Two goals in the first seven minutes were enough to give Deportivo La Coruna a first win in four matches.

However, the Galicians endured some nervy moments as bottom side Xerez threw men forward in search of a late equaliser.

Andres Guardado gave Deportivo the lead from the penalty spot with just three minutes gone after Vicente Moreno had held back Diego Colotto.

And the locals looked to be well on their way to an easy victory when Riki added a second four minutes later.

But Xerez pulled a goal back seven minutes before the break through Mario Bermejo and Deportivo were forced to hold on in the end as the Andalusians gave everything in an attempt to secure a vital point which never materialised.

That has been an all too familiar story for Xerez, in what is their first ever season in Spain's top flight.

Recently-appointed coach Nestor Gorosito caused eyebrows to be raised earlier in the week when he claimed that Xerez have a side capable of finishing in the top eight.

The club's points tally tells another story altogether.

Prior to this match, they had picked up just 11 from 22 games.

And few expected that to change in this match, despite Deportivo's recent blip in form.

The Galicians had failed to win any of their last three games, picking up just one point from those matches.

Nevertheless, Miguel Angel Lotina's side began the day in sixth place and they needed a win to reignite hopes of a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2005.

And things began well for Depor as they won a penalty after just two minutes, when Moreno clearly held back Colotto in the area.

Guardado, recently returned from a long spell on the sidelines through injury, swept the ball home with aplomb to give the Galicians the lead.

And one quickly became two as Riki got away down the wing, advanced into the area and blasted an unstoppable drive past Xerez keeper Renan Brito.

There looked to be no way back for the visitors now, but Deportivo were happy to sit back on their advantage and Xerez tightened up as well, restricting the locals to long-range efforts.

The Andalusians were creating little in the way of opportunities themselves, but scored from their very first chance of the match, when Bermejo headed past Daniel Aranzubia seven minutes before half-time.

That gave the visitors a ray of hope, but it also served to wake up Depor.

Riki blasted over the bar two minutes later, before Pablo Alvarez was denied by Renan early in the second period.

And the Galicians came desperately close to a third after 65 minutes, when Juan Rodriguez beat Renan with a ferocious drive from the edge of the box, but saw his effort rebound off the crossbar.

Xerez enjoyed the best of the closing stages, however, and Bermejo threatened to level with 13 minutes left, when his venomous effort sailed just over the crossbar.

The visitors threw men forward late on, but Deportivo held on - albeit nervously - to move provisionally into fifth place.

Xerez, meanwhile, remain rock bottom and will have to start winning points very soon to boost their fading hopes of survival.