A black day in QPR history is this week's memorable match, but the clash with Coventry hgas at least given Ash the chance to talk about Roy Wegerle for a bit.

It’s hard not to get too excited after the Norwich result, even with one minute to go of added time I was convinced that we’d leave Carrow Road having conceded a late goal, as QPR fan I’ve almost come accustomed to it. Iain Dowie’s QPR are so far proving be everything that Dowie told us they would be at the start of the season. And the disciplined, organised victory over Norwich has lifted Rangers back into fourth place in the table, giving fans genuine belief that a promotion charge could well be on this season.

On Saturday we face another away trip, up to the Ricoh Arena to play Chris Coleman’s Coventry City. The R’s were first sent to Coventry in 1927 in a Third Division South game that ended in a 1-0 defeat, while last season the teams battled out a quite unmemorable mid-week 0-0 draw. So let’s take a walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane..,

Memorable Match
Coventry 1-0 QPR
Premier League
13th April 1996
In a week where expectation has begun to rise at Loftus Road this week I go back to the last season we experienced top-flight football and a game that was crucial in the run-in to the end of the season. Rangers went into the game third from bottom of the Premier League, with only Bolton and opponents Coventry below them, having played a game more. The sale of Les Ferdinand in the summer and failure to spend the funds from that transfer correctly had seen the R’s under manager Ray Wilkins struggled for most of the season and this was a must win game for both sides. In what was a scrappy affair and the very definition of a six-pointer goal-mouth action minimal as both sides were desperate not to lose the game. Then twenty minutes from time Coventry finally found room in the Rangers box and Sky Blues midfielder Eion Jess struck the only goal of the game and gave the home team a vital win. The sending off of Andy Impey in injury time only added to Rangers woe, they now needed a miracle to stay in the division.

Coventry: Ogrizovic, Pickering, Daish, Rennie (Jess) Hall, Williams, Richardson, Ndlovu, Strachan, Dublin, Whelan
QPR: Sommer, Bardsley, McDonald, Yates, Brevett, Barker, Holloway, Impey, Sinclair, Gallen, Hateley (Wilkins)

Postscript: We all know what happened next, despite beating West Ham in their next fixture it was all too little too late for Rangers and we were relegated along with Bolton and Manchester City. Coventry came into form at the perfect time and survived, finishing in 16th place.

Connections
Roy Wegerle
QPR 1990-92
Coventry 1992-95
To wear the number ten shirt for Queens Park Rangers, you have to have that little something extra, something that made you stand out from the rest. I am unfortunately not old enough or lucky enough to remember Rodney Marsh or Stan Bowles donning the hoops so growing up it was a different number ten that I idolised, one Roy Wegerle. Although born in Pretoria South Africa, it was in the US where Roy began his footballing career at the University of South Florida. His goal scoring exploits at that level-where he still holds the record for goals scored in one season, were soon noticed by teams in the NASL and was drafted by Tampa Bay Rowdies. He scored nine goals and made seventeen assists that season but it was to be the last for Tampa Bay as the leagued folded. Luckily for Roy his talents were noticed by Tampa coach Rodney Marsh who used his contacts to get him trails in England, proclaiming him to be a future superstar.

QPR actually declined to take Wegerle and it was eventually rivals Chelsea who singed the striker in 1986. Things never really got going at Stamford Bridge though and after a brief loan stint at Swindon, Wegerle signed for Luton Town. It took time for him to settle at Kenilworth Road but his wonderful skill and clever eye for goal soon turned them round and finished as their top scorer. Soon First Division scouts were hovering and with Luton needing the money it was Queens Park Rangers who splashed out a record £1million to bring him to W12. It wasn’t before long the R’s sensed they had a star on their hands, with Ray Wilkins pulling the strings in midfield, Roy had the freedom to express himself and although the goals struggled to come at first his overall play was getting fans off their seats.

The 1990-91 season, his first full campaign with the R’s, belonged to Roy Wegerle. It started with a goal on the opening day against Nottingham Forest and he would go on to finish as Rangers’ Player of the Season.

There are so many moments you can pick out from that season but the one that I can still watch and get excited about was the goal that won ITV’s goal of the season that year. Rangers were struggling again and in the middle of an awful injury crisis. We travelled to Leeds with new keeper Jan Stejskal making his debut and were soon 2-0 down and set for another defeat. Most of the QPR fans in the stadium were resigned to their fate and a few of the players looked like they had given up as well. Ray Wilkins got us back in the game before half time and then the moment came. Wegerle got the ball out on the right wing and with very little support the danger was zero. Wegerle got the ball under control with a nice shimmy left the first two players looking stupid and then slipped the ball between David Batty's legs, strolled past two more challenges then slipped the ball onto his right foot and majestically placed it into the bottom corner. It’s a goal I’ve watched hundreds of times and it gets better every time, just watch it again…link.

That summer Gerry Francis replaced Don Howe as manager and despite glimpses of his magic, Wegerle struggled to fit into Francis workmanlike style of play and with the emergence of Les Ferdinand was sold to Blackburn Rovers in March 1992. He didn’t last long at Ewood Park though and joined Coventry City just six months later. And although he was back among the goals, his three year spell with the Sky Blues was blighted by injuries and was never quite the same player we’d seen at Loftus Road. Soon after Roy went back to America to play in the MLS with Colorado Rapids and DC United before retiring in 1998. He has since tried his hand at another sport, golf and been seen as a pundit on US TV. My all time favourite player, I still have the 1990 Rangers shirt and wear it most Thursday nights down my local 5-a-side, although I don’t think I do it the same justice.
Did you know? Although born in South Africa, Roy represented USA and played in the 1994 World Cup.

