Live Commentary: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Queens Park Rangers - as it happened

Queens Park Rangers travelled to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day looking to record their first league win at the City Ground at the 30th time of asking.

Harry Redknapp's Hoops knew that a landmark victory would see them return to the top of the Championship table.

However, it was Forest that claimed maximum points courtesy of goals from Greg Halford and Andy Reid.

You can find out how the action unfolded by revisiting the match with Sports Mole's blow-by-blow text updates below.

9.34pmThat concludes Sports Mole's live Boxing Day coverage of the Championship. Thanks for joining us. Goodnight.

9.33pmFULL TIME STATS: Shots (on goal) Forest: 17 (7) QPR: 13 (2) Fouls Forest: 13 QPR: 11 Corners: Forest: 4 QPR: 9 Possession: Forest: 45% QPR: 55%

9.31pmHarry's Hoops were well below par and have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

9.29pmForest record their first win in six homes games to fire them to fifth in the Championship table. The Reds are now just six points behind QPR, who have still never won at the City Ground in 30 league visits.

9.26pmFULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Queens Park Rangers

90 minCHANCE: Lansbury makes an overlapping run down the right and drives a low shot across goal, forcing a good stop out of Green.

87 minBOOKING: Forest goalkeeper Darlow is shown a yellow card for time-wasting.

86 minSUB: The final change of the game sees Matt Derbyshire enter the fray in place of Mackie.

84 minSUB: Abdoun, who has been very impressive, is replaced by Jamie Paterson.

80 minAt no point did Mr Stroud blow his whistle, so, in fairness, he hasn't done anything wrong. It's unfortunate, but QPR can only blame themselves for being distracted by the flag and stopping. The defenders probably would have struggled to catch Reid anyway, but goalkeeper Green certainly could have made a better effort to keep out Reid's shot.

80 minForest double their lead with a really controversial goal. A long pass is played down the left and Halford attempts to flick the ball through to Andy Reid, who is in an offside position. Halford fails to make contact with the ball, but it finds its way through to Reid anyway. The linesman raises his flag, QPR's defenders stop playing and Reid pokes the ball into the back of the net. Referee Stroud, who has not stopped play, then awards the goal, overruling his assistant and infuriating the visitors.

80 minGOAL! Nottingham Forest 2-0 Queens Park Rangers (Reid).

75 minSUB: Queens Park Rangers make their final change as Yossi Benayoun replaces Matthew Phillips.

74 minThe resultant corner finds Dunne, whose header from the centre of the box is well held by Darlow.

73 minThe game has opened right up and is a real end-to-end contest right now. Jenas hammers goalwards from 20 yards. His shot catches a deflection and flies just over the crossbar.

71 minOFF THE LINE! Jamaal Lascelles squares to Hobbs, whose low effort is blocked by Hill, who keeps QPR in the game.

67 minSUB: Forest make their first change as Nathaniel Chalobah replaces David Vaughan.

64 minCHANCE! Halford really could have scored a hatful tonight. His latest opportunity comes as he is picked out by brilliant angled cross from Mackie in the deep. The ball arrives just in front of Halford in the six-yard box. He pokes out his left boot and connects with a tame effort that bundles into the grateful arms of Green.

59 minSAVE! Forest fail to clear their lines and Carroll manages to hook a speculative lob goalwards. His effort dips viciously at the last minute and Darlow does well to tip over.

55 minLivewire Abdoun finds Henri Lansbury in space and the former Arsenal man unleashes a fierce strike that Clint Hill gets back to block.

53 minQPR win their first corner of the night as Hobbs knocks the ball behind. Kranjcar's delivery is poor though, allowing Forest to clear.

50 minHoilett is quickly into the action, finding Phillips, who strikes just over the bar from the edge of the D.

49 minBOOKING: Benoit Assou-Ekotto is given a yellow card for a crunching tackle on Jamie Mackie.

46 minThe game resumes as Forest kick off in the second half.

8.32pmSUBS: What was I just saying? Redknapp is preparing to make two very positive changes ahead of the second half. Zamora makes way for Johnson, while Karl Henry is replaced by Hoilett.

8.28pmQPR need to up the tempo and show more intent. They certainly have the quality in midfield, but there are big question marks over the fitness of Zamora up front. I would not be at all surprised to see Junior Hoilett and/or Andrew Johnson make an appearance after the break.

8.25pmHALF TIME STATS: Shots (on goal) Forest: 9 (3) QPR: 4 (0) Fouls Forest: 5 QPR: 7 Corners: Forest: 3 QPR: 0 Possession: Forest: 47% QPR: 53%

8.20pmApart from a sluggish first 15 minutes, it's been a pretty good game so far. Forest deserve their lead and could easily be further ahead. QPR will have to improve after half time, but they are certainly not out of this one.

8.17pmHALF TIME: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Queens Park Rangers.

