Coventry 0 QPR 1 - 07/04/2007
Coventry 0 QPR 1 - 07/04/2007
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Adam Virgo, Elliott Ward, Colin Hawkins (Robert Page 63), Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing (Leon McKenzie 54), Michael Mifsud (Kevin Kyle 69), Khalilou Fadiga, Dele Adebola
Subs not used: Colin Cameron, Luke Steele
Booked: Michael Doyle 68, Adam Virgo 84
Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp, Dexter Blackstock, Sampsa Timoska (Marcus Bignot 56), Jimmy Smith, Damion Stewart, Patrick Kanyuka, Stefan Moore, Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Furlong (Mark Nygaard 63), Danny Cullip, Adam Bolder (Steve Lomas 72)
Subs not used: Jake Cole, Rohan Ricketts
Booked: Damion Stewart 42, Patrick Kanyuka 79, Stefan Moore 75
Goals: Jimmy Smith 53
Attendance: 22850
Referee: P Miller
Teamtalk
On-loan midfielder Jimmy Smith scored the only goal of the game as QPR overcame Coventry 1-0 in their Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.
Smith, 20, struck early in the second half to register his sixth Championship goal of the season since joining from Chelsea in September.
But prior to half-time, it had been another Hoops loanee, goalkeeper Lee Camp, who had kept the Sky Blues at bay with a sequence of fine saves.
Their victory was the Loftus Road side's fourth on the bounce while Iain Dowie was left to reflect on back-to-back defeats for the first time since being installed as Coventry boss in February.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock Camp, in his second spell with Rangers from promotion-chasing Derby, produced a one-handed save to deny Khalilou Fadiga at close range.
Then, in the 23rd minute, half-hearted penalty appeals were waved away following Marcus Hall's tangle with Smith.
Five minutes later the hosts' Andy Whing set free Michael Mifsud but Camp was quickly off his line to smother the danger and then bounce up again to tackle Adam Virgo outside the penalty area.
In the 33rd minute unmarked City captain Elliott Ward headed down and wide from Virgo's left-wing corner and 10 minutes later Camp saved the same player's curling shot.
Camp was in action again moments before half-time as he flung himself low to his left to save at the foot of his post after Mifsud's half-volley on the turn.
Both sides ran out unchanged for the start of the second half which opened quietly and was soon interrupted for treatment to Sky Blues midfielder Stephen Hughes.
But Rangers were on the attack shortly afterwards and came close to opening the scoring in the 50th minute when Smith floated over a free-kick taken from the left wing.
And after Pat Kanyuka had headed down from the back post into the six-yard box, Paul Furlong mistimed his volley.
But the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute after Adam Bolder burst into the Coventry box to set up Furlong, whose close-range effort was saved by Andy Marshall.
Marshall then denied Stefan Moore from the rebound but could do nothing about the next follow-up which was thundered home by Smith.
The goal triggered a series of substitutions as Whing, operating in midfield, was replaced by Leon McKenzie and Rangers' Sampsa Timoska was swapped for Marcus Bignot.
In the 63rd minute, Robert Page replaced Colin Hawkins in the Coventry defence and before play restarted, Marc Nygaard was on for Furlong.
Kevin Kyle, who replaced Mifsud in the 70th minute, completed the Coventry substitutions and two minutes later Steve Lomas replaced Bolder. But despite their re-arrangements, there would be no way back into the game for Coventry, who saw Dele Adebola head a close-range chance wide with five minutes remaining.
CCFC
Jimmy Smith's second-half strike earned relegation battling QPR a much needed three points and sentenced the Sky Blues to their first defeat at the Ricoh Arena in seven matches.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder slammed home in the 52nd minute and City failed to respond.
However, they dominated an entertaining opening period but struggled to turn their possession into goals.
Boss Iain Dowie made two changes to the side beaten at Birmingham last weekend with recent recruit Khalilou Fadiga and Andy Whing replacing Jay Tabb and Isaac Osbourne in midfield.
Fadiga, making his first start for the club, had arguably the best chance of the half after just seven minutes when Dele Adebola's blocked shot fell fortuitously in his path.
The Senegalese international steadied himself and drilled a low shot at goal, but Rangers 'keeper Lee Camp spread himself well to claw the ball away for a corner.
Skipper Elliott Ward then saw two downward headers from dangerous Adam Virgo corners miss the target, while Camp came to the visitors' rescue on the half-hour when he raced from his line to deny Michael Mifsud and then Virgo.
