Last update on. From the section Championship
Jack Colback's goal for Forest was scored in a home defeat of Aston Villa by 3-1
Jack Colback scored his first goal in league since March 2019, as Nottingham Forest rescued a point against Queens Park Rangers at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Rangers looked poised to win after Lyndon Dykes, a Scotland international, headed the ball at the end of the first half. They had lost Sam McCallum (injury) and Jordy De Wijs (injury).
Dykes could have scored a hat trick after the break but Brice Samba blocked the space and Djed Spence made a great tackle as the striker was about to shoot.
Forest and QPR were both rewarded for their perseverance when QPR failed with time running out. Colback's left-foot effort was rewarded with a deflection from Jimmy Dunne.
Rangers lost 20 of their 22 previous Friday night matches and rose to fifth in the table, despite not being able to win their seventh victory of the campaign. Forest remained in 15th.
QPR's last home game before Remembrance Day saw a minute of applause, followed by silence and the playing the Last Post by Sergeant Warren Ringham.
Forest nearly went in front when the match started. The home defense was caught in possession, and Joe Lolley fed Brennan Johnson, who shot narrowly wide.
When Johnson was brought down by Yoann Barbet's challenge, the referee denied Forest any penalty appeals. However, Seny Dieng saved Lolley's 20 yard drive.
Albert Adomah had to then take the ball away while Johnson played a dangerous ball over the six-yard box. But Dykes' most important contribution against one his former clubs was at the other end, when he found room in the box for a darked cross and Dykes slid away from Max Lowe, before heading home.
Lyndon Dykes now has 10 goals for QPR and 4 for Scotland this season.
Forest boss Steve Cooper brought on Lyle Taylor and Alex Mighten at the hour mark to help his side equalize. Lolley made a left-foot attempt just beyond the far post, before Philip Zinckernagel replaced him. Zinckernagel forced Dieng over with a strong effort.
Steve Clarke, Scotland's boss, was watching Dykes and had the chance to settle the matter but was stopped by a determined Forest defense.
As the game entered stoppage time, Colback's drive saved them from a second defeat. They had lost 4-0 last Sunday at Fulham.
BBC London 94.9 interviewed Mark Warburton, QPR's boss.
"The second half was about maintaining our shape and stopping them from playing forward. I believe we did that and I feel we defeated their threat.
"We made contact with their set-pieces throughout the night, and, in truth, against a very strong Forest team, we felt comfortable.
"We had many chances to win it and then we lose the game and have to admit that we were a wasteful goalkeeper.
"To get such a deflection - I've seen it from behind the goal, and it was going straight into Seny's (Dieng's) arms. It is very painful."
Steve Cooper, Forest's head coach, spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham:
"It would be really hard if we lost the game. One, because we played a part; two, because we were penalized in the first half; three, because we believed that we wouldn't give up, we didn't quit.
QPR is difficult to prepare for because they can change their midfield shape, sometimes becoming a box or a diamond. That's very difficult tactically.
"What we didn’t want was to drop [back] and allow them to take the game from us. We wanted to do the reverse, and that is what we did. Take a look at how the game started.
"It was an enjoyable game, and I'm glad we got something out it. But it's mixed feelings because I feel we should have gotten three points."
