Barclays Premier League

SOUTHAMPTON 1 QPR 2

A long time ago it was clear that whoever won this game, were there to be a winner, wasn't going to do it with a thoroughly impressive performance, and that's the way it turned out. QPR looked bamboozled in the opening stages before Loic Remy took advantage of lax defending to open the scoring. An uninspiring half an hour followed before Gaston Ramirez levelled for Southampton just before the break. The second half was played out in much the same manner, with neither team getting truly into their stride but QPR continuing to be resolute in keeping Southampton at bay for the most part. Jay Bothroyd made it 2-1 thanks in a significant part to more sloppy Saints defending, and Robert Green deserves praise for his outstanding cameo, coming off the bench to make vital saves late on. QPR are still bottom of course but will look with glee at a number of winnable games coming up in the month, and Southampton have cause to be worried after woeful defending cost them for the umpteenth time this season.

FULL TIME

One half chance falls to Southampton in the remainder of injury time as Robert Green easily keeps out a downward header. QPR have beaten Southampton at St Mary's to show they're not down and out yet.

THREE TO PLAY

Halfway through the six minutes added and nothing to report. It hasn't been a great game in terms of decent football but the drama has been there and it remains tense.

SIX MINUTES!

Due to some lengthy stoppages we knew there was going to be a fair bit of added time, and the fourth official has decided six minutes will be played. Enough time still for Southampton to win this game let alone equalise.

QPR CHANGE

Fabio replaces Jay Bothroyd as Queens Park Rangers look to see this game out.

TOP DRAWER SAVES

Well, would Julio Cesar have made those saves? The first stop especially from Robert Green to deny Maya Yoshida from a corner is absolutely outstanding, and the former England keeper follows it up to deny Jose Fonte from another set-piece moments later.

RODRIGUEZ CHANCES

Jay Rodriguez sends a downward header wide, and wins a corner with a long-range deflected shot a minute later.

VALUE FOR THEIR LEAD

They have never looked pretty, but Queens Park Rangers have done what they've needed to do - keeping it tight at the back and punishing Southampton when opportunities have presented themselves. Still eight minutes plus what will be a lengthy period of stoppage time to go, though.

COMFORTABLE SAVE

First action for Robert Green sees him comfortably keep out a tame effort from Luke Shaw.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Maya Yoshida fails to deal with a marauding Ji-Sung Park, who reaches the by-line and fizzes the ball in for JAY BOTHROYD to shin it home. It's the first time QPR have scored two goals in a league game this calendar year, and it's given them the lead for a second time at St Mary's.

GOOOOOOOOOAL!

Jay Bothroyd makes it 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers!

CHANGES APIECE

Turns out Julio Cesar isn't OK to carry on after all, due to what looks to be a dead leg. Robert Green is his replacement, while for Southampton Mauricio Pochettino swaps Gaston Ramirez for James Ward-Prowse.

CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS

Jay Rodriguez takes a pot shot that bounces just in front of Julio Cesar before the Brazilian saves. He looks like he'll be staying on the field as Robert Green has returned to the bench. Nathaniel Clyne does brilliantly to block a Junior Hoilett thwack at the other end.

GREEN WARMS UP

Not sure how bad it is but Julio Cesar looks to have picked up a knock. Robert Green is warming up and everyone associated with Rangers will be praying he won't be needed.

NOT PUSHING HARD ENOUGH

Queens Park Rangers could potentially see this game out and pick up a point, but they desperately need a win and a decider doesn't look forthcoming for them. Junior Hoilett and Loic Remy have looked like their only two players who can threaten Southampton yet they're seeing little of the ball at the moment.

BIRTHDAY BOYS

The fact has been covered a fair bit by the press in the build-up to this game, but if you haven't heard Mauricio Pochettino is 41 today and Harry Redknapp turns 66.

WOULD HAVE BEEN SOFT

Jose Fonte makes contact with Junior Hoilett near the by-line as the QPR man chooses to stay on his feet and try and make progress. Had he have gone down he could have had a case for a penalty, althought it would have been soft.

ANOTHER FORCED CHANGE

Daniel Fox has picked up a knock and has to make way, so young Luke Shaw comes on in his place.

NO PENALTY

Two appeals go up for hand ball decisions - Jose Bosingwa was close to handling a Jason Puncheon cross before Christopher Samba was likewise close to a Rickie Lambert shot. Jay Rodriguez, who has made a significant impact since coming on, has an effort blocked at the end of the attack.

FIRST QPR CHANGE

Esteban Granero appears unhappy with Harry Redknapp's decision to withdraw him, despite having not made much of an impression this afternoon. Jermaine Jenas enters the fray as expected.

