QPR spoiled Nigel Clough's first game as Derby manager by claiming victory at Pride Park to keep their Championship play-off challenge on track.

Wayne Routledge and Mikele Leigertwood scored the goals for Rangers as they won away in the league for only the second time this season.

Clough took charge of Derby for the first time since his appointment earlier this month.

The 42-year-old, whose late father Brian took the club from the old Second Division to become champions of England and European Cup semi-finalists during his spell in charge between June 1967 and October 1973, made the step into league management for the first time following a decade in charge of Burton Albion.

And it was to be a harsh introduction for Clough junior.

After his side had threatened through Kris Commons and Rob Hulse, it was QPR who took the lead with their first shot on target.

Routledge had fired a warning shot across Derby's bow after 19 minutes but they did not heed the danger and the same player scored just three minutes later, steering a low shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.

Routledge then turned provider for his former Crystal Palace team-mate Leigertwood, who found the opposite corner with a shot from similar range.

Only a superb save from Roy Carroll to keep out Lee Cook's angled shot prevented matters from getting worse for Derby after 39 minutes.

Miles Addison, who signed a contract extension to keep him at Derby until 2012 on Saturday morning, came close to celebrating his new deal with a goal in the first minute of the second half but his header was tipped round the post by Rangers keeper Radek Cerny.

At the other end, Heidar Helguson headed wide after 53 minutes before substitute Hogan Ephraim shot straight at Carroll midway through the second half.

Derby pushed forward in the closing quarter of an hour but were unable to find the goal that would have set up a tense finale.

Andy Todd, on his first league start for Derby since the penultimate game of last season when the Rams were beaten 3-1 at Blackburn in their ill-fated Premier League campaign, had the best chance but the defender headed wide from inside the six-yard box.

The only thing to spoil Rangers' day was a serious-looking injury to Martin Rowlands after only 12 minutes. Youngster Ephraim replaced him in midfield.

Teams:

Derby Carroll, Albrechtsen, Todd, Nyatanga, Camara, Barnes (Barazite 70), Green, Addison, Commons,Varney (Davies 59), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Bywater, Savage, Teale.

Booked: Camara, Todd.

QPR Cerny, Connolly, Gorkss, Stewart, Delaney, Routledge,Leigertwood, Mahon, Rowlands (Ephraim 12), Cook (Alberti 90),Helguson (Di Carmine 64).

Subs Not Used: Hall, Blackstock.

Goals: Routledge 22, Leigertwood 36.

Att: 28,390

Ref: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).