Dexter Blackstock scored twice against his former club as Coca-Cola Championship billionaires QPR eventually saw off cash-strapped Saints.

Blackstock, who left the south coast for west London two years ago, opened the scoring after just 40 seconds and took his tally for the season to five late in the second half.

Saints had been reduced to 10 men on the half hour when Ollie Lancashire, a 19-year-old defender making his first senior appearance, was sent off for a foul on Damien Delaney.

But they somehow got back on level terms after the break with a well-taken goal from midfielder Adam Lallana.

However, Damion Stewart fired Rangers back in front in controversial circumstances, with the centre-half appearing well offside as the ball came over to him, before Blackstock and Patrick Agyemang made the game safe.

Rangers may have just lost their tag as the world's richest club to Manchester City, but it did not stop them taking the lead against their lowly visitors before much of Loftus Road had taken their seats.

The Saints, forced these days to rely on youth, lined up with nine players aged 22 and under, and their inexperience was ruthlessly exposed straight from the kick-off.

Gavin Mahon sent a long throw into the area, Lancashire made a hash of his header and Blackstock was on hand to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.

Saints did attack sporadically in the first half, with Simon Gillett heading wide and Lallana forcing Radek Cerny into a scrambled save with a low drive.

But their task became far harder when Lancashire marked a debut to forget by lunging in on overlapping full-back Delaney, sending the Irishman sprawling and earning a straight red card from referee Kevin Friend.

Delaney forced a flying save from Davis with a long-range effort before the veteran goalkeeper pulled off a stunning point-blank stop to keep out Blackstock's header.

And Davis kept Saints in with a fighting chance when he tipped Blackstock's shot from Delaney's pull-back onto the post just before the break.

Those saves looked like they could prove crucial after the interval when Saints drew level with a goal straight from the Total Football mantra preached by their Dutch coach, Jan Poortvliet.

Morgan Schneiderlin collected the ball from keeper Davis and fed Lallana, who sauntered forward 40 yards before exchanging a one-two with Gillett and burying the return ball past Cerny.

However, Rangers hit back in the 63rd minute when club captain Martin Rowlands, on as a substitute moments earlier, floated in a free-kick which Stewart - who looked at least a yard offside - prodded in.

Agyemang and Mikele Leigertwood wasted decent chances before the third goal came in the 76th minute.

Agyemang burst through and Davis saved his effort but could do nothing to keep out Blackstock's follow-up.

Davis came up with another stunning save to keep out Agyemang and Delaney had a goal ruled out for a foul.

But Agyemang had the final say in stoppage time, racing through what remained of a weary Saints defence and clinically finishing past Davis.