QPR 1 - 1 Nottingham Forest: Ten-man Forest earn gutsy point at leaders

Billy Davies' best-laid plans flew out of the window after just 23 minutes but the Nottingham Forest manager was delighted with his players after the battling 1-1 draw at QPR.

Forest found themselves a goal and a man down midway through the first half after Tommy Smith fired Rangers ahead and Radoslaw Majewski was sent off. But they hauled themselves level through David McGoldrick's fortuitous strike and defended heroically as the npower Championship leaders cranked up the pressure after the break.

Davies had no complaints about the red card shown to Majewski for an ugly lunge on Adel Taarabt, and instead praised the players who stayed on the pitch for their efforts.

"We had to play for 70 minutes with 10 men and when you work hard all week on your shape and that happens, it's a disaster," he said.

"I don't think there can be a complaint, it's a clear airborne challenge. It was naive and stupid. But even with ten men we looked dangerous and we deserve credit after our game plan was blown to bits.

"My back five were magnificent. It's a great point and a well-deserved one."

The hosts took a 15th-minute lead when Smith slotted a precise 20-yard curler past Lee Camp. Lesser teams may have buckled when, eight minutes later, Majewski took the walk of shame, but Forest are made of sterner stuff these days and within three minutes had grabbed an unlikely leveller.

Lewis McGugan's 30-yard free-kick was heading towards the advertising hoardings to the left of Paddy Kenny's goal until it hit McGoldrick and flew in the other direction, past the diving Rangers goalkeeper and into the net.