QPR claimed bragging rights with a 1-0 win over local neighbours Watford that does little to ease the Hornets' relegation woes in the Coca Cola Championship.

With their safety assured in the second tier for another campaign, Akos Buzsaky's first-half penalty - his 11th goal of the season - for Rangers was enough to see off Malky Mackay's charges, as the R's clinched another welcome victory that pushes them ever-closer to the top half of the table and into 14th spot.

Rangers were ahead on 38 minutes, with Buzsaky blasting home from the spot after Adrian Mariappa was deemed to have brought down Dusko Tosic inside the box.

The R's had to endure sustained periods of Hornets pressure in the second half, and had Radek Cerny to thank for an excellent save when Danny Graham looked certain to level matters from close range.

However, despite the Watford barrage, QPR held firm to collect the points in W12.

R's boss Neil Warnock made two changes for the visit of local neighbours Watford.

Antonio German came into the side to replace Jay Simpson, while Rowan Vine was also handed a starting berth at the expense of Tamas Priskin.

Cerny was once again between the R's sticks, with skipper Mikele Leigertwood, Peter Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss and Tosic lining up in defence.

Hogan Ephraim and Adel Taarabt started out wide in midfield, with Buzsaky and Alejandro Faurlin in the middle.

Vine partnered German up top.

Buoyed by a vivacious Loftus Road crowd, the R's created the first opportunity of the half to find the net.

It was a clever move that almost paid dividends, with Taarabt deceiving everyone from a corner kick on the left when he stroked the ball to Buzsaky on the edge of the area - but the Hungarian playmaker could only smash wide of the goal.

Moments later, the R's went even closer.

Martin Taylor was adjudged to have felled German some 30 yards from goal, and from the resultant kick, Scott Loach had to be aware to beat away a ferocious low shot from Buzsaky.

Soon after, Faurlin was unlucky to see his smashed effort from distance go just over the crossbar, after he latched onto a weak clearance following Buzsaky's initial cross into the box.

Play then switched to the other end, and after the Hornets won a free-kick around 35-yards out, Henri Lansbury's dangerous cross missed everyone as the ball was caught by Cerny in the R's net.

Minutes later, Tosic's long ball was only headed back as far as the onrushing Ephraim 25-yards out, before the R's wide man blazed high and wide of the target.

Chances were not exactly at a premium - especially clear-cut ones - though Ramage had to be alert enough to guide the ball to Cerny while holding off Lansbury, after Graham's flick looked to have put the Arsenal youngster through one-on-one with the keeper.

Moments later, the game burst into life when the R's took a 38th minute lead from the penalty spot.

Faurlin, Vine and Tosic all combined down the left before the Serbian international's darting run into the box was adjudged to have been unfairly halted by Mariappa.

Buzsaky took hardly any run-up to the kick but finished in emphatic style, staying calm as he blasted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Just minutes after the start of the closing period, the R's went in hot pursuit of a second goal.

German swept a pass out to Vine on the left-hand side of the box. The striker twisted and turned his marker before sending a low centre across the penalty area that somehow missed a host of R's bodies before Mariappa eventually cleared the ball for a corner.

The game was turning in to a somewhat scrappy affair, with opportunities few and far between as the R's fought to hold on to the lead, and Watford pushed for an equalising goal.

Mackay's Hornets soon went closest yet to finding their first goal of the night.

Loach's long ball was misjudged by Ramage who slid to clear the ball, before substitute Marvin Sordell crossed for Graham, who somehow missed the ball as he attempted to head home just six yards from the target.

Rangers were hanging on, and moments later only a miracle save from Cerny prevented Watford from notching that equaliser.

Youngster Sordell was again involved, sliding a precise centre into the direction of Graham. The frontman looked odds-on to net from just a few-yards out, before his shot was superbly diverted wide by the trailing leg of a diving Cerny for Rangers.

Soon after, the R's almost grabbed a second with time running out at Loftus Road.

Vine received the ball out on the right, sliding sub Jay Simpson through on goal at an acute angle on the right, who saw his shot superbly parried to safety by Loach in the Watford goal.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Leigertwood, Vine, Buzsaky (Oastler 71), Gorkss, Faurlin, Ephraim, Tosic, German (Simpson 73), Taarabt (Cook 41).

Subs: Putnins, Brown, Parker, Priskin.

Goals: Buzsaky (pen) 38

Bookings: Buzsaky, Cook, Ephraim

Watford: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury, McGinn (Sordell 46), Graham, Jenkins (Bryan 82), Harley, Bennett (Doyley 46), Taylor, Eustace, Hodson.

Subs: Lee, Hoskins, Henderson, Oshodi.

Bookings: Mariappa, Eustace

Attendance: 13, 171 (2299)