Almería failed to pull away from the La Liga relegation battle as they slipped to a 2-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano, who consolidate their position in mid-table.

Antonio Amaya's header looked to have secured the three points in the first-half before substitute Miku tapped in to make the game safe in the dying minutes.

The visitors started brightly with Corona and Thomas creating early half-chances, but their momentum faded quickly and Rayo took hold of the game, dominating possession and chances.

The first real chance of note came with 20 minutes played as Trashorras forced a fine save from the visiting goalkeeper, but within two minutes his work was in vain as Rayo took the lead.

Zé Castro delivered a delicious cross from deep on the right which sailed over defence and goalkeeper alike to be met by the head of Amaya at the back post, who snuck his effort inside the near post.

Rayo continued to pile forwards with the momentum of an early goal, but were perhaps lucky to escape as Almería had a convincing penalty shout waved away by the referee. Wellington Silva went down in the area under a strong challenge from Nacho, but his protestations went without reward.

However, things were soon levelled up on the penalty count as the home side had their own claims for a spot-kick ignored by the officials. This time it was Adrián Embarba who was felled in the area by Ximo, but again nothing came from it and the two sides went in at the break with the score at 1-0.

The hosts continued in the same vein in the second half, missing chances and lucky to avoid a penalty as Silva appeared to be fouled in the area for a second time, this time by French forward Thievy.

Jonathan Zongo saw a header tipped over the crossbar and Sebastián Dubarbier's shot was deflected wide, but it was Rayo who missed a golden chance to end the contest as Manucho put a tame effort straight at the goalkeeper when one-on-one inside the final ten minutes.

They were not made to pay for their profligacy, though, as the game was made safe in the first minute of stoppage time. Almería were caught on the counter as they piled men forward in search of an equaliser, and it was up to Miku to control and tap into an empty net after good work from Chelsea loanee Gaël Kakuta to forge the chance down the right-hand side.

The result leaves Rayo comfortably above the relegation zone in 10th position, 13 points ahead of Almería who remain dangerously close to the drop in 17th, level on points with 18th-placed Deportivo.