No real complaints over the result, Newcastle probably just edged the game but we contributed to a decent game which turned on the opening goal. If we’d nicked a goal at the start of the second half, we might have seen a repeat of the West Brom performance but we failed to score when playing well and suffered as a result.

Having looked pretty comfortable for an hour, we conceded a really unlucky goal and the game slipped away from us. Cohen’s square pass hit Majewski’s heal and fell nicely for Ameobi to score with a scuffed shot through Perch’s legs into the bottom corner.

Tiredness and injury saw the withdrawal of Tyson, Majewski and Blackstock and we looked half the team as McCleary, Earnshaw and McGoldrick barely contributed.

Unfortunately, once the opening goal had been conceded we never looked like getting back into the game and it was no surprise when they killed off the game in injury time with another classy finish. Credit to our travelling fans - very few left after the second goal, despite the long journey home, to applaud the team off after a creditable performance.

This left us with a very similar feeling to most of the other recent away defeats. We didn’t make the most of the opportunities came our way, gave away goals that could have been prevented and lacked a little bit of support from the officials. A couple of over the top challenges didn’t receive the punishment they deserved whilst we had more reasonable penalty shouts turned down.

Defensively we looked pretty solid with MOTM Perch having an outstanding first half and another decent performance after the break. The current setup with him at right back and Gunter at left back looks like our best option despite losing the obvious attacking prowess of the latter on his natural side.

In midfield, we found space going forwards and looked dangerous on the break, however too often we lacked that clinical pass when we looked like threatening. We contained them pretty well for the first half and then had a real go after the break. Blackstock swung and missed and then lacked a little composure with another chance. Tyson’s free header was probably the best chance and he should have done much better than tamely find their keeper.

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Tags: Games Lost, MOTM James Perch

This season continues to exceed all expectations with another crushing defeat of an established Championship side. This time it was QPR’s turn and they didn’t know what hit them. After a slow opening exchange, two quick Earnshaw goals soon ended this game as a contest. The visiting team were such a shambles that it didn’t take long for the ironic cheering of corners to start. We were playing them at a good time after the departures of Agyemang and Routledge but we still outclassed them for the whole game and thoroughly deserved the win.
 
Blackstock was fouled on the edge of the area for Earnshaw to curl over the wall and inside the post, giving the keeper no chance. The second arrived soon after, Anderson’s run, Blackstocks diversion allowed Earnshaw clean through and he never looks like missing from there. We even found time to score our first penalty of the season. Blackstock raced to grab the ball, despite Earnshaw being on a hat-trick, sent the keeper the wrong way and hammered into the bottom corner.
 
After the break, Cohen charged forward from midfield and his shot through the keeper’s hands brought the forth. Perch charged forward from the back, provided a chance to Cohen and Earnshaw and ended up scoring himself to round off a great evenings work.
 
Camp was solid throughout apart from one dodgy moment where he choose to punch rather than catch a simple cross. Fortunately, he was alive to the rebound and the follow-up ended up in the crowd. He was never really tested apart from a number of half-hit low shots that still needed saving.
 
The loss of Shorey was a concern but this was the perfect game to introduce MOTM Perch into an unfamiliar left back role, barely tested in a defensive sense but more than played his part in the win. We didn’t make the most from a number of bursting runs into the area until one late charge and missed chances fell to him to calmly score the fifth. He also seemed much stronger with his left foot than I remember and didn’t always need to switch back onto his right foot every time. One risky blind pass was the only mistake I can remember him making. Gunter, Wilson and Morgan continue to dominate opposition forward lines with QPR struggling to mount too many attacks worth mentioning.
 
Majewski had the run of the midfield to show off his range of tricks. Some of the through-balls he provided continue to show what he’s capable of and why it’s imperative that we get him signed up to the club as soon as possible. Was struggling for a while at the end of the second half but still finished the game, would have been nice to give him a break but Morgan’s injury probably ruined that. We take McKenna’s performances for granted now, defending and hassling from midfield and preventing many attacks that would previously have trouble the defence.
 
Anderson continues to look more dangerous than earlier in his Forest career with a direct running style taking defenders on. A perfect example was the 2nd goal where he drove from the half-way line, waited for Blackstock to drag the defenders away before laying the perfect ball into Earnshaw’s path. Cohen is starting to add goals to the other obvious qualities, even with the help of some amateurish keeping on this occasion.
 
Blackstock worked tirelessly as ever, bringing other into the game and deserved his goal. Won the free-kick for the 1st and made an important run in the build up to the 2nd to demonstrate how important he is to this team. Earnshaw’s class in front of  goal speaks for itself and should really have converted one of the other chances that came his way to complete the hat-trick.

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM James Perch