QPR return to action on Sunday as Southampton visit Loftus Road for a live Sky fixture.

Queens Park Rangers v Southampton
Coca Cola Championship
Sunday September 14, Kick Off 4pm
Loftus Road, London, W12

As mentioned earlier in the week on this site, those who champion the Premiership and all its riches may like to spend the next week with Queens Park Rangers to see that it’s not all as wonderful as Richard Keys makes out. While the rich get richer the poor and unlucky get left behind and this week QPR meet three other teams who have been cast aside on the scrap heap as the top flight, of which they were founder members, has chased the almighty dollar mercilessly with scant regard to the consequences.

The Premier League cares not one jot for us or any of the other lower league clubs, they would ask why they should, and clubs that made it to the promised land but failed have dealt with the demotion with varying degrees of failure.

In that first brave year of the Premier League QPR finished fifth and Southampton 18th, but then the Saints’ approach to staying alive always was akin to the eight year old boy who spends his spare time playing chicken on the railway line – fine most of the time but splatted eventually. Our opponents on Wednesday Norwich City finished third while Coventry, who we meet in a weeks time, were 15th.

QPR spent big to make it back with Chris Wright in charge and paid dearly when it didn’t work out. Only the ownership of a ground in a fashionable part of the capital city kept the R’s in existence. Southampton similarly gave George Burley a decent crack in the transfer market and paid for it with one of the Scot’s typical play off defeats to Derby. Despite parachute payments and massive transfer fees received for people like Walcott, Bale and Jones Southampton have this season been forced to close parts of their stadium to save on policing costs and are relying heavily on youth, some would say cheap, players and a foreign manager with a record of getting the best out of kids.

It was the form on Sky and too many draws that prevented QPR doing even better than fifth in 1992/93 and the Sky curse has continued pretty much ever since. There have been odd highlights, Marcus Bean punching the ball in at Gillingham for instance, but most of the time our deepest shame has been laid bare in front of a national audience. Last season though things improved – our first win of the season against Norwich was televised, as was a rare success at Charlton and the 3-0 victory against Premiership bound Stoke was about as well as we played all season.

QPR look to be finally on the way back up while Southampton appear to be heading into the doldrums and dark days that we’ve just had. Let’s hope that, and our improvement on Sky, continue this weekend.

Five minutes on Southampton
It’s hard not to draw similarities between Southampton and QPR. Both top flight mainstays when the Premiership was formed, both since suffering the consequences of poor planning and reckless spending following a relegation. Southampton are a little bit behind us, relegated some nine years later, but while QPR have spent a decade in decline on and off the pitch only to come back out into the light very recently you sense Southampton have the ignominy of further relegations and administration still to come.

The Saints, like QPR, are best remembered for their time in the fledgling Premiership through the work of one special player – Les Ferdinand in our case, Matthew le Tissier in theirs. These kind of players are always difficult to replace when they are sold or retire and it’s no coincidence that QPR were relegated nine months after selling Sir Les to Newcastle while the Saints only last another couple of seasons without the mercurial le Tissier in their midfield.

Both teams can also point to poor decisions made at managerial level – in the appointments made and the jobs they subsequently did. Ray Wilkins replaced Gerry Francis who had done an excellent job at Loftus Road and promptly blew the Ferdinand money at QPR and relegated us in his first full season in charge. Southampton have chopped and changed their bosses with a Newcastle United like frequency but between 2001 and 2004 they enjoyed terrific success under Gordan Strachan. They finished 11th, eighth and 12th in the top flight and reached an FA Cup final with the former Man Utd and Leeds midfielder in charge and James Beattie and Kevin Phillips rattling the goals in up front.

When Strachan resigned to take time away from the game Southampton picked Paul Sturrock as his replacement after the Scots’ awesome rebuilding job along the coast at Plymouth Argyle. I maintain to this day, although many Saints fans tell me I’m wrong, they would have stayed in the top flight had Sturrock been left in charge but eccentric chairman Rupert Lowe sacked him after just five months in charge, most of which had been spent in the summer off season building his side. The decision looked even more ridiculous when he was replaced by Steve Wigley who, although clearly a nice fella, was in so far over his head that those on the surface could barely make him out.

