Southampton hosted Queens Park Rangers at St Mary's this afternoon in a game that was a must-win for both sides in the battle to stay in the Premier League.
The South-Coast outfit were looking to continue their improvement in form since the turn of the year, while the Hoops were desperate to pick up a win.
The away side picked up their first victory in two months, as they earned a shock 2-1 win at the Saints.
Find out how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from St Mary's as Southampton take on Queens Park Rangers.
These two sides meet in contrasting moods. Despite coming off the back of a defeat at Newcastle United last week, the Saints are in a buoyant mood have endured some improved form over the past few months, including a comeback draw at Chelsea and a home victory over Manchester City.
QPR, however, are in rather different circumstances and need a miracle if they are to survive this season. They haven't won a match in two months and have lost their last two outings.
Reports of the Hoops' 'stag party like bender' certainly won't have helped them either. Harry Redknapp really does have a job on his hands.
I've just been handed some team news. Here it is...
We'll start with the home side...
SAINTS XI: Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Fox, Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Ramirez, Lambert
SAINTS BENCH: K. Davis, S. Davis, Shaw, Rodriguez, Richardson, Guly, Ward-Prowse
So manager Mauricio Pochettino makes four changes to the side that were beaten 4-2 by Newcastle on Sunday. Jose Fonte, Danny Fox, Jason Puncheon and Gaston Ramirez all come into the starting lineup, while Jos Hooiveld, Luke Shaw, Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez all drop out.
It looks to be a 4-3-3 lineup for the Saints, with centre-forward Rickie Lambert flanked by Adam Lallana and Puncheon, while Ramirez partners Morgan Schneiderlin and Jack Cork in the midfield three.
And now, here is the team news for the visitors.
QPR XI: Cesar, Traore, Samba, Hill, Bosingwa, Granero, Park, Hoilett, Bothroyd, Mbia, Remy
QPR BENCH: Green, Taarabt, Mackie, Onouha, Jenas, Fabio, Townsend
So Harry Redknapp has opted to make four changes to the team that were beaten by Manchester United at Loftus Road. Park Ji-Sung, Junior Hoilett, Jay Bothroyd and Loic Remy all come into the starting lineup. Adel Taarabt, Andros Townsend, Jamie Mackie and Bobby Zamora are replaced in the first XI.
It looks as if it is a standard 4-4-2 for the Hoops, with a midfielder from right to left of Park, Granero, Mbia and Hoilett while Remy partners Bothroyd up top.
Funnily enough, both bosses celebrate their birthdays today, Pochettino turns 41 while Redknapp is now 66. No chance of them both getting their birthday wish today.
In the reverse fixture of this clash, Saints secured a 3-1 win at Loftus Road which essentially ended the reign of Mark Hughes at QPR. You can read the report from that match here.
Who is ready for some stats?
The last time Southampton hosted QPR in the top flight was all the way back in the 1995-96 season when the hosts enjoyed a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Jason Dodd and Matt Le Tissier.
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However, QPR have not lost on any of their four subsequent visits to Southampton, which have all come in the Championship.
These two sides have faced each other 74 times before, with Saints winning 27 of those clashes, just one more victory than QPR. A draw has been the result 21 times.
That's in all competitions by the way.
As far as contemporary facts go, Southampton have dropped 27 points from winning positions in the league this season, more than any other team in the top flight. While Morgan Schneiderlin is the only player to have made over 100 tackles this year.
As far as QPR are concerned, they have won just one of their last 26 away games. As well as this, they have scored only four goals in their last 10 Premier League games.
Just over 15 minutes to go folks!
Harry Redknapp is returning to one of his former clubs today, but don't expect him to get a popular reception from the Saints fans. Having joined the club from arch-rivals Portsmouth, Redknapp endured relegation with Southampton before leaving the club while in turmoil to rejoin Pompey and win the FA Cup with them. Not exactly what you call endearing yourself to a club is it?
