While progress in the EFL Cup does not top Mark Warburton’s list of priorities this season, the Hoops boss was not in the mood to hide his anger given the manner of QPR’s exit to Sunderland on Tuesday night.
Charlie Austin’s late goal should have proven to be the winner, only for the assistant to bizarrely raise his flag despite the forward clearly being in an onside position.
Sunderland took advantage of that reprieve by prevailing in a penalty shootout, denying QPR a place in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 1988-89.
The quick turnaround can only help QPR get over that disappointment, something which feels like a necessity with two defeats also coming in their last three Championship fixtures.
Victory on Friday will catapult them back into fourth position, but they face opponents who will also be looking to get back on track as soon as possible.
After posting four successive wins, Steve Cooper would have had high hopes for his side taking at least a point off promotion contenders Fulham at the City Ground.
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However, Forest were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by the Cottagers, the last three of those goals coming in nine second-half minutes.
The setback was an eye opener for both Cooper and his players, and they must now go back to the drawing board if they want to ease their way back into contention for the playoffs.
Facing a four-point deficit, that is currently well within their grasp, but they must find a way of repelling the joint second-best attack in the division