Having sacked Sturrock so hastily it seemed strange that they left such a clueless man in charge for just long enough to make the situation irretrievable – Harry Redknapp resigned at Portsmouth and took charge but couldn’t save them from a first relegation in 27 years and although he stayed to help them fight their way out of the Championship initially, the lure of Portsmouth was too great when Mandaric realised he had an eejit of his own in charge at Fratton Park and asked Redknapp to return.

Readers will no doubt remember that Wilkins too stayed on at Loftus Road despite the demotion only to leave after a handful of games the following season. QPR went for Arsenal’s Stuart Houston as his replacement and armed him with Chris Wright’s millions in the hope that we could make an immediate return. Big money was spent on John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Steve Morrow, Matthew Rose, Lee Harper and others – Rangers missed the play offs at the first attempt but sat second in the league in mid September the following campaign, only to slip into a decline and a cycle of sacking managers that culminated with administration and relegation to the third tier with just six professionals signed up.

Where Rangers went for Houston Southampton chose George Burley, a man with a proven track record of achievement in the Championship at Ipswich and Derby. Burley, like Houston, wasn’t short of cash to spend and laid out £6m in the summer of 2006 on the likes of Rasiak, Idiakez, Saganowski and others. They made the play offs, and were unlucky to lose over two legs to eventually promoted Derby County, but it’s been all downhill since then.

Burley left midway through last season to take over as Scotland manager and by that stage Southampton were selling players left right and centre, involved in various boardroom and ownership struggles, and plummeting down the league. For a club with two years’ worth of parachute money, and the thick end of £30m coming in through transfer fees for the likes of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale and Kenwyne Jones over the previous months, it was hard to believe they could be in any trouble whatsoever. I still find it hard to believe – where on earth did it all go?

Burley was replaced by Nigel Pearson who did well to keep them up on the final day of last season and was rewarded with the sack.

Southampton had another fire sale of players this summer and are now left with a team of teenagers and youths based on an experienced but shakey looking trio of Kelvin Davis, Chris Perry and Michael Svensson at the back. They are now managed by former Dutch international Jan Poortvliet who was brought in over the summer because of his record of working with young players.

Attendances have nearly halved and now parts of their St Mary’s Stadium are actually closed and fenced off on matchdays to save the club the cost of stewarding them. This is a club in serious, possibly terminal, decline and it’s hard to envisage them anywhere but the bottom three at the end of this season. Three defeats from their opening four league games points to a bleak winter, one they will be lucky to survive. We know what it’s like, we’ve been there ourselves.

Men to watch
It’s likely, given the wholesale changes that have taken place in the Southampton squad over the past 18 months, that most of the names on their team sheet come 3.50pm on Sunday will be unfamiliar to QPR fans.

Most of you will however remember goalkeeper Kelvin Davis who has developed a wonderful habit of dropping almighty clangers in our favour in recent years. He was beaten twice in two minutes from 30 yards by Paul Furlong at the School End in his Ipswich days then in the return fixture he presented the striker with another goal by thrashing a clearance against the back of his head under no pressure at all. The season before last at St Mary’s he tried to shepherd a through ball out for a goal kick only to be robbed of possession by Ray Jones who calmly scored from an acute angle.

In front of him Chris Perry looked to be on his way down the ladder when he left West Brom for Luton Town but Southampton have rescued him from the Kenilworth Road disaster area and stuck him at centre half for some much needed experience – he’s well, well past his best these days mind. Alongside him Swedish international Michael Svensson recently returned to action after two years on the sidelines through injury. He’s been a quality player in his time but that kind of lay off could well affect him for many weeks and months to come.

Wayne Thomas, once of Burnley, played his first game of the season in the League Cup defeat against Birmingham but he’s always struck me as being prone to both accidents and silly red cards. This summer they added Paul Wotton to their ranks following his release from Plymouth – Rangers have faced him countless times in recent years as our rise back up to this league and subsequent consolidation has been matched stride for stride by the Pilgrims.

