Dowie: More To Come

Rangers first team coach Iain Dowie insists there is still more to come from his side following the 4-1 mauling of Southampton at Loftus Road.

Rangers were propelled into fourth in the table following the goalfest in W12, but like many Dowie believes the scoreline may have flattered his sides performance.

‘It’s not the best we’ve played, not by a long stretch, but we’ve won and that’s a great sign,’ Dowie told QPR.co.uk

‘Southampton deserve credit for that though. They played with great freedom and popped the ball about really well.”

‘What pleased me most is that Radek (Cerny) had very few saves to make, whilst we created a hatful of chances.”

‘(Kelvin) Davis made some excellent saves for them and but for him it could have been a far greater final scoreline.’

Rangers were pegged back to 1-1 against ten men, who refused to lie down as industrious midfielder Adam Lallana netted for the Saints. The sending off Dowie admits helped galvanise Southampton rather than doom them to defeat.

‘I don’t think we were at our best defensively, but having said that, they didn’t really get in behind us that often.”

‘I didn’t think it was a red card and if anything, I think the decision stopped us in our tracks for a period.”

‘We played far less football in the period after the sending off and allowed them back in to the game.”

‘There was an anxiety, but we ground it out and got up to top speed late on.’

Despite the lofty scoreline, people watching both in the ground and around the world witnessed an open, flowing spectacle with excellent football being played at every opportunity, Dowie took time out to praise the ten men of Southampton.

‘I’d imagine it was a great spectacle and credit to Saints, they more than played their part.

‘Even at 3-1 they were throwing men forward and although we got a fourth and perhaps should have had a fifth or sixth, you’ve got to give credit to Jan and his team.’

Dowie was full of praise for former Southampton striker Dexter Blackstock, who managed to bag a brace against his old club, but it was Dexter`s performance that delighted Dowie.

“Dexter was great” Dowie continued

‘I think he plays as he trains – at a great intensity.”

‘He ran in behind, won balls in the air and scored two great goals.”

‘I thought the second goal was a very good finish. It sat up awkwardly for him but he finished with aplomb.’

Rangers picked up the win courtesy of a strike from Dexter Blackstock in the opening minute, before Southampton were reduced to ten men late on in the first period.

Nevertheless they equalised through Adam Lallana`s strike following some slick football. Rangers got their noses back infront as Damion Stewart struck home in what appeared to be an offside position, but the lead was extended further when Dexter once again powered home from close range.

Patrick Agyemang rounded off the scoring on a thoroughly enjoyable day at Loftus Road, when the sun shone on Rangers promotion aspirations.