NOT FAR AWAY

Ji-Sung Park is robbed off the ball and Jose Fonte sends a thunderbolt from range whistling narrowly wide of Julio Cesar's right-hand post. Jermaine Jenas looks like he's about to come on for QPR.

QPR GET STARTED

Queens Park Rangers show their attacking intent for the first time in this half. Junior Hoilett does excellently to win a corner from which Christopher Samba sends a header off-target. A Jose Boswinga strike is then even further wide of the mark.

FREE KICK IN

A bright start from Southampton in this half sees Jose Fonte almost connect with a Gaston Ramirez free kick. Lambert's follow-up cross is defended.

BACK UNDERWAY

No substitutions have been made at the break as the second half kicks off.

SOUTHAMPTON 1 QPR 1

Southampton harried and pressed QPR in the first 14 minutes of the half, but Loic Remy netted with a soft goal at the other end to give his side a surprise lead. The game has been mostly uneven and of a low standard since then, which suited Rangers down to the ground before Gaston Ramirez capitalised on a Julio Cesar mistake late on. Stay tuned to see how things play out after the interval.

HALF TIME

Jay Bothroyd fires wide in what is the last action of the half. 1-1 is the score at the break.

LATE IN STOPPAGE TIME

Julio Cesar keeps out a Gaston Ramirez effort shortly before Jose Fonte is cautioned for an untimely challenge.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Julio Cesar is at fault, palming a Jay Rodriguez shot right into the path of GASTON RAMIREZ who makes no mistake on the rebound. 1-1.

GOOOOOOOOAL!

Gaston Ramirez levels for Southampton!

BOOKING

Armand Traore is booked late in the half, I think for handling a Jose Fonte shot. Both sides have pressed forward in the last couple of minutes.

FORCED CHANGE

Jay Rodriguez is on for Adam Lallana, who looked to be suffering with concussion. That's a real blow for Southampton, as Lallana has been their most creative player particularly earlier in the half.

SCRAPPY

The quality of football is poor at the moment, with neither side seemingly able to string more than a few passes together. Adam Lallana looks to be struggling for the home side after taking a bang to the head a few minutes ago.

VERY QUIET

Southampton fans aren't making much noise for obvious reasons, and Queens Park Rangers supporters aren't getting too excited over their team's pragmatic approach despite being in the lead.

COOL IT STEPHANE

Stephane Mbia isn't shirking making tackles despite being on a booking, and his disgruntled reactions when decisions go against his side will probably prompt a word from Howard Webb should he not be more careful. Clint Hill and Adam Lallana have also just been involved in a minor spat.

GAME-PLAN WORKING

Although the Queens Park Rangers defending has at times looked unconvincing, they've still been tough to break down on the whole and Julio Cesar is yet to make a save. You don't think about turning on the style when you're seven points away from safety, of course.

SAINTS ATTACK

That's better from Southampton. Good work from Gaston Ramirez and Jack Cork allows Nathaniel Clyne to swing a ball in from the right, and desperate defending meets a blocked shot from Jason Puncheon then a cross from Adam Lallana that is knocked clear.

GOAL HAS CHANGED THINGS

Twelve minutes since the goal, and it's affected the pattern of play as well as the score-line. Southampton have looked disjointed since Remy netted, while QPR have grown in confidence.

YELLOW CARD

Stephane Mbia wrestles Jack Cork to the floor with what looks to be a rugby tackle and is deservedly booked, making his subsequent protests baffling.

REMY SHOOTS

Loic Remy forces Artur Boruc to palm the ball away with a well-struck drive from distance.

DEFENSIVE WOES

Southampton's defensive frailties truthfully haven't been totally erased despite recent improvements, as they look nervy again when Queens Park Rangers attack. The Loic Remy goal minutes ago means the Saints have conceded more home goals (35) than any other team in the league.

JUST A YELLOW

Jay Bothroyd is lucky to receive just a yellow card for an awful challenge on Nathaniel Clyne. Credit to Clyne, who could have invited a red card for his opponent had he made more of a meal of it.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Shortly after Rickie Lambert volleys wide at one end, LOIC REMY makes it 1-0 to the away side at the other end, completely and utterly against the run of play. A harmless looking aerial ball in is met by hesitant Southampton defending, with Daniel Fox being the main culprit. Remy finishes on the half-volley and Rangers are a goal up.

GOOOOOOOOOAL!

Queens Park Rangers take the lead through Loic Remy against the run of play!

SCRAMBLED CLEAR

Best chance yet. Rickie Lambert heads a diagonal ball into the box back across goal where Gaston Ramirez and Jason Puncheon are waiting. Puncheon goes down and cries out for a penalty, however nothing is awarded before QPR clear their lines.