In midfield Andrew Surman, and England Under 21 international, is a player I greatly admire. He’s played in every match so far and although he’s yet to get off the mark goals wise his passing and vision would be sadly missed by the Saints if he wasn’t there. Lee Holmes looked destined for big things at Derby but is very slight of frame and has always struggled with the more physical aspects of the game – still he’s looked pretty steady in the bits and pieces I’ve seen of Southampton this season so he might turn out to be a shrewd buy.

Nathan Dyer ripped us apart at Loftus Road last season, admittedly he was only being marked by Chris Barker, but he’s since been involved in a bit of scandal where he allegedly stole from the hand bags of bar staff in a night club. His alleged accomplice in that, Bradley Wright Phillips, hasn’t played since the opening day of the season.

In attack Poortvliet can select from Stern John, 19 goals last season in an almost relegated side, or Jason Euell who has years of Premiership experience with Wimbledon, Charlton and Middlesbrough. However in youngsters Adam Lallana and the speedy David McGoldrick they appear to have unearthed another couple of real gems. Lallana scored against Birmingham in the League Cup a fortnight ago while McGoldrick already has four goals to his name this season in six appearances. He must be watched closely.

Previous Meetings
Southampton’s last visit to Loftus Road was in August 2007, a week after the tragic death of young QPR striker Ray Jones. A minute of applause and laying of wreaths preceded the match and although the players made promises about giving Ray a good send off they were neither in the right frame of mind nor capable of doing so in the first place. Southampton strolled to an easy three nil win with two goals from Rasiak and one in the second half for Wright Phillips. But for Lee Camp the score could have been twice as bad.

QPR: Camp 7, Curtis 4, Stewart 3, Mancienne 6 (Cullip 84, -), Barker 3, Rowlands 4, Leigertwood 5, Bolder 4, Ephraim 4, Blackstock 4 (Nygaard 69, 6), Sahar 4 (Nardiello 69, 5)
Subs Not Used: Cole, Bignot
Booked: Camp (foul), Cullip (foul)

Southampton: Davis N/A, Wright 7, Thomas 7, Makin 8, Vignal 7, Dyer 9, Viafara 8, Safri 7, Surman 7 (Euell 64, 7), Wright-Phillips 8 (Saganowski 73, 7), Rasiak 8 (John 83, -)
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Ostlund
Goals: Rasiak 18, 45, Wright-Phillips 49

Match Report

At St Mary’s the R’s fared much better despite falling behind in the opening minute to a header from Darren Powell. Martin Rowlands went close to an equaliser with a searing 25 yard drive and eventually did bring the teams level after sliding a Rowan Vine through ball under Kelvin Davis and when Patrick Agyemang slammed in a second before half time the R’s were in the driving seat. Stern John bagged the by now expected last minute goal against but in the meantime Agyemang had rolled in an easy second after a mixup between Davis and Jermaine Wright and Youssef Safri had been sent off to kill off Southampton’s hopes.

Southampton: Davis 5, Thomas 4 (Viafara 52, 6), Powell 5, Davies 6, Wright 3, Hammill 7 (Saganowski 46, 6), Safri 5, Euell 4, Surman 7, Wright-Phillips 5 (Lallana 68, 6), John 6
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Idiakez
Sent Off: Safri (78) (violent conduct)
Booked: Powell (foul) , Viafara (foul)
Goals: Powell 1 (assisted Hammil), John 90 (assisted Viafara)

QPR: Camp 7, Mancienne 7, Rehman 8, Connolly 7, Delaney 8, Lee 6 (Buzsaky 46, 7), Mahon 7, Rowlands 8, Ephraim 7 (Leigertwood 83, -),Vine 8, Agyemang 8 (Blackstock 79, 7)
Subs Not Used: Pickens, Stewart
Booked: Buzsaky (dissent), Delaney (foul)
Goals: Rowlands 38 (assisted Vine), Agyemang 45 (assisted Ephraim), 60 (assisted Camp)

