Redknapp picks up return win (From Daily Echo)
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Redknapp picks up return win
5:24pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport
By Simon Peach
Redknapp picks up return win
QPR manager Harry Redknapp got the perfect birthday present today as the Premier League's bottom-placed side took three points from former club Saints.
Victory was the ideal tonic for Redknapp after waking up on his 66th birthday to damning reports of ill-discipline on a recent Dubai training camp.
Rather than throw the strugglers off track, though, QPR performed admirably on the south coast and opened the scoring after just 14 minutes through Loic Remy.
Saints looked shell-shocked having started the brighter and were somewhat fortunate to go in at the break level, with Gaston Ramirez following up a Julio Cesar fumble.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino - coincidentally also celebrating his birthday - sent his side out with renewed vigour but again they were caught napping.
Park Ji-sung sent a low cross from the right and Bothroyd slotted home to the delight of Redknapp, abused throughout by the home supporters.
Substitute Robert Green, on for the injured Cesar, did superbly to deny a late Maya Yoshida header but, despite a late onslaught, QPR held on for victory.
Nearly all the pre-match build-up surrounded Redknapp's first return to Southampton, who were relegated eight years ago under his leadership before he then rejoined bitter rivals Portsmouth.
"You're going down with the Redknapp" was one of the few polite chants directed at the QPR boss, whose side were on the backfoot from the outset.
It took just 13 seconds for Adam Lallana, making his first home start in almost three months, to send over a cross which Christopher Samba was forced to put out for a corner.
Jack Cork and Lallana put audacious long efforts wide as Saints continued to press for an opener, which almost came after 12 minutes.
Rickie Lambert, always dangerous at the back post, headed back across goal but neither Lallana nor former QPR winger Jason Puncheon were able to get a telling touch.
Referee Howard Webb waved away penalty appeals from the pair, and after Lallana volleyed wide, the west Londoners caught Southampton off guard.
Junior Hoilett, making his first start since January 2, sent a fine through ball over to Remy, who burst through on goal to strike past Artur Boruc in front of the 3,194 visiting fans.
Danny Fox got the final touch as he attempted to hook the ball clear, although it was the Frenchman that deservedly took the credit.
Southampton looked visibly shell-shocked by the goal and Nathaniel Clyne did well to deny Remy going through again, before the returning striker tested Boruc with a low strike.
Bothroyd and Stephane Mbia were both booked as QPR continued in the ascendancy, before Lallana crashed into Clint Hill as he looked to break through.
After a lengthy break in play for treatment, Lallana, looking decidedly groggy, was replaced by Jay Rodriguez in the 43rd minute.
While QPR were still threatening, Saints had a new spark and, after seeing a shot deflect behind, Ramirez drew parity.
Rodriguez struck an audacious effort that inexplicably bounced off Cesar into the path of Ramirez to dink home nonchalantly.
Armand Traore and Fonte were booked either side of the goal for poor challenges, but there was no doubt about Morgan Schneiderlin joining them in Webb's notebook in stoppage time.
Mbia looked set to score from close range before the Frenchman's exquisite sliding tackle, with Bothroyd firing the loose ball wide.
The half-time whistle will have come as a relief for a Southampton side fortunate to be level.
Whatever Pochettino said at the break seemed to work as the home side flew out the blocks.
Fox, Fonte and Lambert all had attempts, before Rodriguez's curling effort from the edge of the box went inches over.
Luke Shaw came on for Fox in the 57th minute after the left-back appeared to pick up a knock as Saints continued to build nicely.
Cesar was hurt in a collision with Rodriguez as he punched away a threatening Cork cross but hobbled on, only to spill another long-range Rodriguez strike moments later.
Green soon replaced the injured Brazilian, but not until after Hoilett threatened at the other end.
Saints were still on top but they were again caught napping. After excellent work down the right, Park sent over a low cross for Bothroyd to rifle home with 13 minutes remaining.
Southampton rallied and peppered the QPR goal in the closing stages.
Green did fantastically to deny a goalbound Yoshida header as the hosts upped the ante but they could not find a way past the Hoops' resilient backline.
Comments(32)
ghk230473
says...
5:43pm Sat 2 Mar 13
We'll stay up and qpr will be relegated, but typical saints will do it the hard way. Always hard to play against a 10 man wall of defence but we have to learn to or get the players to do it, if we are to climb this league and into a position for Europe. We are a long way off.
iswhite10
says...
