Saints took a bit of time to put this game to bed, but what they did do was completely control this game from start to finish, in what was a real sign of intent from Tonda Eckert and his side.

The day started with Southampton & QPR separated only by goal difference, at the final whistle it felt like the gap was light years, as Saints saw out a 5-0 win that had a large chunk of the visiting support trailing out of the ground with 30 minutes to go, a lot more going 10 minutes later and the final 20 minutes watched by only a couple of hundred or so die hard away fans, probably only staying because they had come by coach.

There were no real surprises in Tonda Eckert's starting line up, Jander came in for Shea Charles, Matsuki for Fellows and Larin for Stewart, but such is the depth of Saints squad, although this was resting the 3 who dropped to the bench, it was not weakening the side at all.

Saints took an early lead through Finn Azaz who took a pass from Ryan manning in his stride and then curled a right footed shot into the far corner from 25 yards to put his side in control after only 9 minutes.

But if the home fans thought that would open the floodgates, they were wrong, for the next 35 minutes, although Southampton dominated, the lead remained only slender and as half time approached, the feeling was a little apprehensive, hadn't we seen this all before just 3 days earlier against Charlton.

But those worries were put to bed in first half injury time, Leo Scienza's curling cross might well have gone in anyway, but with the keeper striving to get near it, Kuryu Matsuki got his head to the ball virtually as it was about to cross the line to make sure.

The mood at the break was more upbeat than it might have been.

But if Saints fans were worried about a QPR comeback reminiscent of our glorious win at Leicester, these worries were dispelled withing 15 minutes of the restart, just 5 minutes into the half Matsuki struck again, slamming the ball home after Walsh in the visitors goal had only parried a Scienza shot into the danger area.

A home side 3-0 up ! As I said we have seen that before, but on the hour mark, the game was put to bed with a trademark run by Leo Scienza who cut in from the left and curled the ball with his right foot into the far corner, this time though it wasn't a great effort, however Walsh in the QPR goal once again made a bit of a hash with it and should have saved it but he didn't and it went in off the post.

Neither Scienza or the Saints supporters cared about that, they just celebrated the goal and the fact that surely even Southampton could not lose from 4 nil up with 30 minutes to go.

But if there were any still in the ground who were still not confident, a superb long range effort from James Bree to make it 5-0 with still 20 minutes to go.

The home supporters were now baying for blood and the away fans phoning for taxis, but clearly Saints were now playing to instructions from the bench and the hoped for goal avalanche did not materialise.

So why with the game won and the team completely in charge of the game, did we not put our foot on the gas and truly put QPR to the sword ?

The answer is a combination of the fact that with a raft of substitutions made, 5 between the 68th and 82nd minute our balance was upset a little, but also I suspect that the instructions from the bench were about not taking any risks, not so much in conceding a goal, although that would be a consideration, but also in making sure no one got injured, booked or worse sent off.

This is pretty usual for teams in the closing stages, although the fans want the team to go on and score more goals, the manager may have a different agenda, for him it is more about no one getting injured needlessly and missing the next game, nor racking up a yellow card that may prove costly later in the season or of course a red card that could mean games being missed now.

But although it was disappointing to be 5-0 up and not score in the final 20 minutes, indeed 26 minutes including injury time, this was an impressive performance from a squad that is now trimmed down and lean & mean.

Finn Azaz did not feature highly on the fan player ratings against Charlton, unfairly in my opinion, I thought although he did not do anything spectacular in that game, his touch play was excellent, he was at the hub of everything and his short passes were integral.

In this game he scored a great goal, his 8th of the season and he is fast becoming one of the integral parts of Tonda Eckert's side.

Likewise Flynn Downes, he has suddenly become Terry Hurlock (Younger fans ask your Dad/Grandad) he has added a steel to his game that we haven't really seen before, we are not getting bullied in midfield as we have done in the past.

Kuryu Matsuki was the obvious choice for man of the match having scored two goals, although I thought it was a bit off that the stadium announcer could not even pronounce his name after the game, Kuriyuko Matski was his pronunciation.

There are some who are not convinced about Tonda Eckert, although I am not sure what more he could have done, Sky Sport after the match produced some remarkable stats.

Since his appointment when compared to other Championship managers they are as follows.

Wins 11 - Championship ranking 1st

Points 38 - Championship ranking 1st

Goals 41 - Championship ranking 1st

Expected Goals 35.60 - Championship ranking 1st

Shots on Target 118 - Championship ranking 1st

Now whilst I agree that stats are not the be all of everything and that the last 3 in Sky's are not a great barometer, the first two certainly are !

In the 21 League games played so far he has amassed 38 points, more than any other manager in that timeframe, that's a 1.81 points per game ratio, as I have said before that's 83 points, play off form

We are getting better as the season progresses, yes Eckert has made mistakes, but he is learning from them, he can do no more than be top of the rankings.

We have 12 games to go in the regular season, our last 6 games have seen us gain 14 points, a ration of 2.33 per game if we repeat this 6 game pattern twice in the next two months, then we will be in the play offs and we will be the in form side.

So a good night at the office, although in terms of catching the rest of the pack, Wrexham's win keeps them 4 points ahead and we could drop a pace this evening, if Birmingham were to win at Millwall.

In this game a draw would probably suit us better as we would still be in 7th place above Birmingham on goal difference and Millwall would still be catchable as they are only 7 points ahead.

We just have to keep doing what we are doing and that means beating Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, although they have now lost 10 League games in a row, as they showed at Sheffield United on Sunday they don't give up without a fight.

That means we will have to make sure we are not complacent and like this game put them to bed with an early goal and break their spirit.

All Photos Via Reuters