Saints look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they take on QPR at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon, the big question is who will be available for selection and who won't be.

If everyone is still available from last weekend, then i would not think that Russell Martin will look to far from the starting XI against Plymouth Argyle, that could having to be content with a place on the bench for new signing Flynn Downes and hopefully the recovered from injury Charly Alcatraz.

That being the case it should give us confidence given that the squad is now stronger than the one that took on both Norwich and Plymouth.

It is not yet complete, but then again their could be a departure or two.

Our weakness I am sad to report is where it has been for the past 6 years and that is in the centre of defence, we can't handle being attacked on the break and with our possession football game, that is not a good thing.

Hopefully this will be addressed in the next few days, but it won't be in time for this game.

QPR make the short trip down from West London with a mixed start to the season, they lost 4-0 at Watford on the opening day, followed a week later by a win at Cardiff, but Ipswich came to Loftus Road and won 1-0 last weekend, the stats for that game for the Tractor Boys were very similar to our game at Plymouth.

Last season was not a good season for the West London club, they finished 20th in the Championship and escaped relegation by only 6 points, although if Reading had not been deducted 6 points they would have jumped above them instead of being relegated.

Their run after Xmas was horrendous and as bad as our own in the Premier League, they won just 3 times after Xmas and plummeted down the League.

Will it be better this season, so far in the transfer window they have lost 13 players, most have left on free transfers and brought in just 6, again mostly free or low fee's and Gareth Ainsworth is truly working on a shoestring.

Former Bournemouth stalwart Steve Cook is their major signing and although he is now 32, he did a job for Forest both in getting them up and in the first half of last season.

So although it will be unknown territory for Saints, our last meetings being in the Premier League in 2014/15 when we beat them twice, the first at St Mary's 2-1 with goals from Ryan Bertrand & Graziano Pelle with soon to be Saint Charlie Austin replying for the visitors.

The away game at Loftus Road was tight but settled by a 90th minute winner from Sadio Mane.

it should not be a game that we fear, Russell Martin is trying to build not only a winning mentality but also one where defeat is not an option and that has shown itself in the fact that in all three games we have scored late goals.

That is no co incidence, Martin has drilled into his side a never say die attitude and we play to the very last second on added on time.

We are getting stronger and confidence is growing and it is a very optimistic man who leaves the stadium early and doesn't expect to miss a goal.

We have to keep grinding out results, I have always said that August would be a difficult month, given the transfer situation and that whatever we got would be a bonus and if we win this game it will be a very good start.

But we should take nothing for granted.

One thing we do know though is that it is enjoyable watching Southampton play football again, the smiles are on the faces of the fans for the first time in a little while, we believe again in the team and although the manager is still in the honeymoon period, he is winning over the supporters with the way he has started his tenure at the club.

So it is each game as it comes and this one could see us truly show that we are ready to challenge for promotion this season.

Photo: Action Images

AgrellaSFC added 08:05 - Aug 25 Hoping this game can be our first clean sheet while also scoring 4 or 5 goals. If Watford can do it surely we can.
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Peterx added 08:47 - Aug 25 Overconfidence is the last thing we need for this game, give it everything and the win should come, go into it overconfident and an upset could happen.
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davenbennett added 09:08 - Aug 25 We still don't have a clue who will be in squad V Sunderland. Could lose 5 or 6 players before window closes. And the wrong one's! At least got Downes in. I feared we would lose our best, and bring in downgrades. That's coming true. I think Charles and Downes will be good at this level. Not impressed by Manning. We could have had Tino and KWP as FBs. Now could have Bree and Manning. Could lose Adams, with no sign of getting in as good, let alone better. I am not looking forward to the next few days. Martin says squad will be stronger at the end of the window. I just don't believe it. I really really hope I am wrong. Rather be wrong than see promotion thrown away by SRs blind pursuit of 'value' and use of algorithms to make decisions.

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JoeEgg added 10:28 - Aug 25 We have to do a lot better than the squad we have for the QPR game. So many teams in the same position jostling for a handfull of quality players. True the QPR result will be interesting and in all honesty could go either way. But far more important will be the next seven days of ins and outs at St Marys!
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DPeps added 13:17 - Aug 25 Just watched pelle's goal again: sublime Although might be done for a high boot nowadays 🥴
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SanMarco added 14:22 - Aug 25 About time we had a home win - this looks like the best opportunity with Leicester and Ipswich up next. If we can defend okay we should win this one - but, as ever, that is a big IF. It certainly is farcical that so many teams are left with such uncertainty during August due to the transfer window. Why not kick off the season with everyone knowing where they stand? Do all the work in June and July rather than the last two weeks in August.

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