QPR's Langley tussles with Osbourne. (Getty)
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Gary McSheffrey's late penalty secured Coventry a first away success in the
league since April in a low-quality match at Loftus Road.
City had not managed a shot on target until five minutes from time, when
McSheffrey hammered home the spot-kick.
The victory took them eight points clear of the relegation zone as they
completed the double over Rangers.
Michael Doyle's through-ball sent McSheffrey clear of the last defender, Ian
Evatt. And though McSheffrey had been doubtful for the match after suffering
from flu, he showed good pace to reach the pass and take the ball round
goalkeeper Simon Royce.
Royce's desperate challenge sent the City man tumbling, and earned him a red
card. McSheffrey picked himself up and crashed his penalty high into the corner
past substitute goalkeeper Jake Cole.
The match had never threatened to live up to the billing of the reverse
fixture in August, which saw Coventry's new Ricoh Stadium officially opened.
The Sky Blues won that game 3-0, but this encounter produced few goalmouth
incidents after a promising opening five minutes.
Rangers almost broke through inside the first two minutes. A Richard Langley
corner gave Gareth Ainsworth a chance to power a header on target, but a superb
diving save from on-loan keeper Marton Fulop rescued Coventry.
Robert Page then almost put Coventry ahead. The defender latched onto a
knock-down and hooked the ball inches wide of the far post only to be wrongly
flagged for offside.
Coventry handed Don Hutchison, on loan from Millwall, his first start up
front.
Rangers brought back Evatt for Mauro Milanese in defence and replaced
suspended striker Paul Furlong with George Santos.
After the early chances the crowd had to wait until eight minutes from the
break for another moment of excitement, when Langley's goal-bound shot was
blocked by Hutchison.
Things had to improve in the second half, but still it was hardly a classic.
Santos' evening took a turn for the worse when he was booked for a foul on
Andrew Whing, meaning he will sit out the Boxing Day visit to Brighton through
suspension.
Andy Morrell was taken off on the hour-mark by City manager Micky Adams, with
Andrew Impey being introduced.
The game sparked briefly to life soon after, when Ainsworth leapt well to
latch onto a Langley cross but could not keep his header down.
Rangers boss Ian Holloway made his first change by sending Lee Cook on for
Marcus Bean, and it was the substitute who provided only the second shot on
target of the match. He chanced his arm when seizing on a loose ball, but his
25-yard effort was comfortably saved by Fulop.
Just when it seemed the game was drifting to a goalless finish, McSheffrey
struck to earn City their third successive win.
Teams: QPR: Royce, Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Dyer, Ainsworth (Cole 86),
Langley, Bean (Cook 66), Rowlands, Santos (Bircham 81), Moore.
Subs Not Used: Milanese, Rose.
Sent Off: Royce (85).
Booked: Rowlands, Santos.
Coventry: Fulop, Whing, Page, Shaw, Duffy, Morrell (Impey 61),
Doyle, Osbourne, McSheffrey (Jorgensen 89),
Adebola (Scowcroft 76), Hutchison.
Subs Not Used: Ince, Thornton.
Booked: McSheffrey, Adebola.
Goals: McSheffrey 87 pen.
Att: 13,556
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
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