QPR 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Dykes nets first goal as Championship promotion contenders lose in west London

BY NICK KITUNO

Lyndon Dykes scored his first goal for Queens Park Rangers as they made a winning start to their Championship campaign with victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Scotland international, who joined from Livingston in the summer, converted from the penalty spot before Ilias Chair made sure of all three points during stoppage time.

Rangers’ home victory over Mark Warburton’s former side is their first since April 2017, having lost the previous three encounters in west London.

In an opening 45 minutes devoid of action, Lewis Grabban had the best chance of the half when he guided Tyler Blackett’s inviting cross narrowly wide of the post.  Rangers’ summer signing Rob Dickie smashed the ball home following a corner, but referee Tim Robinson had blown his whistle for a foul long before.

The restart was much more entertaining, and Rangers found a breakthrough when Tobias Figueiredo hauled Dykes down in the box after latching on to Lee Wallace’s header. Dykes duly stepped up to drill the ball past Brice Samba on 53 minutes.

Forest set about grabbing the equaliser, and went close when Ryan Yates crashed the woodwork from a tight angle before Yoann Barbet clipped the post from Chair’s teasing free-kick.

The visitors’ best chance came late on when Grabban was found inside the box by substitute Sammy Ameobi, only to divert his effort wide of the target from close range.

Rangers put the tie to bed in the 94th minute when Samba kept out Dom Ball’s effort before Chair raced in to put away the rebound.