Mark Warburton insists there was nothing QPR could do to stop Djed Spence’s wondergoal during Wednesday’s 3-1 Championship defeat to Nottingham Forest, speaking to the Rangers website.
It was a classic case of one step forwards, one major leap in the other direction for Queens Park Rangers.
Just three days after coming from behind to defeat play-off rivals Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, QPR got a taste of their own medicine in the East Midlands.
Andre Grey’s well-taken opener meant the visitors went into the half-time interval with a 1-0 goal away at Warburton’s old employers.
But their advantage didn’t last long. Ten minutes into the second half, Spence set his sights and launched a heat-seeking missile a shot into David Marshall’s net from all of 25 yards.
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“In the second half, they score a worldy into the top corner,” sighs Warburton, who spent nine months in the scalding City Ground hotseat back in 2017.
“I am not sure any keeper saves that. I felt we were a little bit timid after that.
“If you can get to the hour mark and keep this crowd quiet – and they are a good, passionate crowd enjoying a good run of form – then you are in a good place, but that goal goes in and it fires them up.”
Ryan Yates’ eighth of an excellent season gave Nottingham Forest the lead for the first time in the 83rd minute, before Brennan Johnson lashed home a late third.
The result means a resurgent Forest side – who have picked up more points than anyone in the league bar Fulham since Steve Cooper’s arrival in late-September – are now just two places and one point adrift of QPR in the Championship table.
To make matters worse, Rangers lost talisman Chris Willock and goalkeeper David Marshall to injury at the City Ground.
Speaking to West London Sport, Warburton admits that QPR will now be forced to enter the transfer market for a Marshall replacement, via an ‘emergency loan deal’.
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