Forest finish off QPR in emphatic style

Nottingham Forest 3 Queen's Park Rangers 0

Relegated QPR had no answer to a Nottingham Forest side determined to end their programme with a flourish. Forest, with only two points to show from their previous four games, were ordered by their manager, Frank Clark, to end the season in style.

Once Steve Stone had put them on the road in the last minute of the first half, Forest underlined their supremacy over Ray Wilkins' side with two second-half efforts from Bryan Roy and Bobby Howe.

Rangers had their moments, particularly with Trevor Sinclair showing the kind of quality touches that will be a great loss to the Premiership. But despite his promptings Rangers lacked the necessary fire power.

Stone's opener came after Ian Woan had fed the ball through. The England midfielder shrug- ged off a challenge before curling an effort past Jurgen Sommer in the Rangers goal.

Forest could easily have added to their lead in first-half injury time when Sommer failed to hold Colin Cooper's free-kick and young Paul McGregor lifted a close range effort over the bar. But Forest were in no mood to relinquish their grip on the game and in the 63rd minute Woan and Stone set up one of the easiest goals that Roy will ever score.

Kevin Gallen almost gave Rangers a hope when he was denied by Mark Crossley but in the 77th minute Forest confirmed their victory when Howe skipped clear to plant a left-foot volley well wide of Sommer. Rangers were in danger of total collapse at that stage and after substitute Andrea Silenzi had headed over from a Stuart Pearce corner, the Italian striker set up a chance which Roy somehow lifted over the top.

To their credit Rangers' following of over 2,000 stuck by their side right to the end but they were denied a consolation goal when Rufus Brevett got himself into a shooting position only to be denied by Crossley's athleticism

Clark was disappointed that his side were unable to do a lap of honour because of a pitch invasion on the final whistle. "The players wanted to acknowledge the support we have had, but it was just not possible in the circumstances," he said.

Goals: Stone (44) 1-0; Roy (63) 2-0; Howe (77) 3-0.

Nottingham Forest: Crossley; Pearce, Cooper, Chettle, Stone (Phillips, 72), Woan, Haaland (Lyttle, h-t), Howe, McGregor (Silenzi, 76), Bart-Williams, Roy.

Queen's Park Rangers: Sommer; Bardsley (Ready, 67), Yates, McDonald (Plummer, h-t), Brevett, Barker, Murray, Wilkins (Charles, h-t), Gallen, Dichio, Sinclair.

Referee: G Ashby (Worcester).

Booked: QPR: Ready.

Man of the match: Stone Attendance: 22,910.