Southampton 0 – 0 QPR

Many said this game had 0-0 written allover it, and they weren’t wrong! A bore draw is a very apt title for this afternoon’s encounter, where chances were hard to come by.

As expected Saints coach Mark Wotte started with an almost unchanged side, with the only difference from Tuesday nights draw with Derby being Adam Lallana earning a recall to the starting eleven. QPR started with a 5 man midfield, with only a place on the bench for new loanee Adel Taarabt.

Jason Euell had a chance to break the deadlock early on, however the former Charlton striker took the ball too far round QPR keeper Radek Cerny with the ball eventually going wide. This was one of the few real opportunities for either team with neither keeper really being threatened. Wayne Routledge headed over the bar from 3 yards and the former Spurs winger really should’ve given his team the lead.

The game was a midfield battle as Wayne Routledge continued to test Saints left back Rudi Skacel whilst Saints youngster Simon Gillett broke up a lot of the Hoops play in the middle of the park. Southampton used the long ball tactic to try and break down the QPR defence whereas their opposition looked to use the pace of wingers Routledge and Ephraim to try and create opportunities for lone striker Blackstock.

Andy Surman was guilty of missing a golden opportunity again, having missed a guilt edged chance to put his side 2-0 up against Derby in the midweek fixture. This time lively Bradley Wright-Phillips produced a decent cross to Euell who flicked it onto Surman, however the England under 21 international couldn’t direct the ball past the QPR keeper.

The Saints captain Kelvin Davis was once again in fine form for his club pulling off a couple of good saves to block the few chances QPR did have, the most notable being in the last minute as Davis dived well to his right to keep out substitute Taarabt’s effort and keep hold of a precious point.

A draw is a fair result for both teams, with chances few and far between both managers will settle with a point as neither Saint’s relegation fight nor QPR’s playoff battle have been affected too much. Saints 0 – 0 QPR.

 

Mark Lovell