Tottenham target Andy Reid helped fire Nottingham Forest into the fourth round of the FA Cup against a patched-up QPR side at Loftus Road.

The Republic of Ireland winger, linked with a £4million move to White Hart Lane this week, opened the scoring with a superb free-kick and then set up Kris Commons for his first goal since joining in a £300,000 deal from Stoke in the summer.

On-loan Southampton midfielder Yoann Folly, making his Forest debut, made the tie safe with a superb long-range strike eight minutes from time.

Rangers, who made five changes to the side that lost at Leicester on Monday, dominated the opening exchanges without creating many clear-cut opportunities.

However, Martin Rowlands tested Forest keeper Paul Gerrard with a shot from distance, while at the other end Gregor Robertson fired wide from outside the box.

Forest nearly went ahead in the 18th minute only for QPR keeper Chris Day to produce a fine save to deny a close-range effort from Gareth Taylor, who headed the resulting corner over the crossbar.

The Welsh striker went close to breaking the deadlock again moments later when he dragged a left-footed shot across the face of the goal.

But it was only a matter of time before Forest broke the deadlock and it came courtesy of Reid, who was fouled 20 yards out by Danny Shittu.

Reid picked himself up to send a superb curling left-footed strike beyond the reach of Gerrard.

Matters were made worse just over a minute later as Reid picked out the run of Commons, whose blistering effort flew into the top left-hand corner.

Forest, making six changes to the side crushed 3-0 by Cardiff on Bank Holiday Monday, survived a shot from Lee Cook which flew over, while Gerrard had to be on his toes to keep out a Gareth Ainsworth shot.

The home side created plenty of pressure at the start of the second half, forcing five corners in quick succession, but Gerrard was equal to everything that was thrown at him.

Left-back Kevin McLeod tried his luck from 25 yards as QPR tried to claw their way back into the game, but their ideas soon dried up as Forest started to reassert their authority.

Commons should have bagged his second goal of the afternoon only to shoot wide from close range in the 62nd minute.

Reid was again in the thick of the action in the 73rd minute, testing Day with a fierce effort.

Home boss Ian Holloway threw on Tony Thorpe and Gino Padula for Serge Branco and Lee Cook in a bid to freshen up his side 15 minutes from time.

But their hopes were dashed in the 82nd minute when Reid was fouled by Jamie Cureton on the right.

Reid rolled the free-kick into the path of Frenchman Folly, who slammed the ball beyond Gerrard from around 25 yards.

Forest finished strongly as Taylor went close with a couple of headers, while man-of-the-match Reid nearly had the final word but dragged his effort wide from outside the box.

Teams

QPR Day, Branco (Thorpe 76), Shittu, Edghill, McLeod, Ainsworth, Bean, Rowlands, Cook (Padula 76), Gallen, Cureton.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Mulholland, Townsend.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Morgan, Doig, Commons, Folly, Bopp (Perch 80), Robertson, Reid, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Johnson, Impey, Harris.

Booked: Bopp, Dawson.

Goals: Reid 24, Commons 25, Folly 82.

Att: 11,140

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).