Match Reports - QPR 0 Coventry 1

-
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Coventry have beaten Rangers with their only shot on target, an 86th minute penalty after Simon Royce had been sent off.
Gary McSheffrey was brought down by the Rangers stopper as the curse of Sky struck again and Royce didn't even wait for the card to be brandished before walking off towards the tunnel.
Jake Cole was forced to pick the ball out of the net no sooner had he taken to the pitch after McSheffrey converted.
It was a harsh finish to a game which Rangers had dominated from start to finish.It was still goalless at the break, but Rangers had the better chances against the defensive Coventry City side.
The visitors had failed to muster a shot on target while Rangers had forced Robert Page to be at his best with numerous clearances in the box.Rangers should have wrapped the game up at half time, but as it was, were forced to pay the price.With Kevin Gallen still injured and Paul Furlong serving a one match suspension, Ian Holloway had his attacking pack shuffled for him.Stefan Moore and Georges Santos took to the attack and in defence, Ian Evatt came in for Mauro Milanese.Marc Bircham also made a return to the subs bench, as did Matthew Rose after a long spell out injured.Rangers were immediately on the offensive with Gareth Ainsworth heading on target, only to have Marton Fulop push the ball over the bar for a corner.
Although chances weren't exactly at a premium throughout the opening stages, Rangers were showing some effective touches with Georges Santos looking especially useful in holding off his marker.
Rangers were definitely taking the game to a defensive Coventry side though and Ainsworth's through ball caught the Sky Blues napping.
Stefan Moore miss-timed his run, but Santos was lurking in the distance to pick up the ball, unfortunately his first touch let him down when he was through on goal.
Richard Langley then put on a display of some beautiful footwork in the middle of the park, twisting his man this way and that, before sending the ball forward for Santos.
He then found Moore, but the nippy striker failed to get any purchase on the ball.
Rangers were coming closer and closer to breaking the deadlock.
With his back to goal, Langley slipped the ball to Ainsworth, and as good as his cross into the box was, Moore just failed to get his head on it and the ball sailed out for a throw in.
Had Rangers have scored in their next books it definitely would have been a gol to savour over and over again.
Marcus Bignot nut-megged Michael Doyle on the wing, sprinted to the edge of the box and crossed for Santos.
The Rangers forward swung at the ball, but just failed to catch it - Rangers were getting closer.Ainsworth continued to cause problems up front, chipping the ball over Richard Shaw and forcing Marton Fulop to save low at his near post.
After the break, the game took a while to settle, but it was Rangers who were continuing their form from the first half.
A quick shimmy in defence from Dan Shittu saw Moore released, but his long ranger effort went wide of the post.
Seconds later, a quick one-two between Dyer and Santos saw the latter cross for Moore who was darting into the box.
But the ball had too much pace on it and skimmed past the face of goal.
Ainsworth continued to impress and Coventry failed to contain him.
The midfielder picked up the ball just inside the Sky Blues' half, bore down on goal, crossed for Moore out on the wing and darted into the box to receive the cross.
Had it not have been for his wayward finish that saw the ball loop over the crossbar, he would have ended with a goal to be proud of.
Ian Holloway chose to inject some fresh blood on 65 minutes with Lee Cook replacing Marcus Bean.
Cook had an immediate impact when he snatched on Santos' knock down and volleyed the ball goalwards.
Despite it curling all the way, Fulop was able to get behind the ball and prevent Rangers from taking the lead.
With six minutes to go, Simon Royce brought down Gary McSheffrey in the box and was given his marching orders.
Jake Cole's first job was to face McSheffrey's spot kick and despite getting a hand to it, there was just too much power in the shot to for it to be diverted over the bar.There was little time for much else, and Rangers were forced to wave goodbye to the three points which should have been theirs.

Rangers: Royce (sent off 85), Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Ainsworth (Cole 86), Rowlands, Santos (Bircham 80), Bean (Cook 65), Moore, Dyer, LangleySubs: Cole, Milanese, RoseScorers:Bookings: Rowlands 15, Santos 57Coventry: Fulop, Whing, Page, Duffy, Doyle, Adebola (Scowcroft 75), McSheffrey (Jorgensen 89), Morrell (Impey 61), Osbourne, Shaw, HutchisonSubs: Ince, ThorntonScorers: McSheffrey (pen) 85Bookings: McSheffrey 17, Adebola 73Att: 13,556Ref: U Rennie
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~30684,00.html



