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Nicolas Madsen netted the winner after providing the assist for Richard Kone's equaliser Coventry City saw their lead at the top of the Championship wiped out as their poor away form continued with a 2-1 loss at Queens Park Rangers. Frank Lampard's side's seventh winless league game on the road since victory at Middlesbrough on 25 November has seen a 10-point advantage drop to zero in that period. They are now ahead of Boro only by virtue of their better goal difference after the Teesiders beat Norwich City 1-0, with both sides on 58 points from 30 matches. QPR had the better of the first-half chances, with Richard Kone seeing a looping header palmed onto the crossbar and away for a corner by Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. But it was the Sky Blues who went in front shortly after the restart when Josh Eccles peeled away from his marker and headed in from a tight angle at the far post. QPR were soon level when Kone finished well at the near post after an excellent move before Nicolas Madsen blasted them in front seven minutes later to send Loftus Road wild. Coventry have a five-point buffer to third-placed Hull City ahead of two home fixtures, against struggling Oxford United and then Middlesbrough in what will be a massive game in the title race. Josh Eccles' goal was Coventry's only attempt on target until deep into second-half stoppage time Coventry took the game to the hosts from the off as Jack Rudoni - one of four changes made by Lampard after Monday's loss at Norwich City - headed the recalled Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's second-minute cross over from six yards. But Rangers created moments of their own early on as Karamoko Dembele, Harvey Vale and Kone all created chances. The R's almost went ahead 10 minutes from the break, but Rushworth did superbly to get back and palm away Kone's header to keep it level. The hosts had a penalty appeal turned down shortly before half-time when Paul Smyth went down under a Matt Grimes challenge as an entertaining first half ended goalless. Coventry went in front eight minutes into the second half as Eccles' goal - Coventry's only effort on target until stoppage time - came from Jack Rudoni's curling cross from the right to send the visiting fans wild. But 13 minutes later, the scores were level as Vale's excellent ball found Madsen on the right wing and his low cross was clipped in by Kone. Rangers should have been ahead not long after when Daniel Bennie fluffed his finish after Vale's cushioned ball over the back line saw him have a clear sight on goal. But the home fans did not have to wait long for the winner. Sakamoto felt he had been impeded on the left wing, but with no foul given, Vale found himself near the byline, and when his pacey low cross was palmed away by Rushworth, Madsen took a touch and smashed home from 10 yards. Bennie almost got a third two minutes from the end when he flashed a low effort just wide of Rushworth's far post before Eccles had a stoppage-time effort easily saved by Joe Walsh as Coventry's lack of attacking threat left their fans concerned. Queens Park Rangers head coach Julian Stephan told BBC Radio London: "I think it was a great game, a great win. All the credit to the players because I think they played with a lot of ambition today, quality as well. "I think we had probably three or four good situations in the first half, concede a goal early in the second half with the first situation for them, but the players showed today great, great, great character and great desire to change the momentum. "If I have to sum it up it's the situation when we equalised through Richard Kone and how Nico Madsen ran to take the ball and put the ball immediately in the middle. "It means a lot for me in terms of character and how the players wanted not only a draw, but a win today, and they did everything to have this win, so big, big credit to the players. " This video can not be played Stéphan: ‘I think the players showed a great ambition today’ Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire: "We didn't deal with the messy parts of the game well enough, second balls a little bit, a few duels and get punished for it. "It's a great goal, great header from Josh, great ball from Rudy. The feeling was on this pitch against a difficult opponent it was going to be a tough game and there wasn't much in it before that, so it's a great goal to get us in front and you fancy us a little bit. "But again when there's mess in games and the second balls and balls dropping and we don't deal with them, they end up going in behind us and we're late on some things and then you get punished. "What we must do now is keep positive, look to the next one. We're in a difficult moment, it's clear, a difficult moment and we're top of the league. "We know that gap's gone now, so it's a race from now and we have to pick ourselves up very quickly. " This video can not be played Lampard post QPR defeat After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 31st January 2026 at 17: 03 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Julien Stéphan Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Frank Lampard Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Julien Stéphan Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Frank Lampard Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions QPR were beaten by a six-goal margin in this season’s reverse fixture against Coventry (1-7 in August 2025), which remains their joint-heaviest defeat in a Championship match (since 2004-05). Coventry have already scored seven goals against QPR this season; the last time they scored 10+ across home/away games against an opponent in a single league campaign was in 1963-64, also against QPR (10). QPR have only won one of their last seven games in the Championship (D3 L3). Since Boxing Day, only Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday (both 0) have fewer league wins in the second tier. Coventry have lost three of their last six league games (W2 D1), more defeats than they suffered across their first 23 matches in the Championship this season (W15 D6 L2). Based on x G on target faced (excl. own goals), Coventry’s Carl Rushworth has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the Championship this season (+6. 6 – 32 conceded from 38. 6 x G on target). Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Coventry City 1. Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Coventry City 1. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City). Koki Saito (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt saved. Josh Eccles (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Joe Walsh (Queens Park Rangers). Assisted by Liam Kitching. Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Sam Field. Josh Eccles (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Liam Kitching (Coventry City). Richard Kone (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. Offside, Coventry City. Romain Esse is caught offside. Attempt blocked. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Grimes. Attempt missed. Daniel Bennie (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Harvey Vale. Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Sam Field replaces Isaac Hayden because of an injury. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Isaac Hayden (Queens Park Rangers). Substitution, Coventry City. Yang Min-Hyeok replaces Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers). Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.