43 minKranjcar's deflected shot from 20 yards almost falls to Carroll in front of goal, but Darlow is alert and comes off his line to gather the ball off the Tottenham loanee's toes.

40 minAbdoun swings in a cross from the right that just evades the head of Halford in the six-yard box.

37 minHalford lets fly with his left boot from outside the penalty area, but his effort is way off target.

34 minDunne gets lucky as his slashed clearance falls to Abdoun, who handles the ball before putting it into the net. Referee Keith Stroud awarded QPR a free kick for hand ball straight away, but Dunne made a right mess of that.

32 minCHANCE! Carroll finds Kranjcar just inside the Forest half and the Croatia international dances past three players, before bending a low effort just beyond Darlow's far post.

29 minHe didn't look too comfortable when two chances fell at his feet, but 6'4" Halford makes no mistake as Abdoun lands a pinpoint cross right onto his head. The former Portsmouth man nods home from six yards and the City Ground is rocking.

29 minGOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Queens Park Rangers (Halford).

23 minBenoit Assou-Ekotto tries his luck from long range and Darlow makes a decent diving save. This game has really got going in the last few minutes!

21 minQPR break quickly and Zamora tees up Jermaine Jenas, whose powerful effort is well blocked by Jack Hobbs.

20 minCHANCE! If only Forest had a proper striker tonight! Djamel Abdoun's run and cross finds Halford in the 18-yard box and the makeshift forward scoops an awkward shot over the crossbar with the outside of his right boot.

18 minCHANCE! A flash of excitement is injected into proceedings as Halford dribbles past Richard Dunne before shooting low at goal from just inside the penalty area. His effort, which is the game's first shot on target, is blocked by the foot of Robert Green.

15 minBoth defences look very well organised. QPR are showing slightly more intent with their passing, but the Hoops are sitting very deep nonetheless. It appears as though both managers have set their sides up to be solid and look to threaten on the counter-attack. It has been a very polite and reserved affair so far.

9 minTidy play from QPR, who piece together a nice passing move, which finds Zamora in space on the left. Matt Phillips escapes his marker in the middle, but, the former West Ham forward's cross is mishit and goes out of play for a goal kick.

4 minThe visitors have made a composed start and their passing has been very bright and positive. The pitch here at the City Ground is in a good condition considering the time of year and that should suit Harry Redknapp's side.

1 minTom Carroll wins a free kick on the left. Niko Kranjcar fizzes in a right-footed inswinger that takes a deflection off a Forest head, asking a question of goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who gathers well under pressure.

1 minKICKOFF: QPR get the game underway.

7.26pmPREDICTION: No other side in the Championship have drawn more games than Forest this season. Nine of the Redsâ€™ 21 league fixtures have ended level, as have four of the last five meetings between these sides. Taking QPRâ€™s strong defensive record into account, I anticipate this being a very tight game and I would be surprised if three or more goals were scored. I reckon it will end either 0-0 or 1-1.

7.22pmQPR have also been forced to make a change in attack. Topscorer Charlie Austin misses out with a hamstring injury, meaning that Bobby Zamora plays for the first time since September.

7.19pmThe headline team news for Forest is that Simon Cox does not feature due to illness. With Darius Henderson suspended, the Republic of Ireland international is replaced in attack by utility man Greg Halford, who relocates from right-back.

7.15pmQPR SUBS: Murphy, Traore, Johnson, SWP, Onuoha, Hoilett, Benayoun

7.14pmQPR STARTING XI: Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Phillips, Carroll, Jenas, Kranjcar, Henry, Zamora

7.12pmFOREST SUBS: De Vries, Harding, Chalobah, Paterson, Derbyshire, Osborn, Majewski

7.11pmFOREST STARTING XI: Darlow, Lichaj, Hobbs, Lascelles, Jara, Vaughan, Lansbury, Reid, Abdoun, Mackie, Halford

7.08pmThat result at Bloomfield Road means that Forest will climb to fifth if they beat QPR. Meanwhile, the Hoops will go top if they claim maximum points.

7.06pmBREAKING! Leeds United's game at Blackpool has just ended 1-1. The Tangerines finished the match with 10 men after Kirk Broadfoot was sent off late on. Paul Ince's men have now been issued with nine red cards this season.

7.04pmQPR have also been pretty hard to beat this month. The Hoops did not concede a single goal as they claimed seven points from their clashes with Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool. However, Harry Redknapp's men were defeated on their last outing, going down 1-0 at home to promotion rivals Leicester City.

7.02pmForest go into tonightâ€™s game at the City Ground looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. The East Midlands side have not yet lost in December, recording one win and three draws.

7pmFestive greetings all! Ninety Premier League and Football League clubs have already been in action today. That just leaves Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers to complete the full set.

Live Commentary: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Queens Park Rangers - as it happened

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Teams mentioned in this article :

Nottingham Forest

Queens Park Rangers