PREDICTION: On a personal note, I am going for a home win today. I think that Saints are in better form at the moment, have the top-scoring Englishman Rickie Lambert in their side, and are on home turf. Redknapp's men could be galvanised by the stick that their manager will receive, but I don't think they will win. I'm going for a 2-1 Saints win.
As I said, Redknapp has just received a bombardment of boos and chants when coming out of the tunnel.
Both teams are out on the field.
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We're underway here with the Saints kicking off.
We're underway here with the Saints kicking off.
Saints are wearing their all-red strip and are playing from left to right. QPR in their traditional blue and white hoops, with white shorts and socks, are playing from right to left.
Chants from the home fans of 'Stand up if you hate hate Redknapp' ring round St Mary's. No chances as of yet.
Saints on top so far. The ball nearly falls for Rickie Lambert but he can't get his shot away and the visitors clear.
SCORE UPDATE: Real Madrid have taken a sixth-minute lead in the El Clasico through Karim Benzema.
CHANCE! First real effort of the game comes from the hosts, as the ball is worked to Jack Cork on the edge of the box. From a central position, he fires low across the face of goal but just wide of the far post for a goal-kick.
So much home abuse from the QPR boss; Harry Redknapp stood up to bark instructions at his side and was met with a deafening quantity of boos.
CHANCE! Saints have another chance, this time through skipper Adam Lallana, but his effort is high and off target.
CHANCE! It's all Southampton here, and they are begging for a penalty, but Howard Webb is not interested. Ramirez floats a brilliant cross to the far post where Lambert dominates Samba in the air to head the ball across goal. Puncheon, who was trying to connect with the ball, was bundled over in the box, but it came to no avail.
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CHANCE! Guess what? Saints have had another chance. The ball falls to Lallana about 30 yards out on the half-volley and he goes for it. There was a lot of dip on the effort, but that was never going to trouble Cesar.
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 QPR (Loic Remy)
Football is a funny old game isn't it? Having dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match, QPR break forward and take the lead. Rangers played a long ball forward in between the two Saints centre-backs which leads to confusion between the two at the back. Remy runs onto the ball and bides his time before squeezing his shot in from a wide position. It may be against the run of play, but QPR are in front.
The final touch may have come off Danny Fox, who was on the line, but the returning Frenchman will be gifted with the goal.
YELLOW CARD: Jay Bothroyd goes into the referee's notebook for a late, and frankly silly, challenge on Jason Puncheon. No need for the tackle there, which came on the halfway line.
SCORE UPDATE: Dimitar Berbatov's penalty has given Fulham the lead over Sunderland.
That goal has given QPR some relief, and while Saints are still dominating possession, the visitors will to play on the counter-attack is creating a nervy atmosphere at St Mary's.
SCORE UPDATE: Barcelona have just equalised against Real Madrid. Guess who scored? You got it, Messi did.
What looked like a routine save for Boruc has resulted in a corner for QPR. Remy's long-range effort slipped through the keeper but QPR failed to punish the Saints from the corner.
YELLOW CARD: Mbia picks up a booking for pretty much rugby tackling Jack Cork in the centre circle. His appeals cannot really be justified.
It is worth noting that QPR had only scored two goals in their previous six matches before today.
We may not even be 30 minutes into this game, but Jay Bothroyd is already walking a tightrope. He chops down Fonte in the Saints box from behind with a clumsy challenge, but doesn't receive any punishment. He has to be careful.
SCORE UPDATE: Demba Ba has put Chelsea 1-0 up over West Bromwich Albion.
Saints are still trying to find a way through with their patient build-up, but have had no luck at the moment. Loic Remy is refusing to track back, so Saints have got to be careful.
The hosts have had a lot of pressure but have yet to find a way through the resolute QPR backline; the few times the ball has made its way into the box, Cesar has been there for routine catches.
There is a break in play as Lallana and Hill clatter each other in an accidental collision. The rest of the players are using the time to get fluids on board. Hill is up, but Lallana, who has had his injury problems this season, is receiving treatment.
Touching from the travelling R's fans who conduct a minute's applause during the 31st minute for the late Ray Jones, who scored here in 2006 in his last appearance at St Mary's.
