Nottingham Forest 3-1 Queens Park Rangers: Lewis Grabban among scorers in Reds win
- Published
Lewis Grabban scored his fourth goal of the season
James Garner grabbed his second goal in as many games to nudge Nottingham Forest nearer to Championship safety as they cruised past Queens Park Rangers.
Midfielder Garner, on loan from Manchester United, whipped in a classy free-kick to secure the points midway through the second half.
Alex Mighten opened the scoring just before the break and Lewis Grabban doubled Forest's lead before Garner made it 3-0.
Rangers substitute Lyndon Dykes headed in Albert Adomah's cross for an injury-time consolation.
The victory lifted Forest to 15th place, 13 points clear of the bottom three, while QPR remain 12th.
Forest restored Filip Krovinovic to the starting line-up and the Croatian midfielder went close to putting them in front with a curling 25-yarder that was clawed behind by Seny Dieng.
Rangers seemed to come into their own as the first half progressed, with Stefan Johansen dragging a good chance narrowly wide and Charlie Austin nudging Yoann Barbet's cross over the bar.
But Barbet's error opened the door for Forest in the 44th minute, hesitating as he tidied up a long ball downfield and allowing Sammy Ameobi to muscle past him and set up a sliding tap-in for Mighten.
The home side dominated proceedings after the restart and Ameobi, Garner and Ryan Yates were all denied by Dieng in quick succession.
However, Forest's second goal arrived with a 62nd-minute counter-attack as Tyler Blackett bombed forward and Krovinovic fed Grabban, who swivelled to fire into the top corner.
Rangers gave away a free-kick near the corner flag five minutes later but, despite the tricky angle, Garner unleashed a flighted shot that whistled over the helpless Dieng.
The visitors never looked likely to mount a comeback, although ex-Forest winger Adomah supplied a cross for Dykes to find the net with the last action of the game.
Forest boss Chris Hughton told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"It has been a good few days and I think we've got what we deserved. This has probably been our best performance, particularly second half, as regards creating chances.
"There are probably two disappointments - one, I thought the game deserved a clean sheet for us and I also thought we might have got more goals.
"The second goal was important because until you get that, against a very good team, they're always in the game.
"At 2-0 it changes the dynamics of the game, they have to open up a little bit more and it creates more spaces."
QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC London 94.9:
"There's no shouting and screaming upstairs. They've been very good of late, they've worked hard and had a good run, but we were below our best and we have to recognise it.
"I thought we moved the ball too ponderously. We were a bit laboured, we have to be quicker with the ball movement if we're going to hurt teams.
"We did that for a 10-minute spell and had a great chance with Stefan (Johansen), who got forward so well and just put that chance wide of the post. They're the moments that change it.
"When we're good, we can be very good, but today we didn't deserve much out of that game."