Coventry manager Frank Lampard said Bobby Thomas’ stoppage-time header was “a great way to win a game” as his side claimed all three points at the death against QPR.
Thomas leapt highest to nod home Jack Rudoni’s hanging corner in the fourth minute of time added on.
It was a victory that lifted the Sky Blues up to eighth in the table, just one point off the play-off places.
“It’s a great way to win a game,” said Lampard. “I think first thing, respect to QPR. They played a good game as well, first half particularly when I thought we were quite a little bit off it, which is understandable after the week we have had.
“We stayed in it, which was tough, especially with set-pieces and transitions that they are good at. But we dealt with those in different ways and I thought we got what we deserved from what was a really close game that could easily have been a draw.
“But if you keep a clean sheet and have character then you give yourself a chance.
“They are big and physical and they rough you up and put it in the six-yard box, and they are dangerous at set pieces, so I’m as pleased with that as anything because that gave us the opportunity to then go down the other end, and it was a quality delivery and great finish from Bobby.”
It was a welcome clean sheet for Coventry, who had conceded six goals at home in their last two outings, including a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich in the FA Cup.
“It’s what they are here to do, but we can give credit when it’s due. Ollie Dovin’s saves were fantastic, particularly the one-v-one save which I thought was a goal coming, so that’s great for him because he’s a talented young goalkeeper and that’s great for his confidence and feeling.”
QPR manager Marti Cifuentes could not hide his disappointment after a third defeat in four league games.
The Spaniard said: “Big disappointment. All of us are very angry at the moment. I think it was a tight game, two teams competing at a good level with some good chances for both.
“Both keepers made good saves and I’m just disappointed by the way we conceded the corner kick.
“In the first half it was difficult to get into the game, for 20-25 minutes Coventry started the game better than us, we picked ourselves back up and I think we finished the first half in a strong way, the same with the second one.
“It feels hard, especially because it was a game with small margins for both teams, but again I felt to lose this way it hurts a lot because of the minute, but we play against a team that signed really well in the summer, signed one of the best midfielders in the league this winter window and it’s a good team.
“My focus is always to win the next game, so I don’t change much today.
“I’m more disappointed about not scoring the chances or not creating more in the last minutes of the game. We lost one point so it’s not that much about the point, more about the opportunity to win the game.”
