Nedum Onuoha is keen for FA Cup run this season

Onuoha reached quarter-finals with Manchester City in 2006

QPR visit Nottingham Forest in third round on Saturday



THIS Saturday sees QPR travel to Nottingham Forest looking to do something they haven’t managed in three years – reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.Cup runs, generally, haven’t been something QPR fans have been fortunate enough to experience in recent times, but captain Nedum Onuoha is hoping this season can be different – because he knows the impact it can have.Onuoha was at Manchester City when they reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2006, eventually losing out to West Ham United, and he told: “I remember that game well, it had a really big feel to it.”The defender, then 19, featured in City’s third round win over Scunthorpe United, and subsequent victories against Wigan and Aston Villa set up their home tie against the Hammers, which they lost 2-1.“A run like that really creates a buzz around the place,” Onuoha explained, “and it doesn’t take too many wins to find yourselves at the key stage of the competition.“And then you’re watching the draw, or you hear about the draw, and you’re thinking, ‘This could be us,’ it’s great. Those exciting moments in football are rare and you do remember them and enjoy them.”Raised in England, Onuoha admits he is a big fan of the FA Cup.“I love it,” he said, “especially in the early stages – everyone likes to see the shocks, and there’s a lot of interest around it.“Even going back to the FA Youth Cup when you are coming through the academies, you get a real buzz for those occasions.“It’s just a shame that very few people are fortunate enough to get through to the latter stages because it’s a competition that every player would love to do well in.”With QPR going through a difficult spell in the Championship, the R’s defender understands the notion that our cup fixture at the City Ground this weekend could be well timed.“We’ve not won for a while in the league even though we have had some good performances in there,” he said. “You could describe this as a welcome distraction, but regardless of whether it was a league game or a cup match, it is a game we would go into looking to win.“A competitive game is a competitive game and you get confidence from winning them.”