JORDAN SHIPLEY’S thunderbolt proved in vain as Coventry City succumbed to a late 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers.
Shipley smashed home Coventry’s equaliser early in the second-half after Andre Gray had opened the scoring for QPR in the first period.
And Albert Adomah scored a late winner for Mark Warburton’s R’s against the run of play after Rangers keeper David Marshall made a string of fine saves.
The result leaves the Sky Blues in 10th place in the Sky Bet Championship table, seven points outside of the play-off places.
Rangers took the lead on six minutes when Gray was played in down the left-hand side of the penalty area before finding the bottom right corner from 10-yards out.
Coventry had a chance to draw level when the ball sat up nicely for Callum O’Hare to hit on the half volley with QPR goalkeeper Marshall pushing the midfielder’s effort behind for a corner.
And the Sky Blues felt they should have had a penalty soon after when O’Hare’s shot struck the arm of R’s defender Rob Dickie inside the box only for referee Andy Woolmer to wave away the appeals.
City found their equaliser on 50 minutes in sensational style when Shipley lashed a first-time effort into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area from Todd Kane’s corner.
Play was then halted for 12 minutes following the goal as a supporter in one of the home stands required medical attention.
And the home side had a chance to win the game when a lovely move ended with Gus Hamer behind denied by Marshall low down to his right before the visitors scrambled the ball clear.
However, QPR snatched the points on 88 minutes when Adomah rose above debutant Jake Bidwell to head home from Chris Willock’s cross.
Mark Robins’ side had a late chance to equalise only for Martyn Waghorn to shoot straight at Marshall from seven-yards out from O’Hare’s cutback.
Coventry are next in action against at home to Stoke City tonight (Tuesday, January 25) with kick-off at 7.45pm at the CBS Arena.