COVENTRY OFFICIAL SITE REPORT

The Sky Blues score their first away win of the season thanks to a late Gary McSheffrey penalty.
City did not create too many opportunities throughout the 90 minutes but defended well and snatched all three points when McSheffrey converted from the spot after being brought down by QPR keeper Simon Royce - an incident which saw the shot stopper sent-off.
Micky Adams chose to put Don Hutchison straight into the starting line-up for the match at Loftus Road at the expense of Claus Jorgensen.
The experienced loan man came in for his first start in a Coventry shirt up front alongside Dele Adebola with Andy Morrell and Gary McSheffrey playing on the right and left hand side of midfield respectively while youngster Isaac Osbourne retained his spot in the centre after impressing against Millwall last time out.
Former Sky Blues man Paul Furlong was suspended for the clash but former City loanee Lloyd Dyer was in the QPR line-up at left-back.
Marton Fulop was called into action early on when he produced a great save from a Gareth Ainsworth header. It did not take long for Hutchison to stamp his authority on the tie, linking well with McSheffrey and producing a dangerous corner which Robert Page hooked just wide.
A fairly even opening half-hour saw plenty of meaty challenges going in from both teams. Osbourne was acquitting himself superbly in the City engine room, winning fifty-fifties and tracking back to help his defence.
Despite some tidy play neither side was producing much in terms of shots on goal and Coventry seamed fairly at ease coping with their host's attacking threat.
In the 36th minute former Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore got a sight of goal but failed to produce an effort on target as QPR began to apply the pressure.
City's players were being stretched now and Richard Shaw made a superb block from a stinging Richard Langley strike to ensure Fulop was not tested.
There was a lot of endeavour on show in the first half but not a vast amount of quality although City would have been happy with the way they'd limited their opponents to just one shot on target. However, Micky Adams would want his players to show more as an attacking outlet in the second 45 but the early signs did not indicate that the Sky Blues would be taking the initiative.
Rangers continued to do the pressing but could not unlock Coventry's organised defence - Santos went clear but his square ball eluded Moore in the centre and Ainsworth got away from Doyle but his centre was cleared by the solid Page.
With half an hour remaining Micky Adams made his first switch, bringing on Andy Impey for Morrell. But QPR soon created a great opportunity although Ainsworth failed to get his header on target from Moore's precise cross. Ian Holloway then brought on a substitute, Lee Cook, and he forced Fulop into a routine save with a crisply struck 20-yarder.
Adams then made an attacking switch as James Scowcroft replaced Adebola and McSheffrey got a half sight of goal as he moved up front, but failed to work himself into a shooting situation as Shittu recovered well.
The game looked to be heading towards a stalemate but with five minutes left on the clock the late drama which was to decide the tie began when McSheffrey was brought down in the penalty area by Simon Royce.
The City forward raced onto a Doyle throughball and even though his first touch let him down he still knocked the ball past the QPR custodian who clipped his ankles.
Uriah Rennie had to send off the keeper as he was the last man and when Jake Cole came on for Gareth Ainsworth to go in goal, his first job was to pick the ball out the back of the net after McSheffrey smashed his spot kick home.
The Sky Blues then kept their shellshocked opponents at bay to record a third consecutive victory and their first double of the season after beating QPR at the Ricoh back in August.
Coventry: Fulop; Whing; Page; Shaw; Duffy; McSheffrey (Jorgensen 89); Doyle; Osbourne; Morrell (Impey 60); Adebola (Scowcroft); Hutchison. Subs (not used): Ince; Thornton
McSheffrey (18); Adebola (75)
QPR: Royce; Bignot; Evatt; Shittu; Ainsworth; Rowlands; Santos (Bircham 82); Bean (Cook 67); Moore; Dyer; Langley. Subs (not used): Cole; Milanese; Rose
Booked: Rowlands (16); Santos (58)
Sent-off: Royce (85)
Referee: Mr Uriah Rennie
Attendance: 13,556
http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10269~30684,00.html

Sky Sports reporting on Sky Blues win shown on Sky TV...

Sky Sports - Sky Blues steal late win
By James Pearson - Created on 19 Dec 2005

Gary McSheffrey's late penalty gave Coventry City a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
In truth, neither side deserved the three-point haul, but the game burst into life in the closing stages when the visitors were awarded a penalty.
McSheffrey raced through on goal and a poor touch enticed Simon Royce from his line, however, the home keeper only succeeded in bringing him down, culminating in a spot-kick.
Royce was sent off by referee Uriah Rennie and McSheffrey picked himself up and lashed a fine left-foot shot past substitute keeper Jake Cole.
The R's created the better of the chances throughout the contest and were unlucky not to take the lead early on.
Gareth Ainsworth arrived on cue to head Richard Langley's corner goalwards at the near post, but on loan Martin Fulop pushed the shot wide with a fine save.
The visitors responded and Robert Page was close to hooking home after Isaac Osbourne headed the ball back into the danger zone.
In the second half chances were at a premium with Lee Cook coming close with a well-struck volley shortly before McSheffrey won the points for the visitors
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?HLID=346650&CPID=10&title=Sky+Blues+steal+late+win&lid=2&channel=Football_Home&f=rss