Happy Birthday Harry!!

Southampton 1-2 QPR

It was a great day for QPR as teams around us dropped points and goals from Remy and Bothroyd, gave the R's a superb win at St Mary's this afternoon and Harry got three points for his Birthday!!

It was, lets just say, quite a mixed start to the day. Unfortunately, we heard from Jenson who couldn't make the trip as a family member was taken ill. It started a brief bit of panic before I met PK at Northolt and then joined Lee and Jess on the M3 for a two car convoy into Southampton. Sam, Luke and Lorna had decided to make a weekend of it and although we saw Lorna at half time, we sadly never got to see Sam or Luke today. A trouble free journey saw us parked up and inside the ground at about 2pm for a couple of beers and of course, a pie for the rating competition... that's our excuse and we are sticking too it! More on that later...

Onto the game and there were a few surprises in the team selection, with no Taarabt, Townsend or Fabio, but we still joined the rest of the 3200 odd R's fans in the away end, full of hope.  But the R's started nervously and it looked at times just how 'up' for the game Rangers were at all? Cork and Lallana both had half chances and an extremely soft shout for a penalty was waved away as Puncheon went over in the box. But somewhat against the run of play, Rangers took the lead - a superb ball from Hoilett found Remy at full pace, who finished coolly and danced at the corner flag in front of the ecstatic away end!!

Rangers were pretty comfortable following the goal with Remy looking a danger on the right, but just before the break, Rodriguez ran towards goal and unleashed a powerful drive which moved in the air and Cesar, who could have done better, only parried to Ramirez who chipped exquisitely into the net to level the scores. There was a further half chance for Bothroyd following a Granero free kick, but the teams went in all square at the break.

Onto the second half and it was the home side making all the early running - Jose Fonte firing wide before Rodriguez curled an effort on to the roof of the net. At the other end, Remy and Hoilett combined well but sadly couldn't finish. Struggling from an earlier challenge, Cesar was replaced in the R's goal on 74 minutes by Rob Green. Three minutes later, Rangers went ahead for the second time - some great work from Park on the right, who won the ball from Yoshida, got to the line and crossed low to find Bothroyd waiting to tap home!! Cure more bedlam in the away end once more!!

With four minutes to go, Rob Green pulled off a sensational one handed stop to keep out Fonte's powerful header and minutes later, denied the number 6 once more, palming his low shot away to safety. The first save was simply, breathtaking and looked even more so on Match of the Day!

As the time ticked away, the tension was growing amongst the away end, who had to endure an incredible and painful, 6 minutes of stoppage time. But finally, Homer, Howard Webb blew the full time whistle on a superb away win for the R's!!

Queens Park Rangers

• 33 Julio Cesar (Green - 74' )
• 03 Traore
• 05 Samba
• 06 Hill
• 19 Bosingwa
• 07 Park Ji-sung
• 14 Granero (Jenas - 53' )
• 40 M'bia
• 18 Remy
• 23 Hoilett
• 37 Bothroyd  (Fabio - 90' )

Substitutes

• 01 Green
• 15 Onuoha
• 20 Fabio
• 10 Taarabt
• 16 Jenas
• 29 Townsend
• 12 Mackie

Man of the Match

As you would expect, a good few contenders, mentions for Hoilett and Ji Sung Park, who's persistence and determination created that all important winner. Jess went for Lioc Remy and PK picked out Rob Green for that sensational second half save. But the winner today with votes from Lee and myself, for leading the line superbly and of course, the winning goal, goes to Jay Bothroyd.

Awayday Pie Rating

Expert analysis from myself and Lee for the Balti, and PK the Steak. It was all generally the same, tasted good, just about warm enough which with the Balti, probably lessened the flavour a tad. But with firm 8's from us all, the Southampton Pies get a rating of 8/10

Very easy to summarise this one.. a great performance, a great result, great away support and all in all, with other results going our way, a great day with great company as always!! The win has restored some belief and gives us a great chance to maybe, just maybe, pull this off. Long may it continue...

The journey home wasn't as swift as the journey in with it taking an absolute age to get out of Southampton itself, but I don't suppose many of us R's fans worried too much about that.  Funny what a good away win can do...

Lee will return next week as the R's take on Sunderland in another game where a good result is an absolute must. But until then...

Keep the Faith and Come on you R'sssssss!!!