Thomas scores dramatic injury-time winner as Coventry City leave it late to beat Queens Park Rangers
BOBBY Thomas struck a stunning 94th-minute goal to give Coventry City a late 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Thomas climbed highest to head into Jack Rudoni’s corner from the right, sparking wild celebrations at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
As a result, Coventry are now only one point away from the Championship play-offs.
The Sky Blues failed to strike the deadlock early on, with Ellis Simms’ first header deflected clear before Paul Nardi made a wonderful save low to his right to deny Matt Grimes, and then superbly kept out Simms’ follow-up from inside the six-yard box.
QPR came near at the other end when a floated corner from the left fell at the feet of Jack Colback, who fired a first-time shot wide of the post.
After QPR winger Paul Smyth cut in from the right, Oliver Dovin pushed his powerful shot to safety.
The visitors came forward again after the break, and Dovin made a fantastic save low to his left to keep away Michael Frey’s one-on-one strike from eight yards out.
Nardi, the R’s goalkeeper, then made a fantastic reaction save after Victor Torp’s initial attempt hit Luis Binks and rebounded into the goal.
The teams continued to trade chances, with Dovin making another low stop to deflect Ilias Chair’s long-range attempt around the post.
City squandered a golden opportunity to break the tie late on when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto put the returning Ephron Mason-Clark in behind the R’s defenders, only for Nardi to block the ball as the latter attempted to pass him.
However, the Sky Blues secured the win four minutes into injury time when Thomas headed Rudoni’s corner from the right into an empty net, with Nardi caught beneath the cross.
Coventry’s next match is against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, February 15, with kickoff at 3pm at Hillsborough.
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