Bothroyd’s winner gives QPR crucial victory
Southampton 1 QPR 2
Jay Bothroyd’s winner gave QPR’s chances of avoiding relegation a huge boost.
The striker, making his first Premier League start of the season, popped up to bag the priceless goal 13 minutes from time.
This win – only QPR’s third of a torrid campaign – means they are now just four points from safety.
Loic Remy, returning from injury, gave them the lead after 14 minutes before Gaston Ramirez equalised right on half-time.
On a day when reports suggested that the club’s recent training camp in Dubai descended into a boozy free-for-all – a claim manager Harry Redknapp has strenuously denied – Rangers made four changes to the side that were outclassed by Manchester United.
Adel Taarabt dropped to the bench, Bothroyd led the attacking line with Remy coming in to support him from the right – a ploy that brought about the opening goal with 14 minutes played.
Rangers hadn’t seen much of the ball but one 40-yard pass from Junior Hoilett was all they needed to unlock the timid Saints backline.
The winger picked out Remy, who timed his run between Danny Fox and Maya Yoshida to perfection and fired past keeper Artur Boruc.
Rangers, who were looking relatively comfortable, seemed to be heading through to half-time with the lead, but 90 seconds into three minutes of added time, Ramirez levelled.
Substitute Jay Rodriguez stung the palms of keeper Julio Cesar with a 25-yard effort after breaking through a half-hearted Jose Bosingwa challenge.
Cesar failed to hold the seemingly routine shot and the ball popped out to Ramirez, who calmly chipped the rebound home.
After being treated for what looked like a dead leg, Cesar fumbled another long-range effort from Rodriguez on 70 minutes – but this one he got away with.
It was his last action in the game as he was replaced by Rob Green minutes later.
Rangers were growing in confidence as the match progressed and after a good spell of pressure, they grabbed the all-important winner.
Ji-sung Park showed his tenacious qualities down the right, breaking through a weak Yoshida challenge before curling a wonderful low cross that Bothroyd stabbed home from six yards.
Green was kept busy for the remaining 10 minutes and kept out a bullet Fonte header that he clawed to safety with one hand.
QPR: Cesar (Green 74), Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Traore, Park, Granero (Jenas 53), Mbia, Hoilett, Bothroyd (Fabio 90), Remy.
Subs not used: Taarabt, Mackie, Onuoha, Townsend.
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