The Sky Blues score their first away win of the season thanks to a late Gary McSheffrey penalty.
City did not create too many opportunities throughout the 90 minutes but defended well and snatched all three points when McSheffrey converted from the spot after being brought down by QPR keeper Simon Royce - an incident which saw the shot stopper sent-off.
Micky Adams chose to put Don Hutchison straight into the starting line-up for the match at Loftus Road at the expense of Claus Jorgensen.
The experienced loan man came in for his first start in a Coventry shirt up front alongside Dele Adebola with Andy Morrell and Gary McSheffrey playing on the right and left hand side of midfield respectively while youngster Isaac Osbourne retained his spot in the centre after impressing against Millwall last time out.
Former Sky Blues man Paul Furlong was suspended for the clash but former City loanee Lloyd Dyer was in the QPR line-up at left-back.
Marton Fulop was called into action early on when he produced a great save from a Gareth Ainsworth header. It did not take long for Hutchison to stamp his authority on the tie, linking well with McSheffrey and producing a dangerous corner which Robert Page hooked just wide.
A fairly even opening half-hour saw plenty of meaty challenges going in from both teams. Osbourne was acquitting himself superbly in the City engine room, winning fifty-fifties and tracking back to help his defence.
Despite some tidy play neither side was producing much in terms of shots on goal and Coventry seamed fairly at ease coping with their host's attacking threat.
In the 36th minute former Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore got a sight of goal but failed to produce an effort on target as QPR began to apply the pressure.
City's players were being stretched now and Richard Shaw made a superb block from a stinging Richard Langley strike to ensure Fulop was not tested.
There was a lot of endeavour on show in the first half but not a vast amount of quality although City would have been happy with the way they'd limited their opponents to just one shot on target. However, Micky Adams would want his players to show more as an attacking outlet in the second 45 but the early signs did not indicate that the Sky Blues would be taking the initiative.
Rangers continued to do the pressing but could not unlock Coventry's organised defence - Santos went clear but his square ball eluded Moore in the centre and Ainsworth got away from Doyle but his centre was cleared by the solid Page.
With half an hour remaining Micky Adams made his first switch, bringing on Andy Impey for Morrell. But QPR soon created a great opportunity although Ainsworth failed to get his header on target from Moore's precise cross. Ian Holloway then brought on a substitute, Lee Cook, and he forced Fulop into a routine save with a crisply struck 20-yarder.
Adams then made an attacking switch as James Scowcroft replaced Adebola and McSheffrey got a half sight of goal as he moved up front, but failed to work himself into a shooting situation as Shittu recovered well.
The game looked to be heading towards a stalemate but with five minutes left on the clock the late drama which was to decide the tie began when McSheffrey was brought down in the penalty area by Simon Royce.
The City forward raced onto a Doyle throughball and even though his first touch let him down he still knocked the ball past the QPR custodian who clipped his ankles.
Uriah Rennie had to send off the keeper as he was the last man and when Jake Cole came on for Gareth Ainsworth to go in goal, his first job was to pick the ball out the back of the net after McSheffrey smashed his spot kick home.
The Sky Blues then kept their shellshocked opponents at bay to record a third consecutive victory and their first double of the season after beating QPR at the Ricoh back in August.
Coventry: Fulop; Whing; Page; Shaw; Duffy; McSheffrey (Jorgensen 89); Doyle; Osbourne; Morrell (Impey 60); Adebola (Scowcroft); Hutchison. Subs (not used): Ince; Thornton
McSheffrey (18); Adebola (75)
QPR: Royce; Bignot; Evatt; Shittu; Ainsworth; Rowlands; Santos (Bircham 82); Bean (Cook 67); Moore; Dyer; Langley. Subs (not used): Cole; Milanese; Rose
Booked: Rowlands (16); Santos (58)
Sent-off: Royce (85)
Referee: Mr Uriah Rennie
Attendance: 13,556
