QPR threw themselves a First Division lifeline as a goal in each half was enough to beat disappointing West Brom at Loftus Road.

Struggling Rangers fully deserved the three points and should have made it more emphatic by taking some of the catalogue of chances they created.

They dominated the first half but it was a terrible defensive error by the visitors which allowed them to finally take the lead on 28 minutes.

Baggies midfielder Richard Sneekes attempted to clear from a corner but succeeded only in hitting the ball straight at Peter Crouch. The ball fell invitingly for Chris Plummer and the defender thumped home his first ever goal for the club.

It was no more than Rangers deserved against a high-flying West Brom side who hardly carved out a chance all afternoon despite a long period of dominance at the start of the second half.

Rangers had the visitors in trouble as early as the fourth minute when Clarke Carlisle's long throw was nodded down by Crouch to Gavin Peacock but his shot was deflected wide by Neil Clement.

Four minutes later Carlisle crossed to the far post where Crouch met the ball with a sweet volley which hit the post. The rebound fell to Peacock but West Brom keeper Brian Jensen brilliantly tipped his shot over the bar.

On 20 minutes Ian Baraclough's long ball forward saw the lively Karl Connolly race on to it and flick it past the keeper. However with the goal at his mercy he could only shoot over from an acute angle.

For West Brom there was very little to cheer in the first half.

Lee Hughes hit the side-netting after being put in by Jordao while Clement forced Ludek Miklosko to tip over with a rasping driving from 30 yards, but that was all they managed in the first half.

Indeed they could have been down to 10 men on 17 minutes when Jason Roberts was lucky to get away with a yellow card after appearing to elbow Baraclough - the referee making his decision after consulting the linesman.

The second half saw West Brom take control but their last pass frequently let them down.

The best they could muster early on was from a set piece when Clement's corner picked out Matt Carbon but his header flew over the top.

Rangers did not have much of the ball but they were still creating chances.

On 49 minutes Baraclough's corner to the near post was met by Crouch whose header flashed inches wide, while a minute later Jermaine Darlington's cross was nodded down by Crouch to Sammy Koejoe but the Dutchman pulled his shot wide.

He made up for it though on 72 minutes as QPR grabbed the vital second goal.

Koejoe turned away from his marker in the box and let fly with a right foot shot which gave Jensen no chance.

There was no way back for West Brom from their though they did battle gamely to the end.

Ruel Fox tested Miklosko with a 25-yard free kick which the keeper held well while on 84 minutes Sneekes looked to have made amends for his first half error with a thumping shot from just inside the area - but Miklosko was equal to the task and palmed it away to safety.

It was Rangers' first win in five matches and if they play like this every week they will not be worrying about relegation for long - bringing some consistency to their play is what manager Gerry Francis will now be looking for.

Teams:

QPR Miklosko, Darlington, Carlisle, Plummer, Baraclough, Perry, Langley, Peacock, Connolly (Morrow 80), Koejoe (Kiwomya 90), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Wardley, Ngonge.

Booked: Plummer.

Goals: Plummer 29, Koejoe 72.

West Brom Jensen, Butler, James Chambers (Taylor 66), Carbon, Lyttle (Balis 80), Jordao, Fox, Sneekes, Clement, Hughes, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Adam Chambers.

Booked: Roberts.

Att: 11,881

Ref: M North (Wimborne).