Jordan Gabriel kept his place in the Nottingham Forest starting XI as head coach Sabri Lamouchi made four changes for the opening Championship clash.
The Nigel Doughty Academy product was rewarded for a solid full debut in last weekend’s Carabao Cup defeat at Barnsley, once again taking up the right-back spot at QPR.
Joe Worrall and Joe Lolley both came into the line-up after missing out through injury at Oakwell, while summer signings Jack Colback and Luke Freeman also made the team.
Sammy Ameobi dropped to the bench, while Fouad Bachirou, Joao Carvalho and Yuri Ribeiro were left out of the matchday squad at loftus Road.
In Ribeiro’s absence, Tyler Blackett looked set to take up the left-back role, completing the back line of Gabriel, Worrall and Tobias Figueiredo, ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba.
Jack Colback was partnered by Ryan Yates in the holding midfield role, with Lolley and Freeman joined by Nuno Da Costa as an attacking trio in support of lone striker Lewis Grabban.
Lyle Taylor was the only newcomer included among the substitutes, as Jordan Smith, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Mighten. Michael Dawson and Brennan Johnson made up the bench alongside Ameobi.
It made for a different side to the team which had been beaten by the Tykes as Forest looked to get a promotion push underway in the capital.
Forest: Samba, Gabriel, Worrall, Figueiredo, Blackett, Colback, Yates, Lolley, Freeman, Da Costa, Grabban. Subs: Smith, Ameobi, Jenkinson, Mighten, Dawson, Taylor, Johnson.
