Nottingham Forest have been brought back down to earth but an immediate reaction will see them beat QPR, former midfielder David Prutton believes.
After four straight wins under new boss Steve Cooper, Forest suffered a heavy defeat to Fulham last time out.
Now, they head to a QPR side reeling from a Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Sunderland in midweek, a game in which Charlie Austin had a legitimate goal ruled out for offside.
Prutton expects a response from Forest, and backed a 2-1 away win at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Friday night.
He told Sky Sports: “We saw QPR in the Carabao Cup and that disallowed goal, my word that was one for the ages.
“It’s one that's teed up very nicely with Forest being brought back down to earth after a wonderful start under Steve with that defeat to Fulham.
“If Forest have aspirations of doing something decent this season, they can pretty confidently look at what QPR have done. They’ve had a bright start overall.
“It’s going to be tough, tough for Forest, tough for QPR, and one that I’m really looking forward to. I think you’ll see a reaction from Forest from (the game) against Fulham.”
Perhaps surprisingly given their start to the season under Chris Hughton, victory for Forest on Friday night would put them just one point off the play-off places ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.
QPR are currently one of seven teams between fifth and 11th on 21 points.
