QPR's Coventry Loss - Reports and Comments

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Sunday Mirro/Ray Matts - Defeat leaves Dowie dour
COVENTRY 1 Ward (pen) 15 QPR 0
Iain Dowie failed to make a happy return to Coventry, the club that showed him the managerial door earlier this year.
A penalty by centre-back Elliott Ward after 15 minutes was enough to give the Sky Blues maximum points from a grudge match high on effort but short on real quality.
Dowie tried to play down any suggestion it was a game of any major personal significance. But if you believed that, you would believe anything.
Qpr have a lot more on their horizon, having set their sights on promotion this season.
There was, however, a definite sense that this fixture meant something extra special to them but their resolve to show support for the manager appeared to stifle their effectiveness, particularly in the first half.
The penalty award proved to be a killer, knocking the confidence out of Rangers and giving a real boost to Coventry.
Mikele Leigertwood became entangled with Jay Tabb, and upended him smack in front of referee Dean Whitehouse.
The pressure was on Ward, whohad missed from the spot in the previous game at Sheffield United. But he kept his nerve to blast the ball past Radek Cerny.
There was plenty of time for Rangers to claw their way back and Dowie provided plenty of touchline encouragement for them to do so.
Yet despite monopolising possession they were unable to produce an equaliser.
Miss of the match came from Emmanuel Ledesma in the 42nd minute when he burst clear only to delay his shot which was parried away by Kieran Westwood. It was frustrating for Dowie, who said: "We had so much of the play for a visiting side but we lost a game we felt we should have won.
"That's life. You have to get on with it. Good luck to Coventry. I still have lots of friends there and got on with people at the club.
"I was really pleased with our form in the second half. All it needed was a goal.
"Sometimes you have to take a defeat on the chin and come back from it."
Coventry manager Chris Coleman praised Ward, saying: "I asked him if he wanted to continue as our penalty taker and he had no hesitation.
"But not only did he do well with the kick, he and Scott Dann played exceptional in the second half to help us keep a clean sheet."
HOW THEY RATED
COVENTRY
6 Westwood
6 Osbourne
7 Ward
6 Dann
6 Fox
8 Tabb
7 Doyle
7 Gunnarsson
6 McKenzie
6 Eastwood
7 Morrison
QPR
Cerny 6
Ramage 6
Gorkss 6
Stewart 7
Delaney 6
Mahon 7
Leigertwood 7
Rowlands 6
Ledesma 6
Cook 6
Blackstock 7
SUBSTITUTES Beuzelin (Tabb) 5, Best (Eastwood) 5, Mifsud (McKenzie) 5
Parejo (Ramage) 5, Buzsaky (Ledesma) 5, Agyemang (Blackstock) 5
MANAGERS 7 Coleman Dowie 6
MAN OF THE MATCH 8 JAY TABB Pint-sized pain to QPR.
Referee: D Whitestone 6
Sunday Mirror


Coventry Telegraph
FIRST-half penalty from Elliott Ward gave Coventry City their first Coca-Cola Championship win in four games against QPR.
The hosts had the first chance of the game after three minutes when Aron Gunnarsson's shot was scrambled away from Kaspars Gorkss as the game started at a frantic pace.
Freddy Eastwood then went close for the Sky Blues, Clinton Morrison crossed deep from the right-hand side and Eastwood's goalbound header was deflected wide by Gorkss.
The home crowd thought their side had taken the lead from the resulting corner but Ward's near-post header went the wrong side of the upright.
The Sky Blues were awarded a penalty after 13 minutes when Damien Delaney chopped down Jay Tabb on the corner of the penalty area and referee Dean Whitestone did not hesitate in giving the spot-kick.
Ward, signed by Rangers manager Iain Dowie during his time at the Ricoh Arena, stepped up and buried the ball past Radek Cerny in the visitors' goal.
Chris Coleman's side almost doubled their advantage after 24 minutes, but Daniel Fox's curling free-kick took a deflection and drifted over the bar.
Dowie looked to change the shape of his side as the half progressed with Lee Cook and Emmanuel Ledesma pushing forward to help the lone striker, Dexter Blackstock
And it was Ledesma who had the chance to draw the sides level as he raced clear with three minutes remaining of the half but his shot was well saved by Keiren Westwood.
Rangers started the second half much brighter with Cook and Ledesma seeing much of the ball in wide positions as they looked to draw level.
Dowie's side came close to equalising as first Martin Rowlands shot at goal and then Damion Stewart shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Cook then made a fine run taking jinking past two defenders before his shot was deflected wide of the post at Rangers looked to stamp their authority on the match.
Dexter Blackstock should have put Rangers on level terms but after controlling Delaney's cross he slid the ball agonisingly wide of the post as Coventry held on to the lead with 17 minutes to play.
The Sky Blues' crowd began to get anxious as Chris Coleman's side looked content to hold onto their one-goal lead rather than push for more goals but they were almost rewarded after Isaac Osbourne fired the ball over after good work from Eastwood.
As time ran out Coleman brought on Leon Best and Michael Mifsud in a surprise attacking move but his side held firm at the back to secure their first three points since the second game of the season. " Coventry Telegraph


