A first-half David Connolly penalty proved enough for Leicester, who were made to work hard for only their fourth win of the season at the Walkers Stadium which condemned QPR to their sixth defeat in seven matches.

The home side went into the match looking for their first win in five attempts and were helped on their way after only nine minutes.

Rangers defender Danny Shittu was adjudged to have handled inside the box by referee Phil Dowd and Connolly stepped up to tuck the resulting spot-kick away in the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Buoyed by an early lead, Craig Levein's side continued to take the game to QPR.

Connolly saw a snap-shot fly wide and Lilian Nalis tested keeper Chris Day with a header as Ian Holloway's men came under increasing pressure.

However, Leicester were forced into a reshuffle after 14 minutes when midfielder Scot Gemmill limped off and was replaced by Joey Gudjonsson.

Day then kept out a Jordan Stewart header before Paul Furlong, playing after a possible four-match suspension for his sending-off against Brighton was delayed on appeal, had Rangers' first effort on goal which Stuart Taylor held.

The visitors were gradually coming back into the game and after Day saved another Nalis header, George Santos brought a fabulous save out of Taylor after 37 minutes when the Foxes keeper parried a good strike from inside the box.

James Scowcroft then saw a shot fly over as the first period drew to a close.

QPR started the second half on the offensive with a succession of corners which Leicester managed to scramble clear before Day kept his side in the game when he parried Gudjonsson's strike.

Rangers were next to threaten in the 65th minute and Taylor had to be alert to keep out Adam Miller's long-range shot before Connolly fired wide at the other end.

Danny Tiatto made a surprise return to action from a fractured cheekbone four minutes later when the midfielder, who was expected to be out for another five weeks, came on for Nalis.

Stewart had Leicester's next chance 15 minutes from the end but could only shoot wide from Chris Makin's pass.

Rangers pressed for a late equaliser and Furlong wasted an opportunity when found by Martin Rowlands' cross before Shittu shot wide from the left edge of the area.

Deep into stoppage-time substitute Jamie Cureton had the home fans' hearts in their mouths but the striker could only put his header over as Leicester hung on for three points.

Teams:

Leicester Taylor, Keown, Dublin, Dabizas, Makin, Williams, Nalis (Tiatto 70), Gemmill (Gudjonsson 14), Stewart, Scowcroft, Connolly (Heath 90).

Subs Not Used: Stearman, Wright.

Booked: Connolly, Tiatto.

Goals: Connolly 9 pen.

QPR Day, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Edghill, Rowlands, Bircham, Miller (Cureton 72), McLeod, Gallen (Best 89), Furlong.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Bean, Branco.

Booked: Rowlands.

Att: 23,754

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).