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.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook