QPR beaten despite stunning Austin strike
Southampton 2 QPR 1
Graziano Pelle’s superb winner consigned struggling QPR to another defeat.
Charlie Austin netted a brilliant goal midway through the second half to haul Rangers level after Ryan Bertrand had opened the scoring.
Substitute Junior Hoilett cut across from the left and found Eduardo Vargas, whose ball in to Austin was slightly behind the Rangers striker.
Austin, though, instinctively hooked the ball in front of him and then belted a volley beyond keeper Fraser Forster.
But the Saints hit back just two minutes later with a spectacular goal of their own, Pelle similarly bringing the ball under control before scoring with an overhead kick.
Rangers, thrashed 4-0 in their two previous away league games this season, were largely second best but their passing was better and they did show much more willingness to press the opposition.
Already without injured midfielders Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch, their cause was not helped when Sandro, back after a knee problem, went off having suffered an apparent head injury after only eight minutes.
And they were unlucky not to score a late equaliser when Niko Kranjcar’s free-kick hit the bar.
Even so, Southampton were much the better side and largely dominated a first half in which Dusan Tadic’s shot deflected off R’s defender Steven Caulker and onto the outside of the post, before Pelle and Morgan Schneiderlin missed chances to put the hosts ahead.
Their breakthrough came courtesy of on-loan Chelsea man Bertrand nine minutes into the second half.
After Rio Ferdinand had given the ball away, Sadio Mane held off Mauricio Isla and cleverly back-heeled the ball into the path of Bertrand, who fired under keeper Rob Green for his first goal since moving to the south coast.
Following Austin’s equaliser and Pelle’s emphatic response, the woodwork was struck three times.
Steven Davis hit the Rangers post with a great effort and Kranjcar, who rescued a point with a free-kick against Stoke last weekend, was almost the hero again, with Caulker unable to head in an attempted follow-up.
There was still time for the outstanding Tadic to fire against the outside of the near post.
QPR (4-2-3-1): Green; Isla, Caulker, Ferdinand, Traore; Sandro (Henry 11), Fer; Phillips, (Hoilett 58) Kranjcar; Vargas (Zamora 77), Austin.
Subs not used: McCarthy, Hill, Onouha, Dunne.
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28/09/2014 @ 11:47 pm
Southampton have spent A LOT of money on their team. Real change happens one step at a time, we don’t want to be Chelsea, life is not Hollywood. As a fan I am very dissapointed by your comment. Were you a fan in Division 2? Positivity should be ingrained whenever you talk about our first team, that is what we are about
28/09/2014 @ 4:34 am
Qpr were awful again- ok they were better in 2 nd half but still bad. Austin scored great goal but still an average player – Vargas is useless – Phillips useless – Zamora and Hoilett did ok when they came – I rate Hoilett because he’s positive and he is always looking to attack the opposition – caulker is slow, ferninand too old – green is a liability Fer nothing special – ex wolves player- forgot his name – tries very hard and is okay, trioare -,is rubbish rednapp is hopeless and unemotional on touch line. Isla go back to chile . Being back hill – he tries . Sandro is made our of paper mash sha – weak as piss
Total performance 5 out 10′
Rednapp 2 out 10
Chairman 3-10- there were lots of positives- we lost again dh
I truly could go better – stop buying ex has been players Harry
Kranjer – tries but past his best. – if dynamo Kiev don’t want him that’s saying something- Kiev are a crap team
I do rate Mutch but not Barton