R's midfielder Shaun Derry isn't about to get carried away with the Hoops lead at the summit of the npower Championship, but he's happy enough to embrace it for the time being.

Derry - who has been a mainstay in the Rangers midfield since his summer switch from Crystal Palace - was speaking to www.qpr.co.uk following yesterday's 2-0 victory at Coventry City; a win that extended the R's lead to seven points at the top.

"We were under massive pressure with the way Coventry play, but we dealt with it very well in the first half," he said.

"The second half was excellent though and we were good value for the win."

Derry added: "You'd be lying if you said it wasn't going better than planned.

"We never in our wildest dreams thought we'd be in this position at the turn of the year so you've got to embrace it.

"It's a great position to be in.

"We're fortunate that we've got a healthy, quality squad, with 18 or 19 players capable of pulling on the shirt when required."

Rangers travel to Carrow Road - the home of Norwich City - on New Year's Day and Derry expects another tough test in East Anglia.

"Norwich will raise the bar," he told www.qpr.co.uk.

"It's always a great atmosphere at Carrow Road and it promises to be another cracking game."