Southampton prepare to host Queens Park Rangers this Saturday aiming to maintain their positive momentum in the Championship. The Saints sit sixth in the table with 20 points from 12 games, just five points behind the leaders, and are unbeaten in their last four matches at St Mary's Stadium. Their record of seven wins, three draws and two losses has them firmly in the playoff places.
Kuryu Matsuki opened the scoring in the second minute, with James Bree and Lewis Dobbin also finding the net to secure the three points. That result continued a solid run of form that has seen Southampton pick up ten points from a possible twelve. Their recent form over the last five matches stands at three wins, one draw and one loss, a sequence that began with a 4-1 win over Bristol City on 12 September.
Recent momentum
Before the victory at West Ham, they ground out a goalless draw at home to Bolton Wanderers and secured narrow 1-0 wins on the road at Norwich City and at home against rivals Portsmouth. The only recent blemish was a 2-1 defeat at Wrexham in mid-September. Cyle Larin leads the team's scoring charts with seven goals this season, a key reason for their healthy goal difference of plus twelve, built on 24 goals scored and just 12 conceded.
The QPR challenge
Visitors QPR will present a stern test, arriving in eighth place and fresh from a 5-0 demolition of Swansea City. Their form has been inconsistent, however, with a heavy defeat at Birmingham City preceding that big win. Their last starting lineup featured players like Smyth and Kone in attack, posing a threat to a Southampton defence that has kept three clean sheets in the last five games.
Southampton are expected to field a similar side to the one that started at West Ham, with Daniel Peretz in goal behind a back four of Bree, Stephens, Nico Schlotterbeck and Manning. The midfield axis of Ward-Prowse and Jander will look to control the tempo, supplying the creative trio of Matsuki, Azaz and Léo Scienza behind striker Lewis Dobbin. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, October 31st.
