QPR Look For First Away Win At St. Mary`s

Harry Redknapp`s Queens Park Rangers take a trip to the south coast tomorrow (27th September) as they take on the Premier League`s surprise package of Ronald Koeman`s Southampton. An opening day loss away at Anfield could be classed as a blip as the Saints have marched their way into second place in the table with convincing wins over West Ham and Newcastle. Their mid-week victory over an experienced enough Arsenal side in the Capital One Cup will also imbue Koeman`s men with confidence. It`s a different story for Rangers who already sit in the relegation zone after five games having suffered two 4-0 defeats at the hands of Manchester United and Tottenham whilst also only managing to bag three goals. QPR might then benefit from their early Capital One Cup exit last month remaining fresh having not had to play a mid-week game.

In their cup match, Southampton had to fight back from an early scare to win the game in normal time and progress through to the fourth round, where they will meet Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. Alexis Sanchez`s free-kick rocketed into the top corner of Fraser Forster`s goal six minutes prior to the Saints being awarded a penalty kick as a result of a foul on Stadio Mane. Dustan Tadic saw it duly converted. It was then down to Nathaniel Clyne`s breath-taking strike from 35 yards out to seal the result for the away side, Arsenal not being able to break down Southampton`s defiant defence through the course of a thrilling second half. The win saw the side sitting in second place in the Premier League stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games.

QPR are yet to win away from home this season and are 15/2 (bet365, Betvictor, Spreadex) to right that particular wrong against the Hampshire high-flyers. They are also 18/5 to hold Southampton to a draw, and make it two ties on the bounce after a late goal from Niko Kranjcar saw the London side share the spoils with Stoke City in a 2-2 tie at Lofus Road last time out. The bookmakers, however, have made the home side their favourites with ladbrokes pricing Southampton at 40/85 to stretch their run for another week, with 11/2 (Coral) saying that the Saints will be the third team in as many Premier League away games to net four goals past Harry Redknapp`s strugglers.

The Saints will be boosted by the return of Athletico Madrid loanee Toby Alderweireld. The centre-back returned to training yesterday after successfully overcoming a hamstring injury that has seen him sit out all but one of his new side`s games. The 25-year-old Belgian played the full 90 minutes of Southampton`s 4-0 win over Newcastle and may slip straight back into the starting line-up with Maya Yoshida currently under assessment. Yoshida is still struggling with a niggling ankle problem and may be rested.

In vogue James Ward-Prowse will be a long-term absentee for Koeman, coming a-cropper and fracturing his foot in his team`s 1-0 win over Swansea City. The 19-year-old had played in every fixture before falling foul of the injury that will keep him out for around ten weeks.

Rangers have something of a queue forming outside the physio`s room at Loftus Road. Stoke City hero Kranjcar is nursing a knock and will need to be monitored whilst Joey Barton, Jordan Mutch (both hamstring) and Adel Taarabt (ankle) are all unavailable.

Sandro has been cleared to play after damaging his knee celebrating a goal in training. He is 28/1 with Spreadex to celebrate a goal more carefully in the clash at St. Mary`s.

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26/09/2014     © Frixo 2024