Dele Adebola is sent tumbling in the box.
Ward's curling drive was then held well by the England under-21 international stopper before he was again on hand to parry Mifsud's drive from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time.
And City paid the price for failing to capitalise on their opportunities when, after sluggish start to the second period, they fell behind.
Smith's low shot found its way into the net at the third attempt after two brilliant saves from Andy Marshall had kept out Paul Furlong from point-blank range and then Dexter Blackstock from the rebound.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of the Sky Blues and despite the introduction of substitutes Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle, they struggled to hit back.
QPR stood firm as several balls flew into the box, with City's best chance arriving in the 82nd minute when McKenzie crossed for Adebola, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
4thegame
Queens Park Rangers grabbed an invaluable win at Coventry City to move further away from the Championship relegation zone.
Jimmy Smith's sixth goal of the season helped Rangers to their second win in a row in an open game at the Ricoh Arena.
Smith's scrambled second-half winner was one of the only highlights of the game in which both sides failed to create many chances.
Both teams had struggled to get shots on target in a drab first half.
Rangers had their only chance of the half after five minutes when Adam Bolder blasted wide from 20 yards.
The Sky Blues had their first attempt a minute later after a blocked shot from Dele Adebola fell to Khalilou Fadiga who had time and space eight yards from goal. But the former Senegal international saw his tame shot tipped away by Lee Camp for a corner.
Coventry's best chance of the game came on 28 minutes when a through ball from Andy Whing put Michael Mifsud clear. Camp produced a great double block first to stop the Malta striker and then Adam Virgo as he tried to cross the loose ball into the box.
The breakthrough came seven minutes after the restart when Coventry's poor defending gave Rangers multiple chances to take the lead.
Bolder's cross into the box led to a goalmouth scramble. Paul Furlong's strike from ten yards was blocked by Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall only for the ball to fall into the path of Stefan Moore.
His follow-up shot produced another superb save from Marshall who knocked the ball on to the post, but it was third time lucky for Rangers and Smith hammered the ball home to make it 1-0.
Iain Dowie brought on Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle to try and get back into the game, but Rangers were happy to defend for the majority of the second half to secure their fifth away victory of the season.
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Adam Virgo, Elliott Ward, Colin Hawkins (Robert Page 63), Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing (Leon McKenzie 54), Michael Mifsud (Kevin Kyle 69), Khalilou Fadiga, Dele Adebola
Subs not used: Colin Cameron, Luke Steele
Booked: Michael Doyle 68, Adam Virgo 84
Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp, Dexter Blackstock, Sampsa Timoska (Marcus Bignot 56), Jimmy Smith, Damion Stewart, Patrick Kanyuka, Stefan Moore, Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Furlong (Mark Nygaard 63), Danny Cullip, Adam Bolder (Steve Lomas 72)
Subs not used: Jake Cole, Rohan Ricketts
Booked: Damion Stewart 42, Patrick Kanyuka 79, Stefan Moore 75
Goals: Jimmy Smith 53
Attendance: 22850
Referee: P Miller
Teamtalk
On-loan midfielder Jimmy Smith scored the only goal of the game as QPR overcame Coventry 1-0 in their Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.
Smith, 20, struck early in the second half to register his sixth Championship goal of the season since joining from Chelsea in September.
But prior to half-time, it had been another Hoops loanee, goalkeeper Lee Camp, who had kept the Sky Blues at bay with a sequence of fine saves.
Their victory was the Loftus Road side's fourth on the bounce while Iain Dowie was left to reflect on back-to-back defeats for the first time since being installed as Coventry boss in February.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock Camp, in his second spell with Rangers from promotion-chasing Derby, produced a one-handed save to deny Khalilou Fadiga at close range.
Then, in the 23rd minute, half-hearted penalty appeals were waved away following Marcus Hall's tangle with Smith.
Five minutes later the hosts' Andy Whing set free Michael Mifsud but Camp was quickly off his line to smother the danger and then bounce up again to tackle Adam Virgo outside the penalty area.
In the 33rd minute unmarked City captain Elliott Ward headed down and wide from Virgo's left-wing corner and 10 minutes later Camp saved the same player's curling shot.
Camp was in action again moments before half-time as he flung himself low to his left to save at the foot of his post after Mifsud's half-volley on the turn.
