Southampton V Queens Park Rangers The Preview Friday, 25th Aug 2023 07:45 Saints look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they take on QPR at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon, the big question is who will be available for selection and who won't be. If everyone is still available from last weekend, then i would not think that Russell Martin will look to far from the starting XI against Plymouth Argyle, that could having to be content with a place on the bench for new signing Flynn Downes and hopefully the recovered from injury Charly Alcatraz. That being the case it should give us confidence given that the squad is now stronger than the one that took on both Norwich and Plymouth. It is not yet complete, but then again their could be a departure or two. Our weakness I am sad to report is where it has been for the past 6 years and that is in the centre of defence, we can't handle being attacked on the break and with our possession football game, that is not a good thing. Hopefully this will be addressed in the next few days, but it won't be in time for this game. QPR make the short trip down from West London with a mixed start to the season, they lost 4-0 at Watford on the opening day, followed a week later by a win at Cardiff, but Ipswich came to Loftus Road and won 1-0 last weekend, the stats for that game for the Tractor Boys were very similar to our game at Plymouth. Last season was not a good season for the West London club, they finished 20th in the Championship and escaped relegation by only 6 points, although if Reading had not been deducted 6 points they would have jumped above them instead of being relegated. Their run after Xmas was horrendous and as bad as our own in the Premier League, they won just 3 times after Xmas and plummeted down the League. Will it be better this season, so far in the transfer window they have lost 13 players, most have left on free transfers and brought in just 6, again mostly free or low fee's and Gareth Ainsworth is truly working on a shoestring. Former Bournemouth stalwart Steve Cook is their major signing and although he is now 32, he did a job for Forest both in getting them up and in the first half of last season. So although it will be unknown territory for Saints, our last meetings being in the Premier League in 2014/15 when we beat them twice, the first at St Mary's 2-1 with goals from Ryan Bertrand & Graziano Pelle with soon to be Saint Charlie Austin replying for the visitors. The away game at Loftus Road was tight but settled by a 90th minute winner from Sadio Mane. it should not be a game that we fear, Russell Martin is trying to build not only a winning mentality but also one where defeat is not an option and that has shown itself in the fact that in all three games we have scored late goals. That is no co incidence, Martin has drilled into his side a never say die attitude and we play to the very last second on added on time. We are getting stronger and confidence is growing and it is a very optimistic man who leaves the stadium early and doesn't expect to miss a goal. We have to keep grinding out results, I have always said that August would be a difficult month, given the transfer situation and that whatever we got would be a bonus and if we win this game it will be a very good start. But we should take nothing for granted. One thing we do know though is that it is enjoyable watching Southampton play football again, the smiles are on the faces of the fans for the first time in a little while, we believe again in the team and although the manager is still in the honeymoon period, he is winning over the supporters with the way he has started his tenure at the club. So it is each game as it comes and this one could see us truly show that we are ready to challenge for promotion this season. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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