Paul Furlong's last-minute goal for Queen's Park Rangers sent Coventry
crashing to their fifth Coca-Cola Championship defeat in six matches in Micky
Adams first match in charge.
Former Chelsea striker Furlong slid the ball home from close range in the 90th
minute to stun the Sky Blues, who had stormed out for the second half to
equalise through Ady Williams following a poor display in the first period.
Jamie Cureton gave Ian Holloway's QPR a deserved half-time lead, but Coventry
were transformed after the break following the introduction of big striker Dele
Adebola.
The Sky Blues, fifth from bottom of the table, initially had no answer to the
visitors' lively strikers Cureton and Lee Cook and had only two efforts of their
own on goal before the interval.
QPR made a flying start with Gareth Ainsworth testing home goalkeeper Luke
Steele from the edge of the penalty area and Danny Shittu heading wide from Gino
Padula's corner before Cureton gave the Londoners a 13th-minute lead.
The former Reading striker picked up a loose ball within striking distance and
drilled a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Coventry, with defender Louis Carey and midfielder Neil Wood recalled to the
side, had to wait until the 21st minute before mustering their first effort on
goal, with Stern John's volley from the edge of the area flying over the
crossbar.
John repeated the feat from the same distance soon after and this time forced
visiting keeper Simon Royce to parry, while Dean Leacock headed the subsequent
corner wide as Coventry began to wrestle an equal share of possession.
Rangers striker Cook was giving the home defence plenty to think about as
half-time approached, while Cureton flashed another shot from the right side of
the area just wide.
Coventry keeper Steele was on hand again, this time to deny Ainsworth and then
Cureton as shots from 20 yards rained in on the home goal.
Adams replaced Wood with striker Adebola during the interval and within
seconds of the restart he unleashed a 20-yard shot that Royce did well to hold.
Ainsworth responded for the Londoners with a vicious drive from ever further
out that stung Steele's hands, but Adebola went close again for the Sky Blues
when his header from Gary McSheffrey's cross was smartly taken by Royce.
City were inspired by Adebola's introduction and hauled themselves level in
the 59th minute following concerted pressure.
Veteran Steve Staunton swung over a corner and Williams met the out-swinger
with a thumping header for his second goal of the season.
Coventry were now dominating possession with McSheffrey at the heart of the
action, but Ainsworth gave the home fans a reminder of his potency from the edge
of the area with another long-range drive that Steele tipped over the crossbar
at full stretch.
Williams and McSheffrey were both wide of the target with long-range shots as
Coventry searched for the winner.
Andrew Morrell's goalbound header from McSheffrey's cross was saved by Royce,
while at the other end Steele held onto Kevin Gallen's 30-yarder as both sides
looked to snatch all three points.
But it was the Londoners who grabbed a decisive second in the last minute.
Georges Santos played in Furlong following Richard Edghill's free-kick and the
striker swept the ball past Steele from six yards to leave new boss Adams
stunned.
Teams
Coventry Steele, Carey, Williams, Leacock, Staunton, Morrell,
Hughes, Doyle, Wood (Adebola 45), John (Johnson 84), McSheffrey.
Subs Not Used: Shearer, Whing, Jorgensen.
Booked: McSheffrey, Carey, Leacock.
Goals: Williams 59.
QPR Royce, Edghill, Shittu, Davies, Padula (Bignot 87),
Ainsworth (Rowlands 81), Gallen, Santos, Cook, Furlong,
Cureton (Thorpe 81).
Subs Not Used: Day, Rose.
Booked: Davies, Gallen, Ainsworth, Bignot.
Goals: Cureton 13, Furlong 90.
Att: 16,595
Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
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