Iain Dowie, the former Coventry City boss, made a losing return to the Ricoh Arena last Saturday as he watched his Gulf Air-sponsored QPR side go down to a Elliott Ward penalty.
Damien Delaney fouled Jay Tabb and Ward scored with the resulting spot-kick, despite QPR goalkeeper Radek Cerny getting a hand to the ball.
Keiren Westwood produced a fine save to deny QPR playmaker Emmanuel Ledesma.
And Dexter Blackstock missed a golden chance for Dowie's side in the second half, scooping the ball over from close range when it seemed easier to score.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman said: "It doesn't mean any more or less because it was against an old friend in Iain Dowie. I am just happy we have the three points."
Dowie added: "It's not the return I was hoping for. The result will tell you that but the performance will tell you something else.
"I'm very proud of the second-half display and, but for the break of a ball and a few bits of heroic defending by their back four, it could have been our day."
Despite the defeat Rangers lie in fourth spot in the Championship table - just three points off an automatic promotion spot.
Table-toppers Wolves, however, sit three points clear of Birmingham in second after winning 3-1 at third-placed Preston in a highly-charged game which saw three bookings and two red cards, including one for hat-trick hero Chris Iwelumo who was sent off four minutes after scoring his third goal from the penalty spot.
QPR hope to get back on the winning trail on Saturday at home to Derby County - one of the sides relegated from the Premiership last season.
