QPR Crush Southampton - Reports and Comments

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QPR 3 Southampton 0
QPR won 3-0 at Loftus Road, before a crowd of just over 3,000. QPR's scorers: Gorkss, Balanta and Taarabt.

QPR Official Site - Magilton's Comments GAFFER HARD TO PLEASE
- Jim Magilton was understandably pleased with his team following their 3-0 win over Southampton this afternoon, although he did feel they were capable of better.
- Goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Angelo Balanta and Adel Taarabt guided the R's to victory but Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk: "We were 2-0 up at half-time but I don't think we really played as well as we have done over the last couple of games.
- "Kaspars scored a nice goal from a set-piece, which was good to see.
- "Angelo has been a constant threat for us throughout pre-season and I thought he took his goal very, very well.
- "His form has been a major plus for us.
- "I thought we played better in the second-half, and Adel scored a wonderful goal.
- "He has outstanding individual ability, that's very clear to see."
- The R's boss also revealed that he believes the squad he has inherited at Loftus Road is superior to the one he left behind at Ipswich Town.
- "There is more quality here," he said, "without any shadow of a doubt. There's more quality all over the park, and more experience too.
- "The application and attitude of the players has been first class from the moment I arrived.
- "We're now hoping to get off to a good start, and build from there.
- "I feel we're ready for next week now. The players have set the standard." - QPR


QPR Official Site - QPR 3, SOUTHAMPTON 0
- Rangers finished their pre-season campaign in style, as goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Angelo Balanta and Adel Taarabt were enough to see off Southampton.
- Gorkss put Rangers ahead as early as the ninth minute with a bullet header, before Balanta coolly slotted home before the interval.
- Taarabt then sent home Rangers' third after a splendid run, in a match where Jim Magilton's men were more than value for their win.
- R's manager Magilton made just two changes from the side that overcame Wycombe Wanderers by two goals to one in midweek, though both were enforced on him.
- Trialist goalkeeper Andy Marshall replaced Radek Cerny, who missed the game owing to illness.
- Elsewhere, Gary Borrowdale came in for Matt Connolly, who picked up an ankle knock in Rangers' 2-1 win on Tuesday at Adams Park.
- The game was marked pre kick-off with a minute's silence for both Sir Bobby Robson and Antony Lillis, who both sadly passed away on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
- As the rain lashed down on the Loftus Road playing surface in front of the watching Bernie Ecclestone, it was the R's who were faster out of the blocks with some neat, intricate play.
- And indeed, it was such dominance that not only led to the first chance of the game - but football that also saw Rangers take an early opening lead in the ninth minute.
- When Patrick Agyemang won a corner off the back of a Saints defender, Wayne Routledge sent over a teasing cross from the left.
- The ball seemed to be rising above every man in the box - but not Gorkss, as the Latvian defender rose highest to expertly thump a header into the top right-hand corner of the net.
- It was a goal that seemed to spur on the R's who at times played some lovely stuff along the deck, not least when only a last-ditch tackle from the Southampton defence stopped Rowan Vine from being through on goal after good play between himself, Borrowdale and Balanta.
- Rangers in truth didn't have it all there on way - especially when after good work down the right from Saints full-back Lloyd James, Joseph Mills could only head wide of Marshall's left-hand post.
- Though it was short lived, and the R's found themselves two goals to the good in the 34th minute.
- After a cross from Borrowdale caused confusion within the Saints back four, the ball fell kindly to Balanta, who made no mistake from 10-yards and slotted home into the bottom right-hand corner to double Rangers' advantage just before the half-time whistle.
- As unfamiliar as it may sound in pre-season, Rangers made just one change at the break - but nevertheless it was a substitution, as Heidar Helguson replaced Agyemang.
- That though, did mean that Rangers were afforded the chance to carry on where they left off in the first half.
- Indeed, that was the case early on in the second half when Routledge sent over a cross-field ball to Balanta that sat up lovely for the Colombian to hit on the half volley, but he could only shoot just over Kelvin Davis' crossbar.
- Soon after, Balanta beat several challenges from the Saints backline to feed Vine out wide.
- The Rangers front made teased his full-back before cutting in to cross dangerously into the area, but that effort deceived everyone and went safely out of play.
- It wasn't exactly total dominance, though Rangers were having the lion's share of possession and indeed, the more chances.
- This time after good work out wide from the newly introduced Hogan Ephraim, he fed Taarabt, but the Tottenham loanee could only blast high and wide of the target.
- Moments later however, the Moroccan starlet wasn't to make the same mistake - scoring a quite fantastic goal to put the R's three up on 77 minutes.
- Twisting and turning three men with relative ease, Taarabt found himself in space before calmly slotting home past Davies in the visitors' goal from the edge of the area.
- Taarabt could have added a second when he received the ball some 20-yards out, but he shot just wide of the goal.
- Though it wasn't to matter, as the R's ended their pre-season campaign with performance that gives great confidence to all ahead of next Saturday's opener at home to Blackpool.
- - QPR: Marshall, Ramage (Ainsworth 77), Borrowdale (Brown 77), Mahon (Alberti 77), Hall (Stewart 69), Gorkss, Routledge (Ephraim 69), Rowlands, Vine (Taarabt 63), Balanta (Pellicori 77), Agyemang (Helguson 46).
Subs not used: Putnins.
- Goals: Gorkss (9), Balanta (34), Taarabt (70).
- Southampton: Davis, James (Murty 46), Harding, Wotton (Gillett 46), Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski (Thomson 75), Paterson (Rasiak 63), Mills (Gobern 81).
Subs not used: Bialkowski. Referee: Mr P Crossley
Att: 3,164. - QPR