Both players are up and we are underway again.
SCORE UPDATE: Sascha Riether scores for Fulham at one end before Craig Gardner converts a penalty at the other. Fulham lead 2-1.
Not long to go until the break here and QPR will be the happier of the two sides at the moment. They are just absorbing the Saints' pressure and looking to hit them on the break, and it's worked so far. They lead 1-0.
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Another break in play here and it's Lallana who is still suffering from the clash with Hill. He may have to go off here which would be a massive blow for the Saints.
SAINTS SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino is not taking a risk with Lallana, who has no option but to come off. Big blow for the Saints. Jay Rodriguez is on.
SCORE UPDATE: Marouane Fellaini has put Everton 1-0 up against Reading.
Saints have a corner...
QPR are able to deal with Saints on several occasions as they try to work a leveller from the corner. QPR then went down the other end with Remy, but Schneiderlin made a great last-ditch challenge to prevent the Frenchman from adding a second.
YELLOW CARD: Armand Traore picks up a yellow for QPR.
Three minutes have been added on at St Mary's.
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 QPR (Gaston Ramirez)
It's a leveller for the Saints. Rodriguez takes a pop at goal from the edge of the box, and his shot swerves all over the place. Cesar made the stop but only into the path of Ramirez, who executed a wonderful chip to level the scores. Brilliant finish from Ramirez.
CHANCE! Saints have a bit of momentum now and Rodriguez, buoyed by his earlier troubling effort, goes from range at Cesar, but the Brazilian makes the save.
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YELLOW CARD: Jose Fonte slices Remy in half on the halfway line and is booked for his troubles.
CHANCE! QPR very nearly go back in front with the last kick of the half. The free kick is lofted into the box and Saints fail to deal with it. The ball drops to Bothroyd but he drags his effort wide.
HALF-TIME: Southampton 1-1 QPR
Well that's the first half over and done with. After a great start from Saints, it was QPR that went in front after Loic Remy finished off a lovely lofted pass from Junior Hoilett. However, Ramirez pulled off a delicate chip just before the break to draw the Saints. It's a good game of football here.
Here are some half-time statistics for you.
First-Half statistics:
Southampton:
Shots
On target 4
Possession 56%
Corners 2
Fouls 5
QPR:
Shots 3
On target 2
Possession 44%
Corners 1
Fouls 10
Premier League half-time scores: Chelsea 1-0 West Brom, Everton 1-0 Reading, Manchester United 1-0 Norwich, Stoke 0-1 West Ham, Sunderland 1-2 Fulham, Swansea 0-0 Newcastle.
QPR are back out on the field, we just await the Saints.
Here they are. QPR will get us underway in the second half.
Here we go, it's 1-1. Who will be the star of the second half?
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CHANCE! Early chance for Saints after a good run by Danny Fox before he exchanges passes with Rodriguez then pokes the ball wide from a tight angle.
Ramirez is clipped by Samba and Saints now have a free kick, which will be taken by the Uruguayan.
QPR manage to deal with it though, not once but twice, and hit Saints on the break.
Hoilett does well to win a corner on the counter. Lovely trickery from him there.
CHANCE! The corner is swung in where Samba overpowers Lambert to win the header before Yoshida cleared the ball away. The ball then fell to Bosingwa, but his awful flying volley sails into the crowd.
CHANCE! Some sections of St Mary's think that Southampton have taken the lead, as Fonte wins the ball in the QPR half before fizzing a low effort from 25 yards. The ball flies just wide, and bounces off the advertising board and hits the back on the net. Still 1-1.
ATTENDANCE: Today's attendance at St Mary's is 31,728, with 3,194 of those being away fans.
QPR SUBSTITUTION: Esteban Granero does not look happy and he trudges slowly off the field before being replaced by Jermaine Jenas.
CHANCE! Ramirez comes so close to putting the hosts in front, in a spell of attack where Saints appealed for a penalty for handball. Ramires gets the ball on the left corner of the box and takes a touch to his right before curling a shot just inches over at the far post. So close there!
