Forest To Give Hoops A Kick Up The R`s.

Normal service resumes today, as Forest take on QPR at Loftus Road. It’s a vital game for both teams, with both managers having something to prove. The stats make uncomfortable reading for both teams, with Forest without a win in 6 and the Hoops with only 1 point from their last 12 and it’s 5 games since we hit the back of the net (6 if you count the game with Ireland).

There is good news and bad for the Forest faithful, in that Paul Anderson could make his long awaited debut since signing in the summer. Another newbie in Carl Fletcher should also make his first appearance for the Reds’, following his mid week loan deal from Palace. Little Earn will be back and that’s the best news of all because he’s seemed like the only one able to find the net. The bad news though, is that the Moose is sidelined for up to three months with a foot injury. Joe Garner would have been in line for his first game, but for a dose of the squits and tonsillitis laying him low.

The last time we were at Loftus Road, it was to give the Hoops the privilege of sending us down to League 1. A sorry day that was, but at least this side has a bit more about them and look nothing like Megson’s sorry losers of 2005. If the Reds’ are to turn things around they need a win today.

Hoops boss Iain Dowie, is under as much pressure as CC at present and he needs the win as much as us. Just as Forest are rumoured to have a new man in the wings (Allardyce), so do the Hoops (Venables). Something has to give today, hopefully it works in our favour.

Our shaky defence should see the welcome return of Julian Bennett, but he’ll have to be on his toes to stop the likes of six times goalscorer so far this term, Dexter Blackstock. Teenager Angelo Balanta could be handed a place in the QPR side, following his two goals for the reserves in midweek. Mercifully for us, Rowan Vine is still recovering from a broken leg.

The omens are fair to middling for us today, in terms of the history between the two sides. In 44 League games, the Reds have won 19, lost 12 and drawn 13. We have to turn that corner soon and it could be today. I feel unusually optimistic about this one and for some insane reason have gone for a 3-1 win for us. Nothing suggests our recent form will see this happen, but all bad runs end somewhere and it could be Loftus Road.