Sky Blues hold Rs

Wood goal pegs back promotion chasers

Last updated: 28th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sky Blues hold Rs

Wood: Late leveller

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Queens Park Rangers have lost ground in their quest for a top two finish after being held 2-2 by Coventry at Loftus Road.

The Rs took the lead through goals from Jay Simpson and Akos Buzsaky after Leon Best had given The Sky Blues a 16th minute lead.

However, Richard Wood's late effort ensured Chris Coleman's side finished with a share of the spoils.

Coventry finished the match a man light after Stephen Wright was shown a second yellow card, but QPR were unable to capitalise.

Both sides enjoyed a positive start to the encounter, with Adel Taarabt firing a shot come cross along the face of goal after just three minutes.

Hoops keeper Radek Cerny was called upon to keep out Patrick Van Aanholt's goal-bound effort with a superb diving save soon after, before the hosts broke and threatened again themselves through Wayne Routledge.

No surprise

It was no real surprise when the opening goal came with just 16 minutes on the clock and it was the visitors who grabbed the initiative.

Best earlier this week insisted Coventry would be a different team if they could start games in the same way they finish them, having gone behind on four occasions during their winless streak.

And it was he who put them ahead by sending a looping header over the stranded Cerny from Van Aanholt's free-kick.

Rangers immediately hit back and the lively Taarabt was giving Wright all sorts of problems down the left wing, while also forcing a solid save from Keiren Westwood.

The complexion of the first half changed completely within the space of 60 seconds when Best headed a great chance wide when all he had to do was hit the target.

And from almost being 2-0 down, QPR were level when Simpson latched onto Alejandro Faurlin's through-ball to fire past Westwood.

Off the line

Aron Gunnarsson then saw his stoppage-time header cleared off the line by Matthew Connolly as a thrilling first half ended level.

The ambition of both teams remained evident after the break as they created openings in search of a second goal.

First Taarabt was unlucky to see his deft chip hit the crossbar after a superb bit of skill, before Van Aanholt put in a great recovering tackle to deny Routledge as he looked to pull the trigger.

The hosts were soon starting the dominate things once again with Faurlin and Ben Watson going close and they got the breakthrough they deserved in the 69th minute.

With the Sky Blues becoming camped in their own half, a Hoops corner remained in the danger zone and Buzsaky's drilled shot from close range took a deflection before beating Westwood.

Gunnarsson saw his effort deflected over the bar as Coventry, aided by some attacking substitutions, pressed in search of an equaliser.

And they got it through Wood before fellow defender Wright saw red.