Kenny Sansom
QPR 1989-91
Coventry 1991-93
England’s most capped international full-back became Crystal Palace’s youngest ever debutant in 1975 - a record since been broken by Jon Bostock - after leading Palace to youth cup victory just a few weeks before. Quick, calm, strong in the tackle and an excellent crosser of the ball, Sansom missed just one league game in 156, starting back in 1976, when Palace made their way from the Third Division to First and briefly topping it. His performances paved way for a £1million transfer to Arsenal, with Clive Allen going the other way, who had only joined the Gunners weeks earlier. In an eight year spell in North London, Sansom cemented his place as Arsenal’s first choice left-back picking up their Player of the Year in 1981 and captaining the League Cup win six year’s later. He also was integral part of Bobby Robson’s England playing in the 1982, and 1986 World Cup finals letting Maradona skip past him on the way to him scoring THAT goal along the way.

His relationship began to sour with George Graham at the end of the eighties and with Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon coming into the side and he left to join Newcastle United. A season later he returned to London at Queens Park Rangers where he would go on to play 80 games for the Superhoops under Don Howe. Spells at Coventry, Everton and Watford followed before his retirement in 1994. Now a regular TV pundit and part of Arsenal’s stadium tour guides.
Did you know? In 2005 Sansom was voted in Crystal Palace’s Century XI

Others: John O’Rourke Coventry 1969-71, QPR 1971-74. Now runs a newsagents.
Gerry Francis QPR 1968-79, 1981-82, Coventry 1982-83. Now coach at Stoke.
John Beck QPR 1972-76, Coventry 1976-78. Now coach at Histon United.
Gary Bannister Coventry 1978-81, QPR 1984-1988. Now owns and rents holiday accommodation
Alan Brazil Coventry 1986, QPR 1986. Now a TalkSport radio host.
Mark Hateley Coventry 1978-83, QPR 1995-97. Now works for Rangers and is a Sentanta pundit.
Paul Furlong Coventry 1991-92, QPR 2002-07. Now at Southend United.
Leon Best QPR 2004 (loan), Coventry 2007-present
Iain Dowie (Manager) Coventry 2007-08, QPR 2008-present
Tim Flowers Coventry 2002 (loan), QPR 2008-present (assistant coach)

Fans’ Memories
We played them last game of the season in 1986,if they lost they were relegated, we went 1-0 up before losing 2-1,at the end the Coventry fans invaded the Highfield road pitch, ran towards the away end and bombarded us with stones and other debris. -Loftboy

The opening of the Ricoh. The safety rail leading up to the seats hadn't set into the concrete yet! Dele Adebole(Sp) mullering us again and going to the shopping centre before the game. Strange place. Oh yes and Jimmy Hill. Won’t be going again. -Metallica

Winning there on a Tuesday to go top of the Premiership (Andy Impey superstrike), Devon White getting a winner there mid nineties, Getting more or less relegated there (Andy Impey super punch) Jimmy Smith winner that helped us stay up. -HamptonHillHoop

Went to the 0-3 and the 0-0 last year, probably one of the dullest/worst games I have ever witnessed in 25 years. At least the WPC in front of me made the trip worthwhile. -Juzzie

Seem to remember going to Highfield Road late 80's end of season as they were due to play in the FA Cup Final and getting spanked four something (long time ago though might be wrong!) Also the game that more or less confirmed our Premier League relegation ...we took a good vocal following that day approx 4/5K ...I still wince at the name Eoin Jess! ...Gallen hit the bar when he should have scored! ...all went off outside afterwards with the mounted police charging the Rangers fans! -EghamR

Remember Andy Impey putting us top of the league, remember Andy Impey decking a player with a great right hook, remember drinking with Mick Jones from the clash before the game in which Impey scored to take us top, remember is all kicking off outside the ground. HATE COVENTRY , HATE THE PUTRID BROWN CHOCOLATE KIT THEY HAD. -Wombat

I hate Coventry - we beat them two seasons running at their place but when it really mattered that **** Jess scores to keep them up and all but send us down. I could've handled it more had Coventry not been in the same situation pretty much every season we had played in the top flight since the mid 80's (whilst this was the only time we'd really struggled). A nothing club so pleased when they did finally go down. I've been other times seen a mixture of results but that was the one that mattered. -Mattnme

Impey scoring to make us the first London club to top the Prem. Eoin Jess more or less relegating us, the day Wilkins decided a keeper was a better option on the bench than a forward. The almighty row outside after. Justin Channing scoring one year, 2-2 draw I think Playing there last game of the season about '87 on a pitch that resembled Blackpool beach. . -ChrisPTenner

The last time we played them at Highfield Rd was a blinder, Santos nicking it in the last minute after we'd pissed all over them all game but somehow it was still 1-1. And the one at the Ricoh where Jimmy Smith got the winner was no classic but a massive three points. -BusheyRanger

I'm sure that I saw Stuart Pearce make his Coventry debut against us in the 80's. I saw a lot of Pearce playing for Wealdstone so it was weird seeing him play against QPR. Did well too but not 100% sure that it was his debut. -Garageland

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