Boss Martin O’Neill largely kept faith with a winning team for Nottingham Forest’s final away game of the season, against QPR.
There was just one alteration to the side which had thumped Middlesbrough 3-0 last time out, though it looked as though that would also lead to a change in formation.
Sam Byram was the man to come back into the XI, having missed out at the City Ground due to a concussion.
O’Neill had referred to “a couple”of injury concerns in his pre-match press conference, and with no Pele in the matchday squad, that might have been the reason for the midfielder’s absence.
Joao Carvalho's second successive start welcomed by Nottingham Forest's fans
Byram’s inclusion suggested the visitors would revert to a four-man defence at Loftus Road, with the West Ham United loanee taking his place at right-back.
Jack Robinson would move across to the left flank, while Molla Wague and Alexander Milosevic were set to take up their spots in the centre of the back line, ahead of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.
With no Pele, it seemed as though Ben Osborn would step into one of the midfield holding roles, alongside Ryan Yates, as part of a 4-2-3-1 system.
Ahead of them, a three-pronged attacking trio would be made up of Matty Cash, Joao Carvalho and Joe Lolley, in support of lone striker Karim Ansarifard.
There was one change to the list of substitutes, with Ben Watson included at the expense of Saidy Janko.
Luke Steele, Adlene Guedioura, Lewis Grabban, Daryl Murphy, Claudio Yacob and Arvin Appiah completed the bench.
The Reds went into the clash at Loftus Road looking to claim a first away win since November, and back-to-back victories for the first time since September.
Bolton Wanderers told they must fulfil final Championship game at Nottingham Forest
Forest: Pantilimon, Byram, Wague, Milosevic, Robinson, Yates, Osborn, Cash, Carvalho, Lolley, Ansarifard. Subs: Steele, Guedioura, Grabban, Watson, Murphy, Yacob, Appiah.
