Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest have played out a goalless first half in a hard-fought Championship encounter at Loftus Road this afternoon.

The game did not start in the tidiest of fashions given that Chris O'Grady stuck a blood-drawing challenge on Gabriele Angella, who had to be bandaged up on the sidelines before being allowed back onto the pitch.

After a frantic opening 15 minutes, it was perhaps QPR who had the best of the early chances when Charlie Austin looked to get his quickfire shot off on goal, much to the detriment of its final quality.

Austin was involved again in QPR's next promising move after teeing up Hungarian midfielder Daniel Tozser, who eventually saw his wicked drive blocked on its way to goal by Matt Mills.

The hosts were almost undone, however, when Eric Lichaj made a storming run from the back to find himself one on one with Robert Green, leaving the centre-back to fire his shot straight at the keeper from 15 yards out.

Rangers might have put themselves ahead just before the interval, only for Massimo Luongo to head into the hands of Dorus de Vries from close range.