5:45pm Sat 2 Mar 13
If Poc's system really has been rumbled and dealt with so straightforwardly by the leagues' bottom club (as opposed to a Man city team who just didn't fancy it) we are in a real mess.
Poc's inexperience of the Premiership will now be severely tested and he will be under pressure as never before since his arrival.
I wonder what Nogel's thinking at home right now...
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
All will now depend on how we respond next week...
mattthecat1980
says...
5:52pm Sat 2 Mar 13
joelster
says...
5:55pm Sat 2 Mar 13
1.Pochettinos style takes time adapt to, and as with his other clubs you lose a few before you start winning?
or, is it?
2. Pochettinos style fits the spanish league which is slower and more technical, and therefore perfect for a "high up the pitch" pressure system?
Or is it something else??
I looked at the stats and saw we have almost 70% possession, so what's going on???
thanks
Wide Boy Arry
says...
5:56pm Sat 2 Mar 13
cotswoldsaint
says...
6:10pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Oh, and perhaps MP should think about making a quick pilgrimage to Walsingham when he's in Norfolk next weekend. Just a thought...keep the faith!
JohnItaly
says...
6:23pm Sat 2 Mar 13
joelster wrote:Despite Rickie Lambert scoring the goals he has I have felt for some time Saints have lacked a natural "goal poacher". Week in week out Saints match statistics show a healthy % possession with a higher number of shots (on & off target) than our opponents. So what is missing? Begs the question if Billy Sharp might have been the answer.
So guys, help me, cause I wasn't at the game, so which is it?
1.Pochettinos style takes time adapt to, and as with his other clubs you lose a few before you start winning?
or, is it?
2. Pochettinos style fits the spanish league which is slower and more technical, and therefore perfect for a "high up the pitch" pressure system?
Or is it something else??
I looked at the stats and saw we have almost 70% possession, so what's going on???
thanks
BGD-Saint
says...
6:25pm Sat 2 Mar 13
PTID1898
says...
6:38pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Skating on thin ice
says...
6:53pm Sat 2 Mar 13
batesieboy
says...
7:07pm Sat 2 Mar 13
redsnapper
says...
7:15pm Sat 2 Mar 13
mattthecat1980 wrote:Retard or a skate?
Any one want to buy a ticket for Norwich away next week I've suddenly lost all interest. Bring back n.a. All he done was good for the club I'm sure we would be a few places higher now if he was still at the helm,I hope nc sacking doesn't come back and bite him in the bum
OSPREYSAINT
says...
7:17pm Sat 2 Mar 13
JohnItaly wrote:Sharpy is only coming off the bench at the moment so probably not the answer.
joelster wrote:Despite Rickie Lambert scoring the goals he has I have felt for some time Saints have lacked a natural "goal poacher". Week in week out Saints match statistics show a healthy % possession with a higher number of shots (on & off target) than our opponents. So what is missing? Begs the question if Billy Sharp might have been the answer.
So guys, help me, cause I wasn't at the game, so which is it?
1.Pochettinos style takes time adapt to, and as with his other clubs you lose a few before you start winning?
or, is it?
2. Pochettinos style fits the spanish league which is slower and more technical, and therefore perfect for a "high up the pitch" pressure system?
Or is it something else??
I looked at the stats and saw we have almost 70% possession, so what's going on???
thanks
OSPREYSAINT
says...
7:21pm Sat 2 Mar 13
OSPREYSAINT
says...
7:46pm Sat 2 Mar 13
PTID1898 wrote:That's one too many. Don't you reckon that it is a shame, you could well claw back the 11 point deficit only to be wacked with a minus ten that will take you down anyway.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha one Harry redknap there's only one Harry redknap one Harry redknap there's only one Harry redknap
mattthecat1980
says...
8:05pm Sat 2 Mar 13
redsnapper wrote:Def not a skate but retards a bit hash
mattthecat1980 wrote:Retard or a skate?
Any one want to buy a ticket for Norwich away next week I've suddenly lost all interest. Bring back n.a. All he done was good for the club I'm sure we would be a few places higher now if he was still at the helm,I hope nc sacking doesn't come back and bite him in the bum
mattthecat1980
says...
8:05pm Sat 2 Mar 13
redsnapper wrote:Def not a skate but retards a bit hash
mattthecat1980 wrote:Retard or a skate?
Any one want to buy a ticket for Norwich away next week I've suddenly lost all interest. Bring back n.a. All he done was good for the club I'm sure we would be a few places higher now if he was still at the helm,I hope nc sacking doesn't come back and bite him in the bum
Saintsayer II
says...
