Goals from Ryan Bertrand and Graziano Pelle have given Southampton a hard-fought victory over struggling Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.
The hosts started well, with QPR keeper Rob Green having to be alert to deny Victor Wanyama from 25 yards out before stopping Pelle on the right hand side of his box.
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Dusan Tadic was the next to come close for Southampton as his effort deflected off Steven Caulker and onto the post.
Indeed, the movement of Tadic, Pelle, and Sadio Mane proved to be a real handful for QPR, who struggled to keep up with the Saints' attacking play.
Pelle teed up Mane as Southampton were presented with yet another chance, but his speculative effort towards goal was dealt with easily by Green.
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Bertrand was the unlikely scorer as Southampton finally got their goal after the break, smashing home after being stylishly fed the ball by Mane.
Charlie Austin fired in a fantastic goal to level things up for QPR against the run of play, but Pelle restored his side's advantage with an equally stunning acrobatic finish.
A third Southampton goal almost came through Steven Davis, who rifled an effort beyond Green, but for a second time Southampton were denied by the woodwork.
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Shane Long then wasted a great opportunity to wrap up the game for his side after going through one on one, but his shot was weak and the chance fizzled out.
Niko Kranjcar smashed a free kick against the post late on for QPR but they could not find an equaliser, meaning the game finished 2-1.
Benjamin Topliss
