QPR ‘could not live’ with our second-half display – Forest boss Steve Cooper

Delighted Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper felt play-off rivals QPR “could not live” with his team during a devastating second-half display.

On-loan Watford striker Andre Gray gave the Hoops a half-time lead, but Djed Spence’s 30-yard thunderbolt sparked a comeback that was completed by Ryan Yates and Brennan Johnson efforts in a 3-1 win.

The result moved Forest to within a point of their sixth-placed opponents and, giving his assessment, Cooper said: “They were a bit better than us for the first 10 minutes but we were good after that and looked like we were going to take the lead after a couple of near misses. Then, they scored against the run of play and that can derail you when you are playing well but, in the second half, we were brilliant.

“We played with a lot of energy high up the pitch, but also passed the ball well and created lots of chances. It took a brilliant goal from Djed to level the scores and sometimes you need something special to start things off but, in the end, they could not live with us and they are a team that have been in the top six for most of the season so, to run over them the way we did, meant we were really good for the win.

“We’ve scored seven goals in two games now and that’s what the supporters want to see and what I want them to see.”

Cooper also praised the professionalism of defender Tobias Figueiredo, who was handed his first outing since Boxing Day in place of the injured Steve Cook.

“He was excellent and is a credit to his professionalism,” the Forest chief enthused. “He clearly wasn’t happy at not being in the team but has worked even harder so that he was ready and he looked fit in an athletic game.”

QPR boss Mark Warburton, meanwhile, signalled his intention to dip into the emergency loan market after losing a fourth keeper to injury with David Marshall joining Seny Dieng, Jordan Archer and Joe Walsh in the treatment room.

On his side’s disappointing night, Warburton said: “I thought we were good in the first half and started the game very well. Our shape was good and we were causing them problems.

“Chris Willock coming off was a blow as he’s a dangerous attacking threat for us but we went on to get a good goal and missed a sitter, which was a big moment. They went on to score a 30-yard screamer and we went on to concede from a set-piece, which is the bit that really hurts.

“The goalkeeper then pulled his left hamstring and couldn’t move for the third goal so we’ve got four keepers out injured now, which is quite amazing. Marshy has been outstanding for us and we will need to look for an emergency loan, but it can’t be anybody from the Premier League so we will have to see what we can do.”