Queens Park Rangers 2-5 Nottingham Forest
- Published
Lee Tomlin grabbed the first two goals and also set up Forest's third
Lee Tomlin scored twice as Nottingham Forest ended their five-game winless league run in style at QPR.
Matt Smith hit the bar for the hosts before Tomlin's shot put Forest ahead.
The Reds seized control after the break with two quick goals, Tomlin crashing in his second and then teeing up Joe Lolley for number three.
Massimo Luongo's close-range effort and a Smith header either side of a Matty Cash strike made it 4-2, but a fine run and shot by Ben Brereton sealed things.
Rangers were left wondering what might have been, after two key moments early in each half went against them.
Firstly, Smith's header crashed back off the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the line, and then just after half-time, Luongo's goalbound effort was brilliantly saved by Forest keeper Costel Pantilimon seconds before Tomlin doubled the visitors' lead.
Rangers managed 17 efforts on goal - two more than the visitors - but only four were on target. Forest were rewarded for their clinical finishing with on-loan Cardiff striker Tomlin particularly impressive.
The Reds had failed to score in eight of their previous 10 matches but ended with five away from home for the first time since winning at Barnsley by the same score in November 2016.
The victory lifted Aitor Karanka's side to 15th in the Championship table, a point and a place above QPR.
QPR boss Ian Holloway:
"We started so edgy it was unreal. I could almost feel people hesitating when the ball dropped instead of going and snapping onto it like we have been - and we've done all season, to be fair, particularly at home.
"Everything we talk about, nobody did. I've watched all the goals and it's horrendous - the same mistakes for every single one.
"It's inexplicable because we practised it yesterday and they did it very well. It's all about producing it in the arena.
"How many times you seen anybody, with the ball squared to them, and my team not in their face like a crazed raccoon around a bin? Every goal I've just watched, the ball was squared or played slightly forward and then that fella could play forward again."
Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka:
"I wasn't concerned. One day it will arrive - and today has been the best example.
"The team has been aggressive on the pitch and, when we have chances, some days we will miss but some days we will score.
"I told the players before the game that today should be a reflection of the improvement of the team.
"There has been an improvement and today there was the perfect mixture; we were organised on the pitch, aggressive and confident. It's the way that we have to keep playing."