Boss Chris Hughton set his Nottingham Forest team the challenge of finishing as high up the Championship table as they can after clinching back-to-back wins.
The Reds all but secured safety as they impressively thumped QPR 3-1 at the City Ground, making it a perfect Easter weekend after Friday’s 1-0 victory at Cardiff City.
Hughton remains reluctant to publicly admit survival is assured - at least until it is mathematically certain - but his side are up to 15th, 13 points above the bottom three with six games left.
“What I think privately and what I say publicly has to be two different things,” Hughton said.
Player ratings
Nottingham Forest claimed an impressive 3-1 victory over QPR today as they made it back-to-back wins over the Easter weekend.
Alex Mighten, Lewis Grabban and James Garner scored the goals for Chris Hughton’s side, with Lyndon Dykes netting a late consolation for the visitors.
Reds reporter Sarah Clapson has rated the Forest players who were in action at the City Ground...
Brice Samba: A pretty quiet afternoon for the shot-stopper. Back four largely kept the visitors at arm’s length. A shame he couldn’t get the clean-sheet the team performance deserved. Rating: 6/10
Unhappy return
Nottingham Forest fans were quick to single out Mark Warburton's biggest problem as they recognised some old failings as the Reds coasted to victory at the City Ground.
The Reds ran out 3-1 winners as they made it back to back victories in the Championship following their 1-0 success over Cardiff at the weekend.
Alex Mighten’s third strike of the season put Forest in front before the break, before Lewis Grabban added a second midway through the second half.
James Garner then made it 3-0 heading towards the final 20 minutes with a stunning free-kick before Lydon Dykes netted a consolation.
It made for an unhappy return to the City Ground for old Reds boss Warburton who only lasted nine months in the job and was left to rue sloppy mistakes throughout.
Fans' thoughts
Nottingham Forest fans were left in the enviable position of struggling to choose a man of the match after the Reds’ fine 3-1 win over QPR.
Alex Mighten, Lewis Grabban and James Garner scored the goals to leave Chris Hughton’s side on the brink of preserving their Championship status.
With third-bottom Rotherham United losing at home to bottom side Wycombe Wanderers, Forest are 13 points clear of the drop zone, meaning fans should be able to look forward to a relatively comfortable final six games.
Here’s what Forest supporters have said about today’s win on social media...
