GARY McSheffrey's late penalty condemned QPR to a 1-0 defeat against Coventry.

City had not managed a shot on target until five minutes from time, when McSheffrey hammered home the spot-kick after being brought down by Rangers goalkeeper Simon Royce, who was then red-carded for the offence.

QPR boss Ian Holloway moaned: "Coventry had one shot that was the penalty and they scored a goal. I think they have had their Christmas present early.

"This is a results business and you need to win at home. Unfortunately we cannot buy a home win at the moment."

Coventry boss Mickey Adams admitted his side had not set the game alight but said Rangers hardly had too much cause for complaint.

He said: "Whether or not we deserved that is debatable but we'll take it. I'm not sure either side deserved to get all three points.

"My keeper certainly wasn't troubled and Royce wasn't either. We stood firm and got a bit of luck at the end.

"We didn't come to be defensive. QPR forced us backwards without creating too much. Then we had a lucky break."