Warburton seeks clarity as QPR decline to take the knee

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton defended his team’s decision not to take the knee before last night’s defeat away to Coventry City and called for clarification on the gesture.

“There’s no directive, no guidance,” he said. “We want to avoid the uncertainty. We didn’t take the knee against Forest last week and no one mentioned it. Clap for carers stopped after a period of time as it lost its message.”

Coventry manager Mark Robins said: “I was told QPR didn’t want to do it. They said they’d done it 10 times in the past.”

The game itself was a superb example of Championship football as Coventry clinched their first win at this level since 2011-12.

Central defender Kyle McFadzean scored his first goal for the Sky Blues after earlier giving away a harshly-awarded penalty which saw Rangers take the lead.

Mcfadzean produced a towering header six minutes from time – nine minutes after a spectacular equaliser by QPR defender Yoann Barbet. The penalty came four minutes before the break when Mcfadzean was judged to have tripped Bright

Osayi-samuel just inside the box. Lyndon Dykes thumped the spot kick straight down the middle.

Coventry equalised from their first serious attack of the game when Ryan Giles crossed for Matty Godden to head in at the far post.

Coventry took the lead after the restart when Fankaty Dabo fed Callum O’hare in the box and he volleyed home from six yards.

Coventry City (3-4-2-1) Marosi; Ostigard, Mcfadzean, Hyam; Dabo, Shipley (Sheaf 90), Hamer, Giles; Allen, O’hare; Godden. Subs Billson (g), Mason, Rose, Pask, Walker, Bakayoko. Booked Shipley.

Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1) Lumley; Kakay, Dickie, Barbet, Wallace; Cameron, Carroll (Smyth 71); Osayi-samuel, Amos (Ball 82), Chair (Thomas 82); Dykes. Subs Kelly (g), Kane, Oteh, Masterson. Booked Chair, Wallace.

Referee Stephen Martin (Staffs).