The Times - Early penalty gives Coventry the win
Coventry 1 QPR 0 Times Online
A first-half penalty from Elliott Ward gave Coventry their first Coca-Cola Championship win in four games against QPR.
The hosts had the first chance of the game after three minutes when Aron Gunnarsson's shot was scrambled away from Kaspars Gorkss as the game started at a frantic pace.
Freddy Eastwood then went close for the Sky Blues, Clinton Morrison crossed deep from the right-hand side and Eastwood's goalbound header was deflected wide by Gorkss.
The home crowd thought their side had taken the lead from the resulting corner but Ward's near-post header went the wrong side of the upright.
The Sky Blues were awarded a penalty after 13 minutes when Damien Delaney chopped down Jay Tabb on the corner of the penalty area and referee Dean Whitestone did not hesitate in giving the spot-kick.
Ward, signed by Rangers manager Iain Dowie during his time at the Ricoh Arena, stepped up and buried the ball past Radek Cerny in the visitors' goal.
Chris Coleman's side almost doubled their advantage after 24 minutes, but Daniel Fox's curling free-kick took a deflection and drifted over the bar.
Dowie looked to change the shape of his side as the half progressed with Lee Cook and Emmanuel Ledesma pushing forward to help the lone striker, Dexter Blackstock.
And it was Ledesma who had the chance to draw the sides level as he raced clear with three minutes remaining of the half but his shot was well saved by Keiren Westwood.
Rangers started the second half much brighter with Cook and Ledesma seeing much of the ball in wide positions as they looked to draw level.
Dowie's side came close to equalising as first Martin Rowlands shot at goal and then Damion Stewart shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Cook then made a fine run taking jinking past two defenders before his shot was deflected wide of the post at Rangers looked to stamp their authority on the match.
Dexter Blackstock should have put Rangers on level terms but after controlling Delaney's cross he slid the ball agonisingly wide of the post as Coventry held on to the lead with 17 minutes to play.
The Sky Blues' crowd began to get anxious as Chris Coleman's side looked content to hold onto their one-goal lead rather than push for more goals but they were almost rewarded after Isaac Osbourne fired the ball over after good work from Eastwood.
As time ran out Coleman brought on Leon Best and Michael Mifsud in a surprise attacking move but his side held firm at the back to secure their first three points since the second game of the season. The Times


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DOWIE: "THE BEST TEAM LOST"
Iain Dowie was adamant his Rangers side deserved more, as Elliott Ward's first half spot-kick condemned the R's to their first defeat in five games in all competitions.
Ward's penalty, given for a contentious foul on Jay Tabb by Mikele Leigertwood, proved to be the difference despite Rangers totally orchestrating proceedings in the second half.
Emmanuel Ledesma, Dexter Blackstock, and late on, Daniel Parejo, all went close but it wasn't to be on Dowie's return to The Ricoh Arena.
"I've seen a lot today to convince me we're a very good side," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"You can win games, and lose games, that happens but I can't have any complaints with the performance, especially in the second half.
"Chris Coleman told me he thought we were excellent, and I don't think anyone here today would disagree.
"The lads gave me everything, I thought we passed he ball really well in the second half and certainly deserved something for our efforts."
Dowie bemoaned referee Mr Whitestone's decision to award what he believed to be a soft penalty decision.
"The linesman was ten yards away and he didn't give it," said Dowie.
"It looked like Mikele played the ball, but the referee gave the decision.
"Radek almost pulled a fantastic save off, but it wasn't to be.
"That was the only time he was involved because we were so dominant."
Dowie added; "Ward, Osbourne, Dann and Fox were the best players on the park for City and that tells you everything.
"I wasn't singing from the roof tops Wednesday after our victory at Norwich and I'm not going to go overboard with this defeat.
"You've got to keep it real and we will do. We're still in the top six and that's to be applauded." QPR


Sky Sports - Coleman unconcerned by friendship
Coventry boss welcomes win over defeating Dowie
Coventry manager Chris Coleman insists his side's return to winning ways against Queens Park Rangers was more satisfying than defeating his friend Iain Dowie.
The Sky Blues secured a 1-0 home win as Elliot Ward's 13th minute penalty earned a first victory in four games.
Coleman used to room with QPR boss Dowie during their playing careers at Crystal Palace, but he is adamant the three points are more of a boost than downing his former colleague.
The Ricoh Arena chief confesses his side were fortunate, but he was delighted with the result.
He said: "The second half felt like 90 minutes. We did exactly the opposite of what we had spoken about at half-time.
Nervous
"We tried to defend a one-goal lead - which was partly down to fatigue and partly down to nerves.
"But for me it was just a case of getting the job done and we did that. It doesn't mean any more or less because it was against an old friend - I am just happy we have the three points."
Dowie, who was sacked by Coventry in February, said: "It's not the return I was hoping for. The result will tell you that - but the performance will tell you something else.
"I've watched Coventry a few times and I've not seen them be outplayed like they were in the second half.
"I'm very proud of the second-half display and but for the break of a ball and a few bits of heroic defending by their back four, it could have been our day.
"You have to say that the best players on the pitch were their central defenders and I didn't think it was a penalty but that's life and you get on with it." Sky





See Also: Earlier Reports of Coventry 1 QPR 0