x

Southampton At Crystal Palace The Verdict

It was another game of two halves for Saints, but despite a lot better showing in the second half than the first, Saints couldn't take their chances and get something out of a game that they really needed to and really should have.

I don't know why but this season Saints seem to be able to take points from the higher sides like Chelsea & Arsenal, but then follow that up by losing games narrowly against side around them that they really should do better in.

This was a game where not many could have a gripe with the side put out by Ralph Hasenhuttl, but it was a side who seemed to play with little motivation, gone was the urgency of the previous week and where against Arsenal you always thought that after a dodgy opening spell we could get something out of the game, the belief didn't appear to be there in this one.

The stats went in Saints favour, 56% possession, 14 attempts on goal opposed to 12 by the home side and 4 on target compared to 3by Palace, but the only stat that mattered was goals scored.

Second half we revived a little and were the better side, but we couldn't seem to finish, Che Adams failing to take a couple of good chances and Stuart Armstrong hitting the post.

The good news is that hopefully when we take on Newcastle then we will have players back, Romeo Lavia completed 45 minutes against Middlesbrough in the B team and we could do with him back to release James Ward Prowse to a more forward role, that could bode well for the final two games before the World Cup break.

We can't say in this game it was about creating chances, it was about taking them, we have to do better, goals change games, if we had got one back second half we could have gone on to win this game, but truth is we didn't.

This is a side with potential, but it needs a striker, I think the problem here is the chopping and changing, Che Adams needs support, Adam Armstrong has come under pressure from some, but he is playing out of position , for my money give him the opportunity up front with Che Adams, he could score goals in the Championship, give him a chance now in the Premier, we have nothing to lose, goalscorers get goals at any level.

The job now is to get through to the break in two weeks time not in the bottom three, I am confident that come January with all the injured players back and with the addition of a striker we can move upwards, but firstly we need to get some points that keep us out of the bottom three for at least six weeks in the World Cup break.

Again a disappointing result, the real frustration being our inability to beat the sides around us, but not only that, to lose yet again by only a single goal.

What to read next:

Smyth’s smash and grab stuns City – Report
QPR continued their recent unbeaten run, despite another poor performance, away at Bristol City on Saturday, thanks to an extraordinary goal from Paul Smyth.
Bristol City 1 - 1 Queens Park Rangers - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Old foes, familiar faces and new trends collide at Ashton Gate - Preview
QPR, picking up points and keeping clean sheets, head to Ashton Gate on Saturday, where they've beaten Bristol City four times in a row but have a trio of former charges lying in wait.
The Championship's most mid-table team - Oppo Profile
Bristol City spent a deal of money this summer trying to push Liam Manning's side on towards the play-offs, but the remain steadfastly stuck in midtable as doubts persist about the manager's style - we spoke to @fevsfootball.
QPR's late, late show on Ashton Gate opening day - History
We're back to 2007 for today's memorable match as QPR get ready to head back to Ashton Gate, scene of some high intensity clashes between the teams in the Ian Holloway days.
Smith takes QPR’s trip to Bristol – Referee
Wigan’s Lewis Smith, recently promoted to the Premier League, is the referee in charge of Saturday’s trip to Bristol City.
Field the world, lets them know it’s Rangers’ time – Report
A Sam Field double banished memories of a frightful first half, and continued QPR’s steady recovery run of wins and clean sheets, with a 2-0 home win against Oxford on Wednesday.
Queens Park Rangers 2 - 0 Oxford United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Pragmatism v idealism - Preview
QPR are winning, and keeping clean sheets, again, despite abandoning possession of the ball and their early season style, but will that hold in another home game they're expected to dominate and win?
Oxford survival bid faces familiar foes - Oppo Profile
Oxford have already bloodied several Championship noses but like Rotherham, Plymouth and others before them coping with injuries and winning away from home is hampering their survival bid - U's regular Adam England gave us his first impressions.