4 – 1
Did it deliver?
Partly. Five goals and a late flurry gave it some life, but QPR never threatened for long, and the contest was effectively settled by the 66th minute. It was entertaining from one side more than as a balanced contest.
Southampton controlled this from the opening minutes. Kuryu Matsuki's 11th-minute goal came after sustained early pressure, including a missed effort, a corner and a blocked Glen Kamara shot. They were dominant in the shot count (19 to 12), on target (9 to 2) and in big chances created (3 to 0). QPR defended with plenty of tackles (15) and conceded 15 fouls, but could not stop Southampton's set-piece and wide delivery after the break. Ryan Manning was at the heart of it, setting up Cameron Bragg's 55th-minute goal and Keven Schlotterbeck's header 11 minutes later to make it 3-0. Richard Kone briefly gave QPR hope with a goal two minutes later, from a Karamoko Dembélé assist, but Southampton absorbed the pressure, and Welington's stoppage-time goal sealed a 4-1 win. It is a comfortable result that strengthens Southampton's credentials, while QPR must address a defence that was too easily opened and an attack that managed just two shots on target.
Southampton
Queens Park Rangers
Southampton•DefenderFinn Azaz takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Wellington Santos comes on for Ryan Manning.
Barnaby Williams is on, and Cameron Bragg is off.
Ilias Chair replaces Glen Kamara.
Divin Mubama replaces Lewis Dobbin.
Samuel Ikechukwu Edozie replaces Kuryu Matsuki.
Jimmy Dunne receives a yellow card.
Ryan Manning takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Finn Azaz takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Leo Scienza takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Kealey AdamsonYellow CardKealey Adamson receives a yellow card.
Dennis Cirkin is on, and Boy Kemper is off.
Alfie Lloyd comes on for Paul Smyth.
Flynn Downes replaces James Ward-Prowse.
Richard Kone takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jonathan VaraneYellow CardYellow card shown to Jonathan Varane.
Offside.
Richard KoneRichard Kone scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Karamoko Dembélé
Goal! Richard Kone scores to make it 3-1, assisted by Karamoko Dembele.
Keven SchlotterbeckShot - Keven Schlotterbeck Head Shot Goal
Lewis Dobbin takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
assist: Ryan Manning
Goal! Keven Schlotterbeck scores to make it 3-0, assisted by Ryan Manning.
Corner awarded.
Leo Scienza takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Cameron Bragg takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Koki Saito comes on for Harvey Vale.
Karamoko Dembele is on, and Kwame Poku is off.
Cameron BraggCameron Bragg scores with a left-footed shot.
Lewis Dobbin takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
assist: Ryan Manning
Goal! Cameron Bragg scores to make it 2-0, assisted by Ryan Manning.
Offside.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Ryan Manning takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Offside.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Goal! The score is now 2-0.
Corner awarded.
Goal! The score is now 2-0.
Corner awarded.
Richard Kone takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Jonathan Varane's right-footed shot is blocked.
Kwame Poku takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Kuryu Matsuki takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Paul Smyth takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Glen Kamara takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jimmy Dunne takes a header, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Leo Scienza takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Kuryu Matsuki takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Keven Schlotterbeck's header is saved.
Kwame Poku takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Paul Smyth takes a shot with his head, but it misses the target.
Shot - Paul Smyth Head Shot Missed
Kuryu MatsukiKuryu Matsuki takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Leo Scienza takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Goal! Kuryu Matsuki scores, making it 1-0.
Glen Kamara takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Kuryu Matsuki takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off! The referee is Tim Robinson.