Match Report

Head to Head:
QPR wins: 25
Draws: 20
Southampton wins: 26

Previous QPR v Southampton results:
2007/08 Southampton 2 QPR 3 (Agyemang 2, Rowlands)
2007/08 QPR 0 Southampton 3
2006/07 QPR 0 Southampton 2
2006/07 Southampton 1 QPR 2 (Blackstock, Jones)
2005/06 QPR 1 Southampton 0 (Langley, pen)
2005/06 Southampton 1 QPR 1 (Shittu)
1995/96 QPR 3 Southampton 0 (Brevett, Dichio, Gallen)
1995/96 Southampton 2 QPR 0
1994/95 Southampton 2 QPR 1 (Ferdinand)
1994/95 QPR 2 Southampton 2 (Barker, Gallen)
1993/94 Southampton 0 QPR 1 (Ferdinand)
1993/94 QPR 2 Southampton 1 (Penrice, Wilson)
1992/93 Southampton 1 QPR 2 (Sinton, Channing)
1992/93 QPR 3 Southampton 1 (Ferdinand 2, Bardsley)

QPR’s 3-1 win against Southampton in the inaugural Premier League is the featured match in this week’s Memories and Connections column. Click here for more details.

Team News
Probably the biggest disappointment for QPR fans is the absence of Emmanuel Ledesma, easily the stand out performer of the first few games but suspended for this match after a sending off at Bristol City. Akos Buzsaky is back in reserve action but looks a little short of match fitness and sharpness and this game may come too soon for him – likewise new signing Damiano Tommasi. Rowan Vine is still a good month or so away from a return. That leaves Dowie with a selection headache with Rowlands, Ephraim, Alberti and Agyemang all pushing for recalls in Ledesma’s absence. I’d like to see Rowlands replace Leigertwood at the base of the five man midfield and Ephraim or Alberti given the nod ahead of Parejo but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Leigertwood will be picked by Dowie come hell or high water and there is a suggestion that Ledesma’s absence could see a return to the 4-4-2 formation. Rumours of an injury for Lee Cook are yet to be confirmed or denied.

Southampton will be without centre half Michael Svensson who recently returned after almost two years out of action with a knee injury. The Swede has played in all Southampton’s league games so far but will visit his surgeon for a check up next week and won’t feature this weekend. One of his potential replacements Wayne Thomas is also out with a knee injury.
Injury List

Referee
Kevin Friend is the man in the middle for this one – a referee who tends to lean quite substantially towards the home side which should be a good thing for us but a bad thing for those following Southampton or people who just want to see a good game.
Details

Elsewhere
A chance to see the implosion at Derby County close up is presented to Sky viewers on Saturday night as their latest defeat at home to Sheff Utd is the live match. The top two are both on the road this weekend with Wolves at Charlton and Preston visiting Coventry. Palace meet Swansea and Burnley Forest as they look to pick up their first wins of the season.
Tony’s Championship Preview

Form
Despite the 3-0 abomination at Sheffield United QPR have actually made a very decent start to this season. Rangers have three wins from three games at Loftus Road, scoring eight and conceding just one in the process. The creditable draw at Bristol City with just ten men means the R’s have just one defeat from their first six matches and have won four of those. West Brom on the last day of last season are the only club to win at Loftus Road in ten matches.

Like QPR Southampton have enjoyed good success in the League Cup so far this season – beating Birmingham and Exeter to make the third round where they will travel to Rotherham. Sadly unlike QPR that cup form hasn’t translated into the league where a 1-0 win at crisis club Derby County remains their only win. Cardiff, Birmingham and Blackpool have all beaten the Saints and that follows a pre-season where Stoke, West Ham, Cheltenham and Celtic all got positive results against Poortvliet’s men.
Form Guide

Prediction
Ledesma or no Ledesma I really fancy QPR for this one. I don’t rate Southampton at all and think they will struggle to stay in the league while we seem to be improving game on game. The absence of our mercurial Argentinian will have an impact but I think we’ve got more than enough quality and confidence to win this game and get some money on Blackstock for the first goal.
QPR 2 Southampton 0

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