Southampton Vs Qpr: southampton vs qpr ends 5-0 as Saints maintain play-off push
southampton vs qpr finished 5-0 at St Mary's as Tonda Eckert's side moved up the Championship table. The victory continued a strong run—Southampton have won four of their last five Championship games.
Southampton Vs Qpr match recap
A dominant Southampton put five past Queens Park Rangers at St Mary's to aid their push towards the Championship play-off places. Finn Azaz gave the Saints an early lead when Ryan Manning found him on the edge of the box; Azaz took a touch in-field and curled a low, powerful right-footed shot into the far corner in the ninth minute. One summary of the opening goal described it as coming after just 10 minutes.
How the goals unfolded
Southampton doubled their lead just before the break when Kuryu Matsuki headed a corner home for his first Championship goal. Matsuki, the Japanese attacking midfielder, then added another five minutes after half-time: Leo Scienza had a shot saved by QPR keeper Joe Walsh, who palmed the ball straight into Matsuki's path, and Matsuki steered the rebound into the far corner with his left foot.
Leo Scienza added a fourth in the 59th minute after being played through by Azaz. Scienza broke into space down the left, cut infield and curled the ball into the far corner for his sixth Championship goal of the season; Walsh got a glove to the effort but could not keep it out. Saints scored a fifth when Scienza won back possession down the left and crossed into the box; a poor QPR clearance fell to James Bree, who took a touch before firing a shot into the left-hand side of the net a slight deflection. One account described Bree's final strike as a stunning strike and a fitting end to the scoring.
Penalties and early incidents
Both sides had penalty appeals waved away early by referee Oliver Langford. QPR's Amadou Mbengue went down after getting past Ryan Manning, and moments later Taylor Harwood-Bellis appeared to be pulled back in the box by former Saint Ronnie Edwards; nothing was given for either incident. Just over five minutes before the break, Manning sent a free-kick into the box that found the head of Taylor Harwood-Bellis; his header bounced once, struck the post and rolled away from danger.
Injuries and substitutions
QPR suffered a blow just before the half-hour mark when Nicolas Madsen sprinted after a cleared corner and pulled up, holding the back of his right leg. The Danish midfielder was then substituted and headed down the St Mary's tunnel. From the home side, Jack Stephens had carried injury concerns prior to the recent Charlton match but was in the starting line-up for that game and was forming a partnership with Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Welington is out for two weeks with a muscle injury, meaning Ryan Manning continued at left-back for the fixture on Tuesday night.
Predicted lineup and squad notes
Southampton had been heading into the fixture on the back of a disappointing home draw with Charlton Athletic on Saturday against Nathan Jones' team and were looking to be more clinical. Other squad notes ahead of the match included Daniel Peretz as goalkeeper, who joined on loan from Bayern Munich in January and had established himself in Tonda Eckert's side. James Bree was set to continue at right-back after returning from a loan at Charlton; Elias Jelert had played well against Leicester City in the cup but was unlikely to dislodge Bree. Flynn Downes was described as a stalwart in midfield, revitalised since Tonda Eckert gave him a new role; if fit he would start against QPR, though much depended on how much Saturday had taken out of him and others could deputise if required.
Reactions and consequences
The win lifted Tonda Eckert's side from 11th to seventh in the Championship table, leaving them four points off Wrexham; Queens Park Rangers sat 13th after the defeat. Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert said, "I loved that we were sharp from the off. " Kuryu Matsuki reflected on the night as a milestone, saying: "Obviously, it was a great moment for me because I scored my first goal in the Championship. I'm very happy to do that. We did so well. The first half was very good. The second half I scored one more goal. I'm very happy. I like this football. The gaffer gave me the confidence, so I just want more goals and assists. We have so many great players, so obviously I enjoy it. But we need to get more points and score more goals. "
For supporters, a promotional note from the club stated Saints Memberships were being offered at half price for a limited time, with prices noted as £15 for Adults and £7. 50 for Juniors.
Closing: Southampton produced a comprehensive performance at St Mary's, with Finn Azaz, Kuryu Matsuki, Leo Scienza and James Bree on the scoresheet as the Saints tightened their challenge for the Championship play-off places.
