PREVIEW: Sky Blues Host QPR This Weekend

City prepare for more SkyBet Championship action...

21 January 2022

The Sky Blues welcome the visit of Queens Park Rangers this Saturday at the Coventry Building Society Arena in the SkyBet Championship. Here is everything you need to know about our opponents…

Fact File:

Name: Queens Park Rangers Football Club
Founded: 1882
Stadium: Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium (first opened 1904)
Capacity: 18,439
Nickname: The Rs, The Hoops, Rangers
Address: South Africa Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London, W12 7PJ
Pitch Size: 102 x 72 yards

The Opposition:

QPR head into tomorrow's fixture on recent winning run of three consecutive league games after beating West Brom, Birmingham and Bristol City. Additionally, a penalty shootout victory over Rotherham recently secured QPR’s place in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

Manager Mark Warburton opted to bring in ten new players over the course of the summer, and has also secured the signing of David Marshall in the January transfer window, as the Glasgow-born goalkeeper recently joined from Derby County.

After 25 games, QPR currently occupy fourth place in the league table, having accumulated 44 points.

The Manager:

Mark Warburton started his time in management with Brentford, having initially joined in February 2011 as a first team coach to Nicky Forster. However, upon Uwe Rosler’s appointment as manager during the following summer, Warburton decided to take on the role of Sporting Director at the club.

Once Rosler had departed the club, Warburton took charge as manager in 2013/14 and spearheaded promotion as League One runners-up. With Warburton’s leadership, Brentford achieved a Championship playoff semi-final the following season, eventually losing out to Middlesbrough.

In June 2015, Warburton made the decision to join Rangers. His time in Scotland was also successful, winning the Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup in his very first season. Upon the conclusion of that first season, Warburton also picked up the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award.

Warburton’s next move was to Nottingham Forest in March 2017, and he achieved league survival on the final day of that season on goal difference. However after nine months at the club, Warburton was dismissed on New Year’s Eve 2017 with Forest 14^th in the league.

In the summer of 2019, Warburton was announced as QPR manager and led his side to a 9^th placed finish in the Championship last season.

Last Six Games:

Won - QPR 1-0 West Brom (SkyBet Championship)
Won – QPR 1 (8)-(7) 1 Rotherham (Emirates FA Cup)
Won – Birmingham 1-2 QPR (SkyBet Championship)
Won – Bristol City 1-2 QPR (SkyBet Championship)
Lost – QPR 0-1 Bournemouth (SkyBet Championship)
Lost – QPR 0-2 Stoke City (SkyBet Championship)

Last Time We Met:

The two sides last met in August 2021, when second-half goals from Lyndon Dykes and Yoann Barbet meant that the three points stayed at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, as the Sky Blues were defeated 2-0.

Sky Blues Xl: Simon Moore (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean (C), Jake Clarke-Salter (Jamie Allen 72’), Ian Maatsen, Ben Sheaf, Gustavo Hamer, Callum O'Hare, Viktor Gyökeres (Tyler Walker 61’), Martyn Waghorn (Matty Godden 61’).

Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Julien Dacosta, Michael Rose, Jordan Shipley.

Head-to-head Record:

Sky Blues wins – 48
Draws – 31
QPR wins – 44

Club Connection: Todd Kane

Current Sky Blues defender Todd Kane made the switch from QPR to City over the summer, making his debut for Mark Robins’ side in the Sky Blues’ 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough in September.

Having progressed through Chelsea’s academy, Kane signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in July 2011 before gaining first team experience with several loans within the EFL. Two consecutive loan moves in the Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen and FC Groningen preceded a return to England as a fan-favourite on loan at Oxford United in 2018.

After Kane turned down a new contract at Chelsea, the defender signed for QPR in July 2019, and spent two years with the West London club.

Following his arrival at the Sky Blues in the summer, Kane scored his first goal for City with a dramatic last-minute equaliser against Bournemouth.

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Match Officials:

Andy Woolmer will referee this weekend’s fixture, and he will be assisted by Michael George and James Wilson whilst Sam Oldham will act as the fourth official.

Match Reports

REPORT: Sky Blues 1-2 QPR

Sky Blues defeated by QPR this afternoon...

22 January 2022

The Sky Blues suffered defeat at the Coventry Building Society Arena this afternoon, as goals from Andre Gray and Albert Adomah claimed victory for QPR despite Jordan Shipley's long-range goal in the second half.

The Sky Blues got off to an impressive start when Ben Sheaf played a perfectly-weighted ball through to the onrushing Jamie Allen down the centre, however the midfielder’s shot was blasted into the path of David Marshall, who saved accordingly.

However, it was the visitors who struck first through Andre Gray, as the striker weaved his way into the left side of the penalty area before slotting the ball low into the far corner on six minutes.

An action-packed opening 10 minutes also saw Allen sting the palms of Marshall when Gyokeres cleverly used his strength before playing the ball into the path of Allen in the centre.

The Sky Blues supporters were off their seats on 12 minutes when a flurry of action saw Gyokeres force a point-blank double save from Marshall moments before Hamer’s deflected effort acted as further warning to the QPR defence.

O’Hare also attempted to add his name onto the scoresheet when his volley from the left edge of the penalty area looked to loop into the top left corner of the net, but Marshall was called into action and pushed the ball out for a corner, which ultimately was defended.

The visitors went close to doubling their advantage on 32 minutes when Albert Adomah narrowly missed his chance to connect with a header from Willock’s cross at the back post. A similar chance went begging for QPR ten minutes later when visiting captain Lee Wallace skied an effort well over the bar from within the penalty area. Following an end-to-end opening 45 minutes, it was Mark Warburton’s side who held the advantage.

Half-time: Sky Blues 0-1 QPR

It was a perfect start to the second half for the Sky Blues when the powerful strike of Jordan Shipley restored parity to the contest within the first five minutes of the restart; a perfectly-worked corner routine saw Todd Kane deliver a short corner to Shipley on the edge of the box, who made no mistake with his effort on goal.

Play was paused following the goal for a steward to receive medical attention after hitting their head, and we’re thankful to report that they are okay while receiving treatment in the stadium medical room.

Gyokeres went close to putting City into the lead when his strength to turn away from pressure opened up a gap to fire a shot on goal from inside the penalty area, however his effort flew narrowly wide of the post.

The Sky Blues went close again on 71 minutes when a well-worked counter attack culminated in a goal-mouth scramble with Gyokeres at the centre of the action, and City continued to exert pressure in the opposition half following the introduction of Jake Bidwell for his debut.

However, it was the visitors who restored their lead when Adomah headed home from Willock’s assist on 88 minutes. Shortly afterwards, the referee announced a further 16 minutes of additional time.

City fashioned an opportunity to level the scores once more on 99 minutes when some great work between substitute Jodi Jones and O’Hare down the right resulted in the ball being delivered to fellow second-half substitute Martyn Waghorn, whose shot was blocked on the line. Although, in the end it was Mark Warburton’s side who claimed the three points this afternoon.

Full-time: Sky Blues 1-2 QPR

Scorers: Andre Gray (6’), Jordan Shipley (50’), Albert Adomah (88')

Yellow cards: Rob Dickie (66’), Callum O’Hare (79’), Kyle McFadzean (105’)

Attendance: 20,942 (3,867 away)

Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Todd Kane (Jodi Jones 90+7’), Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean (C), Jake Clarke-Salter, Jordan Shipley (Jake Bidwell 74’), Ben Sheaf, Gustavo Hamer, Jamie Allen (Martyn Waghorn 88’), Callum O'Hare, Viktor Gyökeres.

Unused subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Michael Rose, Liam Kelly, Josh Eccles.

QPR XI: David Marshall (GK), Lee Wallace ©, Rob Dickie, Yoann Barbet, Lyndon Dykes (Charlie Austin 80’), Sam Field, Andre Dozzell (Luke Amos 67’), Andre Gray (George Thomas 75’), Jimmy Dunne, Chris Willock, Albert Adomah.

Unused subs: Joe Walsh (GK), Jordy De Wijs, Dominic Ball, Moses Odubajo.