Rangers had to make do with a point, after Mikele Leigertwood's spectacular effort was not enough to register a maximum return against Nottingham Forest.

The R's took the lead in the 25th minute when Leigertwood struck from fully 25-yards out after turning his man.

But Forest weren't to be deterred, as David McGoldrick sent the ball home from close range after a clever knock down to level the scores.

Rangers Manager Jim Magilton made just two changes from the side that went down 1-0 at Bristol City on Tuesday evening.

Both Alessandro Pellicori - making his competitive home debut alongside Alejandro Faurlin - and Heidar Helguson started in attack for the R's, at the expense of Patrick Agyemang and Akos Buzsaky respectively.

That meant Adel Taarabt started the game on the left-hand side, as the R's looked to exploit the Forest back line.

Elsewhere, former R's goalkeeper Lee Camp started for the visitors, while fellow ex-Ranger Dexter Blackstock had to make do with a place on the Reds' bench.

As the teams emerged into the blazing sunshine, it was Forest who were to fashion the first opportunity of the game - forcing Radek Cerny into making two top-quality saves.

Only three minutes had passed on the clock, when - after a clever through ball - Radoslaw Majewski found himself clear down the left.

Bearing down on goal, the Polish midfielder sent in a vicious shot that looked destined for the net, before Cerny got down well to his right to parry the ball away.

The action wasn't finished there though, as the ball fell to the feet of Joe Garner from close range. The Forest striker looked certain to score as he sent in another low, rasping shot - but Cerny got down excellently again to tip the ball wide for a corner.

At the other end, trickery from Taarabt after a clever pass from Gary Borrowdale saw the Spurs loanee beat two men before setting up Leigertwood on the edge of the area, but he could only shoot high and wide.

If anything, this was becoming an end-to-end affair, not least when after good work down the left from Chris Cohen, his cross just evaded Dele Adebola, after good pressure on him by Fitz Hall.

Moments later, the R's broke, creating their best chance to date to take the lead. A neat pass from Faurlin found Helguson just outside the area.

The Icelandic forward then played a first-time pass to Taarabt, who in all fairness, had more time than he realised when being put through on goal, and could only snatch his shot wide.

Rangers were now having the greater say in terms of possession, and after super work from Taarabt saw him find Routledge out wide on the right, he crossed dangerously into the box.

However, when the ball somehow found its way to Borrowdale from 10-yards out, he could only blast high and wide.

The R's didn't have to wait much longer for that all-important first goal though, and in the 25th minute, Leigertwood fired Rangers into the lead with a quite stunning strike.

After receiving the ball from a throw-in, the former Crystal Palace man turned his marker superbly from 25-yards out, before sending in a thunderous strike past a helpless Camp with his weaker left foot.

Just before half time, Forest did have a chance to pull level after Majewski sent in a dangerous free-kick from a central position, though Cerny was more than equal to that effort to tip the ball away for a corner.

As the teams reappeared for the second half, the R's were enforced into making a substitution, as Hall was replaced by Kaspars Gorkss. Although the extent of that injury thus far, is unclear, it looked to be a precautionary switch from R's boss Magilton.

That setback wasn't to deter Rangers though, and soon after the break, they nearly doubled their lead.

It was the ever-present Taarabt who, after driving down the middle, played the ball to Routledge, who was quick to react and play Pellicori in down the left. The Italian forward went close, but could only see his shot hit the side netting.

Thereafter it was Forest, though, who were having the better of the play - and soon they were rewarded with a second-half equaliser in the 58th minute.

After a long ball was played into the direction of Dele Adebola, he used all of his experience to nod the ball down for McGoldrick 10-yards out. The former Southampton man made no mistake from there, drilling into the roof of the net to draw Forest level.

It was a goal that had the ability to dishearten Rangers, though it didn't, and soon after the R's went in search of a second, introducing Rowan Vine for Pellicori in the process.

It was in fact Vine who was instantly involved, receiving the ball from Helguson before drilling an effort from the edge of the area at Camp.

Rangers could sense that a second goal could be in the offing, and with that sent on Akos Buzsaky for the impressive Taarabt in search of a goal that would give them all three points.

And Buzsaky was close to giving Rangers the lead they craved when he sent in a dangerous free-kick from the right, but that wasn't to beat Camp.

Soon after it was Buzsaky involved again as he crossed for Helguson, but his header went just over, as the R's couldn't find a way past a defiant Forest defence.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Hall (Gorkss 46), Leigertwood, Routledge, Helguson, Pellicori (Vine 61), Faurlin, Borrowdale, Taarabt (Buzsaky 66).

Subs not used: Mahon, Agyemang, Connolly, Heaton.

Goals: Leigertwood (25).

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Adebola (Blackstock 72), Garner, Cohen, Gunter, McGoldrick (Tyson 75), McKenna, Majewski, Lynch (McCleary 46).

Subs not used: Anderson, Earnshaw, Davies, Smith.

Goals: McGoldrick (58).

Referee: Mr J J Linington.

Attendance: 13, 058.