure of a return to the south coast - where he still has a house from his days as Brighton captain - prompted him to pledge his future to Lewes.
Cullip joined Forest from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee in 2005 as Gary Megson reshaped his squad following relegation to League One.
Injuries hampered his progress at The City Ground and he joined QPR in January 2007.
Head to head
In 52 past league and cup meetings between the two sides Forest have emerged victorious 24 times, compared to QPR's 13 wins.
However, it was Rangers who took the spoils the last time they locked horns on a day etched in the memory of many Forest fans - for all the wrong reasons.
That's because the club's 54-year stay in the top two divisions of English football came to an end when they were beaten 2-1 at Loftus Road in April, 2005.
Gary Megson and his men went into the game in West London knowing that a victory would keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding the drop.
But ultimately it proved too much to ask for and relegation to League One was confirmed as Forest were on the receiving end of a 2-1 scoreline.
Forest's task was made that much harder when Darryl Powell received his marching orders 14 minutes before half-time.
The midfielder had already been booked for a challenge on Paul Furlong when he caught Martin Rowlands and referee Kevin Wright felt the need to show a second yellow card.
QPR added to the misery four minutes before half-time as they took the lead, courtesy of John Curtis, who unwittingly headed a twice-taken Lee Cook free-kick past Paul Gerrard.
Wes Morgan wasted a golden opportunity to level matters early in the second half when he fired over from an unmarked position.
And worse was to follow as Rangers made it 2-0 in the 50th minute with Marc Bircham curling home a right-footed shot.
Substitute Eugen Bopp gave Forest a glimmer of hope when he pulled one back for us 13 minutes from time by hooking home a Curtis cross from the left but it proved to the only bright spot on a bleak afternoon.
QPR: Rossi, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula, Rowlands, Gallen, Bircham (Bean 90), Cook, Thorpe, Furlong. Subs not used: Day, Edghill, Cureton, Miller.
Forest: Gerrard, Curtis, Morgan, Taylor, Melville, Robertson (Louis-Jean 67), Gardner, Evans (Bopp 62), Powell, Commons, Dobie (Harris 56). Subs not used: Doyle, Hjelde.
Where they currently stand
Forest - 24th QPR - 11th
Nottingham Forest
- See also Match Preview by Clive Whittingham/Loft for Words
QPR OFFICIAL SITE THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: FOREST
Nottingham Forest have found life back in the Championship tough going so far this season - indeed, by their Manager Colin Calderwood's own admission, 'in certain areas of the game, we are way, way, way short.'
What hasn't helped is an injury to top-scorer and new signing Robert Earnshaw, who has already bagged five goals in all competitions this season.
The loss of the Welshman has hurt the Nottinghamshire side, who have failed to register a goal since losing to Preston North End back on September 16th - and even that was a Youl Mawene own goal!
Despite losing seven out of the ten games going into today's clash with the R's, there have been some positives. An opening day 0-0 draw with current high-fliers Reading and a hard-fought victory at The City Ground over Watford offer Forest fans a glimmer of hope.
When you look at the attacking potential of the likes of Earnshaw, fellow new-boy and home-town hero Andy Cole, Nathan Tyson and former Carlisle favourite Joe Garner, it is baffling why they cannot find the back of the net.
There is no shortage of ammunition as Calderwood pulled off the double coup of Paul Anderson from Liverpool and Lee Martin from Manchester United on loan, as well as French midfielder Guy Moussi from Angers.
A brief Carling Cup run saw them prove their goal-scoring ability with a 4-0 win over Morecombe, but Sunderland eventually dumped them out of the competition at The City Ground.
Forest fans will be hoping their team has used the international break to work hard on stopping the flow of goals conceded over recent weeks and for their main-man Earnshaw to regain his fitness.
With over three-quarters of the season still to go, there is still time for Calderwood's charges to play their way out of trouble.
Team News
Robert Earnshaw has been pencilled in for a return to the Forest line-up, after missing their last three matches owing to a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old is the Reds' leading goalscorer after netting five goals this season.
QPR
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