Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Coventry City: Lyndon Dykes scores on return from illness
- Published
- comments
Lyndon Dykes has scored in his past three league appearances for QPR
Second-half goals from Lyndon Dykes and Yoann Barbet lifted QPR to second in the Championship table as they saw off Coventry at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Dykes broke the deadlock just a minute after coming off the bench, rifling a 20-yarder past Simon Moore for his third goal of the season.
Defender Barbet grabbed Rangers' second soon afterwards to seal the points and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Coventry, who had created the better chances in the first half, could not find a response as they slid out of the top six.
Both sides had opportunities to open the scoring during a lively first period, with Sky Blues' front men Viktor Gyokeres and Martyn Waghorn causing problems for the home defence.
QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng was called into action to foil both Waghorn and Gustavo Hamer, as well as the impressive Callum O'Hare.
At the other end, Moore also produced an acrobatic save before the interval, leaping to claw Ilias Chair's curling free-kick onto the crossbar.
But Chair was withdrawn midway through the second half in favour of Dykes - back in the QPR squad after illness - and the change proved to be an inspired one.
The Scotland international immediately latched onto a ball on the edge of the Coventry penalty area, slamming home to put Rangers in front.
Eight minutes later the home side doubled their advantage as Moore could only parry Barbet's initial attempt and the Frenchman followed up to score the rebound.
Rangers might have added further goals in the closing stages, with Dykes forcing another save from Moore before fellow substitute Osman Kakay fired into the side netting.
QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC London 94.9:
"We had a lot of the ball flow, but I don't think we were good in the first half - in truth we could easily have been 1-0 down.
"Let's be honest, Coventry were the better team. They were running in behind and they stretched us.
"We lacked an intensity in our play and we moved the ball laboriously. But we made some adjustments and then we were better, with pressure on the ball and moving it sharper like our normal selves.
"I don't think today was anywhere near the levels we can achieve, but if we can keep a clean sheet and score two goals against a team like Coventry, that's a good afternoon's work."
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"We started off really well - we created a lot of good openings and cut them open at times. The only thing I'd say is that when we get that amount of chances, we have to be more clinical. If you take one of those chances, it changes the mindset of the opponents.
"I thought Martyn Waghorn and Vik (Gyokeres) were really good up front, they worked their socks off and they were intelligent, trying to work them across the pitch but they just ran out of steam.
"QPR are a good team. We came here last season and never got anywhere near them and just to be in the game (today) means we've moved it forward a bit.
"I'm still disappointed with the result, but we have to look at this block of games and say it's been a brilliant start for us."