Holloway tinkered with the team slightly after the rather defensive showing against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup last weekend. Royce was in goal behind a back four of Bignot, Shittu, Santos and Rose. Ainsworth, Langley, Lomas and Cook were in midfield behind a strike force of Baidoo and Furlong. There was a place on the bench for new loan signing Andy Taylor.

Before the game started there was an immaculately observed minutes silence in memory of club chaplain Dave Langdon who recently passed away. Both sides started the game brightly after this and it could have been a goal a piece with less than ten minutes played. Firstly Lee Cook forced former Brentford keeper Paul Smith into a low save at his near post with a shot from outside the box. Then another former Bee, Darren Powell, forced Marcus Bignot to clear off the line after his header from a Walcott corner had beaten Royce.

Just before the twenty minute mark Rangers were awarded a penalty! Yes, a penalty! Lee Cook once again decided to have a crack at goal and his shot was parried into the ground by Smith. Ainsworth got underneath the bouncing ball and as he was about to control it he was run over by Danny Higginbotham and referee Jones had a simple decision to make.

Langley was the man charged with taking the kick and he ambled up to the ball, threw in a quick stutter and sat Smith on his backside before stroking the ball into the unguarded net. It was poor keeping in truth as he left Langley with about two thirds of a gaping goal to aim at, but all credit to the coolness of taker. It was his third of the season, his second from the spot, and his first at Loftus Road since he returned from Wales.

Rangers were deservedly ahead but now Southampton woke themselves up and started to dominate possession of the ball. Burley had deployed a five man midfield initially but he had three player in Dyer, Belmadi and Walcott that he could shift about and move up to support Dexter Blackstock when required. All four of these players are blessed with exceptional pace but they just weren’t giving them the right service. They would keep the ball and then try and knock it up to Blackstock and he was getting battered by Santos and Shittu. They won every header off of him in the first half.

Rangers, for all the possession The Saints were enjoying, were still a threat and only the linesman’s flag denied them a two goal lead. Once again Cook decided to have a pop from distance and once again Smith couldn’t hold his shot. This time it fell into the path of Furlong and he creamed it into the roof of the net only for the merry flag waver to intervene.

Moments later Royce was called on to keep the one goal advantage intact when Walcott finally showed a glimpse of his ability. A loose ball in the box fell to the soon to be Gunner and he cracked a fierce shot at goal. Royce parried the ball away but it fell straight back to Walcott but this time his shot flew over the bar.

Rangers went in at the break a goal to the good but definitely second best in terms of territory. The problem for Southampton though was every time they wanted to try and play through midfield they found Steve Lomas in the way. The flame haired Ulsterman was in the way of everything and when he won the ball back he linked well with Langley to use it sensibly.

At the start of the second half Shabazz Baidoo hit a first time shot that was blocked away for a corner. Baidoo had been well marshalled by Powell for much of the game and although he wasn’t seeing much of the ball he was being a general pain in the arse for him and Lundekvam.

Cook registered his fourth shot on target of the game shortly after when Langley fed him in. This time Smith saved with ease. Cook’s accuracy with his shooting was impressive all afternoon; the same could not be said for his crossing as he hit the first man time and again. He is an incredibly frustrating player as he can be magical and at the same time can appear completely disinterested.

George Burley had thrown on Ricardo Fuller at half time as he went to a more conventional 4-4-2 and tried to win some ball up front. Santos and Shittu were more than a match for him and Blackstock though. Burley threw on another massive striker when he replaced Blackstock with Kenwyne Jones as he tried something else to create a chance.

Belmadi struck a freekick that was easily held by Royce and shortly afterwards Santos was injured. He went up for a high ball and seemed to land awkwardly. It is not the first time he has been slumped on the field this season and as the bench were preparing the sub, Santos was placed on a stretcher. Prav seemed to indicate that he would be ok so the change was delayed. Whilst Rangers were down to ten men Southampton won a penalty.

Walcott linked well with former R’s midfielder Nigel Quashie and the “Scotsman” hurled himself to the floor under challenge from Lomas. It looked like a dive from the other end of the ground but referee Jones was not for turning. Quashie himself stepped up to take the kick and cracked it against Royce’s left hand post. Quashie was first to the rebound and as such an indirect freekick was awarded.

Andy Taylor came on for Santos and Rose moved inside to partner Shittu. Taylor looked calm and assured from the off and it is clear that he possesses a cultured left foot. He sent a number of perfectly weighted passes down the touchline to relieve Southampton pressure.

With the game entering the final five minutes Moore and Donnelly came on to replace Baidoo and Ainsworth. Moore came close to scoring a brilliant solo goal when he received the ball just inside the area. Lundekvam faced him and up and Moore nutmegged him brilliantly. He tried to dink the ball over Smith but the Southampton keeper saved well.

Rangers finished the game stronger with Donnelly intelligently keeping the ball in the corner to play out time and allow his team to run out deserved winners. On the balance of possession you could argue that Southampton deserved something but the truth of the matter was that Royce barely had to bust a sweat today and if you don’t test the keeper enough you are going to struggle.

There were good displays all over the park, the keeper and back four all played well and the central pairing in midfield of Langley and Lomas were excellent. Ainsworth worked hard but created little and whilst Cook’s shooting was terrific his distribution wasn’t. Up top Baidoo and Furlong worked hard without really getting the clear cut chances they craved. All three subs did their bit when they came on and Taylor in particular looks very bright.

A tough game faced us at Luton next week and new Polish defender Marcin Kus may well play a part in the game. It would be great if we could also have some additional firepower for that one, be that a striker fit or one brought in, then we can certainly go there and get something.

simon@qprnet.com