8:21pm Sat 2 Mar 13
redsnapper wrote:Neither.Jjust a genuine fan who feels the loss Probably more than some of our players and coaches
mattthecat1980 wrote:Retard or a skate?
Any one want to buy a ticket for Norwich away next week I've suddenly lost all interest. Bring back n.a. All he done was good for the club I'm sure we would be a few places higher now if he was still at the helm,I hope nc sacking doesn't come back and bite him in the bum
Jesus_02
says...
8:33pm Sat 2 Mar 13
It was an Ugly match...it was like watching a poor championship match.
Fair play to Newcastle... they played well got a bit fortunate and got a win. How QPR ended that game with 11 men needs to be looked at.
Thankfully they will be relegated. Refs wont allw them to rugby tackle more well paid players
red/whitearmy
says...
8:34pm Sat 2 Mar 13
PTID1898 wrote:ha ha ha ha , enjoy league 2 . Thats if your **** hole survives the courts.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha one Harry redknap there's only one Harry redknap one Harry redknap there's only one Harry redknap
hates the skates
says...
9:04pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Tirau Dan
says...
4:32am Sun 3 Mar 13
Apt for both teams and the ref.
Draw the now familiar line under this game and show we can do better in the next.
COYR
dingdongdell
says...
7:52am Sun 3 Mar 13
Rank Xerox
says...
7:53am Sun 3 Mar 13
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:24am Sun 3 Mar 13
dingdongdell wrote:Injured, will be back when fit, patience please.
Where is the Norwegian who was signed with such a fanfare two months ago (Behind NA's back a week before he was sacked)? Has anybody seen him? Does he exist?
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:28am Sun 3 Mar 13
Rank Xerox wrote:If you go on the QPR chat site, they say the the Referee gave us everything, it is all in the eye of the beholder, but I agree he allowed QPR to bully us out of the game, there was no way to play the open passing game that we do well, their players taking it in turn to take a yellow for the team. As I am am totally Saints biased my judgement must be seen as being clouded, but the guy that scored the winner should have seen a red in the first half in my opinion.
I thought some of he referee's decisions were shocking. He should have stamped out early on in the game some of those dirty tackles that we received throughout the game.
dingdongdell
says...
9:21am Sun 3 Mar 13
OSPREYSAINT wrote:How can he be back when he has never been in the squad in the first place? So NC and MP signed a player who was not fit, and is still not fit 2 months later! At this stage of the season! Genius!
dingdongdell wrote:Injured, will be back when fit, patience please.
Where is the Norwegian who was signed with such a fanfare two months ago (Behind NA's back a week before he was sacked)? Has anybody seen him? Does he exist?
logical progression
says...
11:34am Sun 3 Mar 13
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Well said mate took the words out of my mouth!
Sunderland drew, Reading lost, Wigan mullered, Newcastle lost, Norwich mullered, it only needs Villa to cop it also, to be not such a disaster after all. Pity that the Hammers won though.
up saints
says...
12:39pm Sun 3 Mar 13
OSPREYSAINT
says...
2:28pm Sun 3 Mar 13
dingdongdell wrote:He will be back in training and available for selection soon, when he was signed he was not match fit because it was close Season in Norway, in the process of getting fit, he picked up an injury that has marred his progress, don't know what precisely because of the closed shop policy, but I am sure he will be ready at some stage, no need to make a crisis out of trivia.
OSPREYSAINT wrote:How can he be back when he has never been in the squad in the first place? So NC and MP signed a player who was not fit, and is still not fit 2 months later! At this stage of the season! Genius!
dingdongdell wrote:Injured, will be back when fit, patience please.
Where is the Norwegian who was signed with such a fanfare two months ago (Behind NA's back a week before he was sacked)? Has anybody seen him? Does he exist?
OSPREYSAINT
says...
2:32pm Sun 3 Mar 13
up saints wrote:That's a bit odd, Boruc was the calmest bloke on the pitch for us yesterday, had no chance with either goal, had very little else to do, but what he had to do, did it well. Somehow I think QPR are down to one after yesterday, their first pick was pretty unsteady for a while and went off looking quite distressed.
you can all blame fox yosh or even the pope but the fact is we don't have a decent settled goalkeeper.qpr have 2 this should of been sorted in september
Sally Hamilton Original says...
5:33pm Sat 2 Mar 13