'Oh when the Saints' chants go marching around St Mary's as the team builds momentum. See what I did there?
SAINTS SUBSTITUTION: Danny Fox goes down with a hamstring injury and is forced off. Luke Shaw, who has been struggling himself as of late, comes on to a brilliant reception from the Saints fans. They love a bright prospect on the South Coast.
SCORE UPDATE: Steven Pienaar has doubled Everton's lead over Reading. 2-0.
Saints are dominating possession, but just like much of the first half, they are struggling to find that killer pass.
Some lovely play from the hosts which ends up at the feet of Schneiderlin, but he is flagged offside. The fans applauding the good play of the Saints.
SCORE UPDATE: Kevin Mirallas makes it Everton 3-0 Reading. Stephane Sessegnon has equalised for Sunderland against Fulham, 2-2.
Another stoppage of play here as Julio Cesar is down in a heap on the ground following a collision to claim a cross. Looks like a dead leg for him. Rob Green is warming up, but Cesar looks as if he is going to continue.
CHANCE! Cesar's injury looks like it his troubling here, as Rodriguez's grubber kick is stopped by the crouching keeper but spilt on the edge of the six-yard box. Hill hoofs the danger away.
QPR go up the other end, and Hoilett's effort is deflected out for a corner after good hold-up play by Remy.
Frustration oozes from the stands as Ramirez gives the ball away twice in one move, with Saints on the attack.
QPR SUBSTITUTION: Redknapp opts not to risk Cesar any further, and Rob Green will make his first appearance since boxing day.
Ward-Prowse looks ready to come on for Saints.
SAINTS SUBSTITUTION: The tired Ramirez has made way for youngster James Ward-Prowse.
GOAL! Southampton 1-2 QPR (Bothroyd)
How important could that goal be for QPR? Hoilett spreads a ball wide to Park, who does ever so well to tackle Yoshida before smashing a low cross into the box, where Jay Bothroyd was on hand to tap in the ball from a couple of yards.
So Saints are going to have to come from behind again.C can they do it this time? QPR fans are buzzing.
QPR fans singing 'Harry Redknapp, he's keeping us up'.
CHANCE! Luke Shaw smashes a low effort towards goal but it is an easy stop for Rob Green.
SCORE UPDATE: Robson-Kanu has got one back for Reading to reduced the deficit to 3-1 at Everton. Kagawa has scored a second to make it Manchester United 2-0 Norwich, while Sergio Ramos has put Real Madrid 2-1 up over Barcelona.
Rob Green makes another comfortable catch as Luke Shaw's cross was heading towards Lambert. Saints need to do better than that.
But they have a corner, now. Meanwhile, Schneiderlin is down after a collision with Samba.
CHANCE! What a super save from Rob Green. The corner is floated in to the edge of the six-yard box where Yoshida meets the ball with a powerful header, but Green can tip it wide.
CHANCE! Green is to QPR's rescue once again as he dives low to his left to push a low Fonte strike past the post.
Green just pulled off another wonderful stop from Lambert, but the latter was ruled offside anyway. What a brilliant spell this is from the substitute Green.
QPR SUBSTITUTION: Fabio is on in place of Jose Bosingwa.
There will be six minutes of added time here. Presumably for the injury to Cesar.
QPR just running down the clock, they have really taken the pace out of this match which won't suit the Saints one bit.
Time is running out for Saints, but they aren't creating any chances.
We're in the final minute of stoppage time now and QPR are just keeping hold of the ball, they have done really well to run this game down.
FULL-TIME: Southampton 1-2 QPR
And there you have it, a priceless win for QPR who record their first victory for two months. Saints will be disappointed that they didn't shine in front of goal with their possession, but in the end, Redknapp got his tactics spot on.
Jay Bothroyd's goal won it for QPR in the end, after Gaston Ramirez had cancelled out Loic Remy's opener.
Well that's it from St Mary's, I hope you've enjoyed our coverage of the match. Join us again next time. Have a good evening.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
