Teenager Kieran Morgan’s first career goal lifted QPR off the foot of the Sky Bet Championship as they scrapped to a 1-1 draw against Coventry.
The 18-year-old midfielder, making only his second substitute appearance for Rangers, struck midway through the second half to snatch a point.
QPR had fallen behind to an early Haji Wright goal as fellow early-season strugglers Coventry went in search of a first away win of the campaign.
Morgan denied them that, and while Rangers’ wait for a first home win of a torrid season so far goes on, they did at least climb above Portsmouth on goal difference at the bottom of the table.
Coventry went ahead after only four minutes when Rangers made an almighty mess of trying to clear their lines after goalkeeper Paul Nardi parried a close-range header from Milan van Ewijk.
The ball eventually fell to United States forward Wright, who spun in the box and hit a low drive which found its way through a crowd of players into the bottom of Nardi’s net.
Wright almost had a second five minutes later following another quick break from the Sky Blues, but this time his shot fizzed wide.
Rangers should have been level after a quarter of an hour when Koki Sato, on as an early substitute for the injured Kenneth Paal, reached the byline and pulled the ball back invitingly for Sam Field, but the midfielder blazed over from 15 yards.
But without striker Michael Frey, absent with a calf injury, the hosts were blunt in attack in a frustrating first half.
Paul Smyth fired wide across goal, a Sato volley was deflected off target and Ilias Chair’s low, bouncing effort was comfortably held by City keeper Oliver Dovin.
Coventry threatened at the start of the second half when Josh Eccles’ low cross was poked past his own goal by Steve Cook as Brandon Thomas-Asante slid in to apply the finish.
However, QPR hauled themselves level just after the hour mark when Smyth got free down the right. The winger’s cross was met by Morgan, who had only been on the pitch as a substitute for five minutes.
Morgan’s first-time volley was not the cleanest of hits, but it bounced into the turf before looping up over a helpless Dovin and into the net.
Coventry had a late chance to break their duck on the road, but Nardi made a fine save from substitute Ellis Simms before Dovin denied Lucas Andersen at the death as both sides had to settle for a point.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