WIDE AGAIN

Adam Lallana tries his luck this time, flashing a shot wide of Julio Cesar's left-hand post. Queens Park Rangers have mostly been sitting deep and looking to break when possible so far in this contest.

LONG-RANGER

Gaston Ramirez this time breaks down the left-hand side where Southampton are getting most joy. He tees up Jack Cork who hits an effort wide from distance.

FIVE MINUTES IN

It's been frenetic in the opening minutes. Southampton attack down the left through Adam Lallana, and Queens Park Rangers frantically defend balls in from Gaston Ramirez and Rickie Lambert in subsequent moments. The visitors then launch a counter-attack but nothing comes of it.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

QPR are unbeaten in their last five visits to St Mary's, although the return fixture this season saw Southampton triumph 3-1 shortly before Mark Hughes was dismissed as the R's manager.

KICK OFF

We're underway at St Mary's. Needless to say Harry Redknapp got a hostile reception from the home faithful when taking his place in the dugout.

QPR TEAM NEWS

Harry Redknapp also makes four changes to a side previously defeated last time out. Out go Adel Taarabt, Andros Townsend, Jamie Mackie and Bobby Zamora, and in come Ji-Sung Park, Junior Hoilett, Jay Bothroyd and Loic Remy. Full line-up: Cesar, Traore, Samba, Hill, Bosingwa, Granero, Park, Hoilett, Bothroyd, Mbia, Remy.Subs:Green, Taarabt, Mackie, Onouha, Jenas, Fabio, Townsend.

SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS

It turns out Jose Fonte is fit enough to start, whilst Gaston Ramirez, Jason Puncheon and Danny Fox also enter the starting line-up to complete the four changes made by Mauricio Pochettino to the side that lost to Newcastle. Jos Hooiveld, Steven Davis, Jay Rodriguez and Luke Shaw make way. Full line-up: Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Fox, Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Ramirez, Lambert. Subs: K. Davis, S. Davis, Shaw, Rodriguez, Richardson, Guly, Ward-Prowse.

THE REF

England's premier referee Howard Webb is the man in black this afternoon. The ex-policeman has officiated the joint second-highest number of games among top flight referees this season (31), issued the joint second-highest number of yellow cards (107), and dismissed three players so far.

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Southampton's Jose Fonte is still in the process of recovering from a knee injury but is fit enough for the bench, while Jason Puncheon and Gaston Ramirez may be recalled. For QPR, Bobby Zamora's ankle injury means Loic Remy is likely to start, and Tal Ben Haim will probably join the former on the sidelines due to a hip problem.

LOOKING BLEAK

With seven points now the gap between QPR's current position at the bottom of the league and safety, the Hoops are going to have to unearth some outstanding form if they are going to stay up, that quite frankly doesn't look too forthcoming right now. By Harry Redknapp's estimation they need six wins out of their last 11 games. Harder to estimate is where the goals are going to come from, QPR having scored just four in their last ten and a measly 19 all season. The performance against Manchester United last time out was spirited yet the result seemingly inevitable, and the 4-1 defeat at Swansea before that abysmal. Hopes are thus pinned on that final run-in, with winnable games against Sunderland, Aston Villa, Wigan, Stoke and Reading jumping off the fixture list following this match if Harry's men can pull themselves together.

FIRST FIVE GAMES

Mauricio Pottechino's first five games in charge of Southampton have seen one win, two defeats and two draws for his new club – that single victory of course being the shock 3-1 triumph over champions Manchester City at St Mary's that went some way to finally putting to bed the discontent over Nigel Adkins' dismissal. Another positive for the Saints has been the absence of shoddy performances even when they have dropped points. The two defeats came firstly against league leaders Manchester United by a single goal and they put in a decent performance against Newcastle last time out and were in front before being eventually beaten 4-2, while at Wigan only a last minute leveller denied the south coast side a win. The ambitious attacking intent is still there, but balanced with solidness in defence not previously seen.

HARRY'S RETURN

Good ol' Harry Redknapp isn't quite viewed with the same affection in Southampton as he is in the rest of the football world. A torrid year in charge of the Saints from 2004 to 2005 saw the club relegated under him, before adding insult to injury in his second season by leaving to manage arch rivals Portsmouth. The now-QPR gaffer is expecting ‘a bit of grief' but understandably played down the whole affair in Thursday's press conference.

GOOD AFTERNOON

At St Mary's this afternoon Southampton host QPR, in a game that hasn't been tagged a ‘six-pointer' quite as much as you might expect considering respective league positions. Perhaps that's something to do with many for some reason feeling the hosts are going to be just fine despite hovering just three points above the relegation zone, and Rangers being presumed dead and buried by even more.