Championship: QPR 4-1 Southampton

Iain Dowie saw his men thump Saints - than admitted they had been fortunate.

Dexter Blackstock struck twice, his first goal coming after just 37 seconds, with Damion Stewart and substitute Patrick Agyemang the other scorers.

That moved QPR up to fourth and condemned their visitors - who levelled through Adam Lallana despite being down to 10 men - to a fourth defeat in five league games.

But Rangers boss Dowie knew the scoreline did not tell the whole story.

Referee Kevin Friend's sending-off of Southampton's Oliver Lancashire on his debut was crucial and Saints head coach Jan Portvliet was also convinced QPR's second goal should not have stood.

The Dutchman fumed: "We're all human but at this level mistakes cost points. He never had any intention to kill anyone. I'll ask the referee if he will change it to a yellow.

"Their player was heading towards the corner. It wasn't as though he was in front of the goalkeeper.

"The second goal killed us - and it was a big offside goal. We didn't deserve that."

Dowie, who turned out for both sides as a player, did not argue.

He admitted: "It was a good result but not a good team performance. And it was never a sending off. If that happens you will get people off every week.

"It was the boy's debut after all. It looked a bit malicious and was poorly-timed but it affected us more because they got better and we got worse."

Poortvliet had sent out one of the most inexperienced starting line - ups in Southampton's history - and it quickly looked like being a major blunder.

Skipper Paul Wotton was the only outfield player aged over 22 but helped Blackstock to his quickfire opener.

Wotton headed Matthew Connolly's long throw across his own box and former Saints marksman Blackstock gave goalkeeper Kelvin Davis no chance from six yards.

There was more trouble for the away side when Lee Holmes stayed down after a crunching tackle and had to be replaced by Nathan Dyer in the 23rd minute.

Saints eventually settled but were left reeling when Lancashire was dismissed on the half hour.

The defender was guilty of chopping down Damien Delaney to stop a sweeping move but the Hoops defender was not badly hurt and had not been heading for goal.

Saints continued to play good passing football and the 10 men found an equaliser in the 53rd minute through Lallana, who stroked the ball calmly past Radek Cerny following a smart one-two with Simon Gillett.

Saints fans behind the goal, who were convinced their side had been harshly treated all day, celebrated wildly.

The home support were not happy and Hogan Ephraim and Daniel Parejo were replaced on the hour by Martin Rowlands and Patrick Agyemang.

It proved to be a masterstroke as Rowlands turned provider within seconds with a free-kick round the back of the Saints defence that was prodded past Davis by Stewart, who appeared to have been offside.

Saints had to throw in the towel with 13 minutes remaining when Lee Cook put Agyemang in and although Davis blocked the substitute's shot, Blackstock was on hand to ram home the rebound.

Davis denied Agyemang again as young Saints legs wilted, and Delaney had a goal ruled out.

Agyemang completed the rout in stoppage time by accepting Blackstock's pass and drilling past Davis.

COMPUTER

QPR

SOUTHAMPTON

RANGERS SHOW CLINICAL EDGE

BALL POSSESSION

QPR 45%

SOUTHAMPTON 55%

FACE TO FACE

6 Corners 1

6 Offside 1

13 Fouls 16

2 Cards 2

SHOTS

3 off target 8

12 on target 4

HERO OF THE MATCH

Dexter Blackstock (QPR)

8 Gave QPR the perfect start after 37 seconds

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH

Kevin Friend (REFEREE)

3 No friend of the Saints players yesterday

Anorak Blackstock's goal was his second in five games against Saints since leaving the club for QPR two years ago

NEXT THREE GAMES

Qpr Wednesday: Norwich (a) Champ Saturday: Coventry (a) Champ Sat Sep 24: Villa (a) C Cup

Southampton Wednesday: Ipswich (a) Champ Saturday: Barnsley (h) Champ Tue Sep 23: Rotherham (a) C Cup

Qpr: Cerny 6, Delaney 8, Stewart 8, Ramage 7, Connolly 7, Ephraim 6 (Agyemang, 59, 7), Mahon 7, Leigertwood 7, Cook 7, Parejo 5 (Rowlands, 59, 7), Blackstock 8.

Southampton: Davis 9, James 7, Lancashire 5, Cork 7, Surman 6, Wotton 6, Gillett 7, Schneiderlin 6 (Pekhart 70, 5), Lallana 7, Holmes 5 (Dyer 23, 6), McGoldrick 6.

Referee: Kevin Friend ATTENDANCE: 13, 770