Both sides ran out unchanged for the start of the second half which opened quietly and was soon interrupted for treatment to Sky Blues midfielder Stephen Hughes.
But Rangers were on the attack shortly afterwards and came close to opening the scoring in the 50th minute when Smith floated over a free-kick taken from the left wing.
And after Pat Kanyuka had headed down from the back post into the six-yard box, Paul Furlong mistimed his volley.
But the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute after Adam Bolder burst into the Coventry box to set up Furlong, whose close-range effort was saved by Andy Marshall.
Marshall then denied Stefan Moore from the rebound but could do nothing about the next follow-up which was thundered home by Smith.
The goal triggered a series of substitutions as Whing, operating in midfield, was replaced by Leon McKenzie and Rangers' Sampsa Timoska was swapped for Marcus Bignot.
In the 63rd minute, Robert Page replaced Colin Hawkins in the Coventry defence and before play restarted, Marc Nygaard was on for Furlong.
Kevin Kyle, who replaced Mifsud in the 70th minute, completed the Coventry substitutions and two minutes later Steve Lomas replaced Bolder. But despite their re-arrangements, there would be no way back into the game for Coventry, who saw Dele Adebola head a close-range chance wide with five minutes remaining.
CCFC
Jimmy Smith's second-half strike earned relegation battling QPR a much needed three points and sentenced the Sky Blues to their first defeat at the Ricoh Arena in seven matches.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder slammed home in the 52nd minute and City failed to respond.
However, they dominated an entertaining opening period but struggled to turn their possession into goals.
Boss Iain Dowie made two changes to the side beaten at Birmingham last weekend with recent recruit Khalilou Fadiga and Andy Whing replacing Jay Tabb and Isaac Osbourne in midfield.
Fadiga, making his first start for the club, had arguably the best chance of the half after just seven minutes when Dele Adebola's blocked shot fell fortuitously in his path.
The Senegalese international steadied himself and drilled a low shot at goal, but Rangers 'keeper Lee Camp spread himself well to claw the ball away for a corner.
Skipper Elliott Ward then saw two downward headers from dangerous Adam Virgo corners miss the target, while Camp came to the visitors' rescue on the half-hour when he raced from his line to deny Michael Mifsud and then Virgo.
Dele Adebola is sent tumbling in the box.
Ward's curling drive was then held well by the England under-21 international stopper before he was again on hand to parry Mifsud's drive from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time.
And City paid the price for failing to capitalise on their opportunities when, after sluggish start to the second period, they fell behind.
Smith's low shot found its way into the net at the third attempt after two brilliant saves from Andy Marshall had kept out Paul Furlong from point-blank range and then Dexter Blackstock from the rebound.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of the Sky Blues and despite the introduction of substitutes Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle, they struggled to hit back.
QPR stood firm as several balls flew into the box, with City's best chance arriving in the 82nd minute when McKenzie crossed for Adebola, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
4thegame
Queens Park Rangers grabbed an invaluable win at Coventry City to move further away from the Championship relegation zone.
Jimmy Smith's sixth goal of the season helped Rangers to their second win in a row in an open game at the Ricoh Arena.
Smith's scrambled second-half winner was one of the only highlights of the game in which both sides failed to create many chances.
Both teams had struggled to get shots on target in a drab first half.
Rangers had their only chance of the half after five minutes when Adam Bolder blasted wide from 20 yards.
The Sky Blues had their first attempt a minute later after a blocked shot from Dele Adebola fell to Khalilou Fadiga who had time and space eight yards from goal. But the former Senegal international saw his tame shot tipped away by Lee Camp for a corner.
Coventry's best chance of the game came on 28 minutes when a through ball from Andy Whing put Michael Mifsud clear. Camp produced a great double block first to stop the Malta striker and then Adam Virgo as he tried to cross the loose ball into the box.
The breakthrough came seven minutes after the restart when Coventry's poor defending gave Rangers multiple chances to take the lead.
Bolder's cross into the box led to a goalmouth scramble. Paul Furlong's strike from ten yards was blocked by Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall only for the ball to fall into the path of Stefan Moore.
His follow-up shot produced another superb save from Marshall who knocked the ball on to the post, but it was third time lucky for Rangers and Smith hammered the ball home to make it 1-0.
Iain Dowie brought on Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle to try and get back into the game, but Rangers were happy to defend for the majority of the second half to secure their fifth away victory of the season.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:56 pm
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