QPR hammered another nail into Swindon's relegation coffin but they were made to work hard for all three points against the unlucky Robins at Loftus Road.

But for a six-minute spell in the first half when they conceded two goals Swindon certainly did not look like relegation certainties and if they had taken their chances they may well have won this match.

After just 50 seconds Giuliano Grazioli forced a save from Lee Harper while, on nine minutes, he took advantage of Karl Ready's slip to run in on goal only to shoot wide with just the keeper to beat.

The bottom of the table side paid for those misses when Rangers snatched the lead on 23 minutes. Ian Baraclough's quick free kick went to Chris Kiwomya and his deep cross picked out Ready who nodded firmly into the corner.

Swindon were rocked by the goal and worse came six minutes later as Rangers doubled their lead.

Richard Langley found Kiwomya on the right wing and his first time flick fell invitingly into the path of the on-rushing Mark Perry whose run was ended inside the box by Scott Leitch's clumsy trip.

Mikkel Beck sent Frank Talia the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Swindon had not given up, though, and they threw themselves a lifeline on 35 minutes as Grazioli made up for his earlier misses.

Michael Meaker got down the right and his cross found Grazioli at the near post and he acrobatically hooked the ball into the net.

Gavin Peacock took advantage of Swindon's fragile defence two minutes later to get in a shot which was superbly palmed away by Talia as Rangers looked for more goals, but after the break that never looked like happening.

In a scrappy second half it was Swindon who had the better of the chances.

Former Rangers winger Meaker ghosted past Paul Bruce on 48 minutes to force a save from Harper and then on 65 minutes Meaker carved out another opportunity but this time shot across the face of goal.

At the other end Peacock put Gareth Taylor clean through only for the on-loan striker to dwell on the ball and see his shot blocked while substitute Sammy Koejoe beat two men before firing wide.

Swindon were reduced to long shots from Leitch and Lee Collins which never looked like troubling Harper but in the final minutes the visitors had two chances to snatch an equaliser.

First, Mark Robinson's free kick picked out Alan Reeves who headed inches wide. Then a corner was dropped by Harper to Adam Willis whose shot was superbly headed off the line by Perry.

Leitch managed to get the ball into the net for Swindon in injury time but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Robins boss Jimmy Quinn chose to stay away from this match in order to do some scouting and after another three points slipped away it looks like he will be on the lookout for Second Division players.

Teams:

QPR: Harper, Perry, Ready, Baraclough, Bruce (Murray 72), Wardley (Kulcsar 79), Langley, Peacock, Taylor (Koejoe 72), Beck, Kiwomya.

Subs Not Used: Scully, Rowland.

Goals: Ready 23, Beck 29 pen.

Swindon: Talia, Robinson, Willis, Reeves, A. Williams, Leitch, Collins, Meaker, Davis, Griffin (Gray 64), Grazioli.

Subs Not Used: Mildenhall, Smith, Cowe, J. Williams.

Booked: Davis.

Goals: Grazioli 35.

Att: 12,633

Ref: M Fletcher (Warley).