By James Smith RANGERS slumped to their fifth straight league defeat as Gary Deegan stole the points on a miserable afternoon at the Ricoh Arena. When a long ball was played from deep, City striker Clinton Morrison controlled the ball into the path of Dee

By James Smith

RANGERS slumped to their fifth straight league defeat as Gary Deegan stole the points on a miserable afternoon at the Ricoh Arena.

When a long ball was played from deep, City striker Clinton Morrison controlled the ball into the path of Deegan, whose shot took a wicked deflection before trickling past a stranded Carl Ikeme in the 10th minute.

The result, in truth, was a little harsh on the Rs - who enjoyed the greater amount of possession - but that will be little comfort to boss Mick Harford, as his side continue to struggle for points.

Rangers started off brightly, and had already fashioned three corners with only five minutes on the clock.

Matthew Connolly came nearest to scoring from the trio of resultant kicks. Akos Buzsaky's teasing corner deceived everyone but the former Arsenal man at the back post, who could only drag his effort wide.

And QPR were made to pay for not turning their early pressure into a goal when City took the lead at the other end with their first opportunity of the match.

Morrison was the architect, even if he didn't know a great deal about it - the ball cannoned off his back into the path of Deegan, whose finish deflected off the leg of an Rs defender.

Buzsaky went close with a free-kick moments later, and after the break Rangers continued to search for an equalising goal of the game.

They almost got it when Cook's lovely free-kick from the right was directed goalwards by Leon Barnett, though Keiren Westwood was again on hand to tip the ball away for a corner.

The Rs were knocking on the door and wasted another great chance to score when Antonio German's flashed cross along the box evaded Jay Simpson, just as it looked like he would slide home.

Coventry missed a chance to seal the points on the break as Freddy Eastwood fire wide from the right-hand side of the penalty area, but it didn't matter as the home side held out for the win.