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One Day In History – Coventry City 1974-75

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RANGERS were attempting to climb away from the Division One danger-zone under new management at Loftus Road.

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Rangers were attempting to climb away from the Division One danger-zone under new management at Loftus Road.

Teams: Queens Park Rangers v Coventry City

Date: Saturday November 2, 1974

Competition: Football League First Division

Venue: Loftus Road, London.

Dave Sexton took over in W12 after a successful era under Gordon Jago came to an end with a string of disappointing results.

Rangers had only won one fixture in their opening ten games, leading to Jago departing for the USA once more – the Tampa Bay Rowdies his club of choice.

The R’s moved to appoint former Chelsea boss Dave Sexton who had achieved FA Cup and Cup Winners Cup success with the Blues.

Form picked up as a result in October with two wins against Ipswich Town (1-0) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-1) along with two Stan Bowles penalties earning a draw against Arsenal (2-2).

After going eight games without a win, Coventry were undergoing a mini revival under Gordon Milne. The Sky Blues were unbeaten in six games, four of which were wins.

Victories over Luton Town (2-0), Leicester City (1-0) and Birmingham City (2-1) bolstered City’s fortunes as they sought a top half finish.

Rangers made one change from the side that beat Wolves with Gerry Francis sidelined with flu and Mick Leach stepping in with Don Rogers dropping into midfield.

Skippered by John Craven, City could call on the likes of Tommy Hutchison and Colin Stein to lead the line as they hoped to pick up a maximum in the capital.

A self-professed QPR fan, the King of Norway was in attendance at Loftus Road as Stan Bowles opened the scoring for Rangers.

Bowles bagged his fourth goal of the season – his first of the season from open play – to set Rangers on their way before Don Givens sewed the game up.

Givens who had been in fine form for club and country scored his sixth goal in seven days to complete the day’s scoring and help propel Rangers up the league.

Rangers’ revival in form from this point onwards could be charted as they rose as high has seventh in the league under their new boss.

Spurred on by their young internationals Givens and Dave Thomas they finished the season in a respectable 11th place. Good news indeed considering their dismal early season form.

Coventry themselves finished 14th – three places and points behind the R’s, in what had become a customary bottom half finish for the Sky Blues.

Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Coventry City

Attendance: 17,256

Queens Park Rangers: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Hazell, McLintock, Webb, Thomas, Leach (Beck 87), Rogers, Bowles, Givens.

Coventry City: Ramsbottom, Oakey, Hindley, Lloyd, Cattlin, Craven (Green), Mortimer, Holmes, Carr, Cross, Hutchison.

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