Martin so proud of fairy Tayl finish from his loan star
HAR STARS:
RUSSELL MARTIN hailed his super Saints after a classy Taylor HarwoodBellis volley extended their unbeaten run to 15 games and kept pressure on at the top of the Championship table.
With Ipswich losing in the day’s early game, the Manchester City loanee’s goal was enough to reduce the gap to the automatic promotion places to seven points.
It also inflicted a first home defeat of Marti Cifuentes’ QPR tenure, with the Hoops missing yet another chance to climb out of the relegation zone.
“I thought we were ok in the first half – a little bit of a lack of energy compared to recent weeks,” said Martin.
“Second half I thought we were great. Some of the build-up was fantastic, we got in their box relentlessly, forced the goalie into a couple of saves and should have done more with the moments in the box.
“It would have been nice to get the second goal to make it more comfortable. But on the whole I’m really delighted.”
A dreary first half unexpectedly ignited three minutes before the break when Saints scored with their first effort on target.
Ryan Manning’s wicked free-kick was flicked on by Adam Armstrong at the near post for HarwoodBellis
to expertly convert unmarked from close range.
The Hoops came out firing after the break, but struggled to ask tough questions of Gavin Bazunu.
They were unable to capitalise on a late red card for substitute Shea Charles, who had been on the pitch for little more than half an hour when he was shown a second booking for flinging his arm across Albert Adomah’s throat as the QPR veteran looked to break.
Martin backed it as a “good foul”, revealing Charles was applauded by his teammates after the match for “taking one for the team”.
Cifuentes insisted he was proud of his side’s efforts. “I’m disappointed because of the result,” he said. “At the same time, today is one of those days that I can feel encouraged.”
QPR: Begovic 6; Cannon 6 (Adomah (84) 6), Dunne 6, Clarke-Salter 6, Paal 6; Dozzell 6 (Kelman (84) 6), Field 7, DixonBonner 6 (Larkeche (67) 6); Willock 6 (Smyth (74) 6), Dykes 6 (Armstrong (74) 6), Chair 7
SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 6; Bree 6 (Manning (32) 7), Harwood-Bellis 8, Bednarek 7, Walker-Peters 7; Smallbone 6 (Adams (56) 5), Downes 6 (Charles (56) 5), Aribo 6; A Armstrong 7 (Stephens (87) 6), Edozie 6 (Fraser (57) 6); S Armstrong 6
STAR MAN: Taylor Harwood-Bellis - An entirely assured presence at the back.
REFEREE: Oliver Langford 7