Date: Thursday, 28 December; Venue: City Ground, Nottingham; Kickoff: 19:30 GMT Nottingham Forest have never lost a home game in any competition to QPR. If Harry Redknapp's Hoops make history on Boxing Day then, their reward may be to top The Championship table. Should Burnley fail to win, QPR can go above them with victory at the City Ground provided they match or better a potential Leicester City win against Reading. Billy Davies's Reds have drawn three of their last four outings and have failed to score in the last two. The Hoops are looking to bounce back from their only home league defeat of the campaign against promotion rivals Leicester. Both teams have suspensions to contend with.
Team News
Forest frontman Darius Henderson starts a ban after being sent off in the goalless draw with Birmingham City. Long-term absentees Dexter Blackstock, club captain Chris Cohen and centre back Kelvin Wilson are also out. Wales defender Danny Collins has stepped up his recovery from an ankle problem after two months out, but this test may come too soon for him. Reds boss Davies has no fresh injury worries, however. QPR's controversial midfielder Joey Barton must sit this trip to Nottingham out after picking up two bookings in their last outing. Redknapp may hand Yossi Benayoun his first Hoops start or go like for like in the centre by selecting combative anchor Karl Henry. Alejandro Faurlin is recovering from knee ligament surgery and joins target man Bobby Zamora on the treatment table. Canadian winger Junior Hoilett may be pushing for a start after coming at half time against Leicester. Sources:
BBC,
NFFC official site,
QPR Official site
Likely Line-Ups
Forest: 1 Karl Darlow, 15 Greg Halford, 25 Jack Hobbs, 16 Jamaal Lascelles, 3 Dan Harding, 10 Henri Lansbury, 24 David Vaughan, 12 Jamie Mackie, 11 Andy Reid, 39 Djamel Abdoun, 31 Simon Cox 4-2-3-1
QPR: 1 Rob Green, 2 Danny Simpson, 5 Richard Dunne, 6 Clint Hill, 39 Benoit Assou-Ekotto, 20 Karl Henry, 36 Gary O'Neil, 7 Matt Phillips, 10 Tom Carroll/35 Yossi Benayoun, 19 Niko Kranjcar/23 Junior Hoilett, 9 Charlie Austin 4-2-3-1