[b]Southampton Official Site- Pardew's verdict - QPR [/b]
- Saints boss Alan Pardew felt that the result at QPR was not a true reflection of where his side are at the moment but admits that there is still work to do.
- The former West Ham manager witnessed a 3-0 reverse at Loftus Road and thought that one or two weaknesses were exposed.
- "The limitations of the side were highlighted today," he said. "The first goal was a set play and you could almost predict that, we weren't big enough in defence today without Wayne Thomas in the side.
- "I think the opening goal set us back a bit, that was QPR's best period, they had 20 minutes where they moved it around and switched play too easily and we got pulled around, after that we got a grip on the game and it was much more even, we competed better for bits and pieces but there was a general naivety in some of our play."
- Pardew added the effects of an intense week of training probably took its toll as well.
- "We had one or two missing today and we looked a bit leggy but I have put them through the mill this week and I think that showed.
- "I think that when Graeme Murty came on he made us look so much better, his experience helped one or two of the younger ones and we got better and better as a result.
- "At 2-0 we had a couple of opportunities to perhaps get ourselves back in it Saga had a shot deflected wide and Rasiak headed wide, but would have gone in had it not a deflection.
- "Today just settled in my mind what I knew, we have got some good young players here and there were some moments, but unfortunately we lack experience and power in the team and we need to address that."
- The first game of the League One campaign is now under a week away and Pardew is convinced that his side remain on course for a good start with additions to the squad also likely.
- "I'd like to think we can get a couple of players in this week and maybe have Thomas back, but I don't think it's a case of reacting too harshly or getting too carried away which I made sure that we didn't do after Hearts.
- "We're somewhere in the middle of the two performances, I've got no worries with the group over fitness they were tired today mainly because of the work that we've done with them this week.
- "Today's not important if I'm honest it's all about Millwall and then the questions really do have some meaning to them."
- The Saints boss also revealed that he is also hopeful that trialist Graeme Murty may not be far away from joining the club on a full time basis.
- "It's not close to a decision time, there's a contract there and I don't see it being a problem." - Southampton


Southampton Official Site QPR 3-0 Saints - Full Time
- QPR: Marshall, Ramage, Borrowdale, Mahon, Hall, Gorkss, Routledge, Rowlands, Vine, Balanta, Agyemang. Subs: Ainsworth, Putnins, Alberti, Ephraim, Stewart, Brown, Helguson, Taarabt, Pellicori.
- Saints: Davis, James, Harding, Wotton, Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski, Paterson, Mills. Subs: Bialkowski, Gobern, Gillett, Thomson, Rasiak, Murty.
- A minute's silence is held in memory of the late Sir Bobby Robson as the hosts prepare to kick things off at Loftus Road....." Southampton


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