SADIO Mane’s last-gasp winner saw Southampton edge out a Queens Park Rangers side visibly still playing with a hangover from a bygone era.
Harry Redknapp’s legacy was laid bare as a glut of attacking players failed to produce opportunities of note while an ageing and under-invested defence crumbled in injury time.
Southampton dominated the opening period, exemplified when Eljero Elia caught Rob Green in no-man’s land without capitalising before Jose Fonte’s towering header cannoned back off the bar.
The hosts’ defence look disorganised and highly susceptible to pace and movement – once again highlighted as Mane and Elia seemingly able to cut inside at will and drift beyond their markers with consummate ease.
By sheer poor finishing and good fortune Rangers went into the second half level – but with the crossing wayward, passing laboured and chances of note limited – Charlie Austin cut an isolated and frustrated figure leading the line.
Adel Taarabt threatened but produced little, his replacement Mauro Zarate placed straight at the underworked Fraser Forster from a deep Matt Phillips cross and ultimately Austin couldn’t beat the ‘keeper with a poacher’s effort from a Joey Barton prod.
In injury time Steven Caulker piled forward with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop before gifting possession to the Saints, before the ball fell to Mane in the area to spin his marker and plough a fine effort into the top corner.
Naivety personified as Chris Ramsey’s QPR started much as Redknapp’s Rangers finished – lacking defensively, toothless in attack despite numbers and left to count the cost of a late goal.
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