Coventry 1-0 QPR
QPR's impressive start to the season suffered its latest setback as - despite dominating the second half - Elliott Ward's first half penalty gave Coventry City all three points.
Mikele Leigertwood's foul on Sky Blues midfielder Jay Tabb gave the home side the chance from 12-yards, which Ward converted to ensure Manager Iain Dowie's return to The Ricoh Arena was not as he had hoped.
Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma had the best chance to equalise after he was put through on goal, but he could only muster a tame effort that barely troubled home keeper Kieren Westwood.
Following Wednesday's hard-earned victory against Norwich City, Dowie was forced in to one change.
Latvian international defender Kaspars Gorkss came in for Matthew Connolly, who missed out owing to the red card he received at Carrow Road four days ago.
Akos Buzsaky was again named on the bench, as was Fitz Hall, returning from a groin injury.
City boss Chris Coleman named an unchanged line-up, which meant Michael Mifsud - who starred under the guidance of Dowie during his reign at The Ricoh Arena - again had to make do with a place on the Sky Blues' bench.
With the impressive 1700-strong away support in full voice, the game got underway.
And it was the visitors who threatened first, as Lee Cook ran at the Coventry defence before laying the ball off to the gallivanting Damien Delaney, who cut inside and unleashed a shot on his weaker right foot that went high and wide.
City fought back and Clinton Morrison's right-wing cross only just eluded the onrushing Freddy Eastwood.
Moments later, this time from a corner, Ward's near-post header went inches wide of Radek Cerny's right hand post.
The home side's pressure was beginning to mount, and they received the rewards of their efforts through the awarding of a penalty in the 13th minute, as Leigertwood bundled over Tabb.
Ward, who had missed his last penalty in midweek, was almost denied again as a strong left hand by Cerny couldn't quite keep the ball from crossing the line to give the Sky Blues the lead.
Rangers could not get into their stride just yet. Another set play, this time a Daniel Fox free-kick, nearly reaped further benefits for the home side but the wall did its job and the ball flew out for a corner.
City continued to press and Eastwood returned the favour for Morrison after half an hour but the ex-Crystal Palace man could only get the faintest of touches as the ball flashed across the box.
The R's were slowly creeping their way back into the game and were determined to finish the half in the ascendancy.
And the equaliser could and probably should have been Ledesma's. Leigertwood played a delightful ball over the top for the Argentine to control, steady and frustratingly shoot straight at a grateful Westwood who had got down quickly.
Coventry then almost went up the other end to double their lead, when Morrison again escaped down the right and fizzed in a cross that Tabb guided goalwards. Cerny, however, was equal to it as he got down well and smothered the midfielder's header.
With that, the curtain fell on the first half with Rangers trailing by a goal.
This time it was Coventry who threatened first as Aron Gunnarson drilled a shot wide from 20 yards.
Peter Ramage, prowling the right hand side, delivered a beautiful cross minutes later that Rowlands managed to flick on at the near post, but before the charging Blackstock could poke it in, Ward's foot sent it wide.
From the resultant corner, Martin Rowlands' edge-of-the-box shot was charged down and the deflection fell to Damion Stewart, who lashed an effort over the Coventry bar.
Dowie rang the changes, introducing attacking midfielders Daniel Parejo and Buzsaky, the former for Ramage who had taken a knock.
And they almost paid dividends. Parejo's long pass found Cook on the left who controlled, danced passed first one, then two, cut into the box and took a shot, which hit a Coventry player, looped up and narrowly wide with Westwood well beaten.
Rowlands, Cook and Delaney all combined minutes later to present a glorious chance for Blackstock as the Irish full back crossed for the man in form to miss-hit his shot and it too, looped up and wide of Westwood's post.
With seconds remaining, Parejo took matters into his own hands, picking up on a loose ball and striding towards the opposition box before unleashing a rasping drive that so nearly found the back of the net, leaving a frustrated Dowie with his head in his hands.
Coventry City: Westwood, Fox, Ward, Dann, Doyle, Eastwood (Best 75), Gunnarsson, McKenzie (Mifsud 79), Osbourne, Morrison, Tabb (Beuzelin 84).
Subs: Marshall, Hall.
Goals: Ward (pen 13)
Bookings: Tabb (5), Doyle (42), Ward (57), Osbourne (77)
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Liegertwood, Blackstock (Agyemang 76), Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage (Parejo 56), Cook, Ledesma (Buzsaky 53).
Subs: Camp, Hall.
Bookings: Mahon (62)
Referee: Mr D Whitehouse
Attendance: 16, 718 (1,782)
