Southampton vs QPR: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to Saturday’s Premier League fixture at St Marys

Ronald Koeman has enjoyed a prosperous week with victories over Millwall and West Ham (PA)

Southampton are currently on a five-game winning streak after Tuesday night’s thrilling 2-1 victory at Arsenal in the League Cup, with the Saints currently occupying second spot in the Premier League.

Despite losing their opening league game 2-1 away to Liverpool, Ronald Koeman’s side have gone unbeaten in their last four league fixtures, including three consecutive wins with the latest being last Saturday’s 1-0 triumph at Swansea City.

Meanwhile newly promoted Queens Park Rangers are struggling at the foot of the table after three defeats in their opening five league games, meaning the Hoops lie third from bottom in the relegation zone.

However Harry Redknapp’s men have registered a top-flight win after their 1-0 victory at home to Sunderland last month, and will take great heart from last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Stoke City after Niko Kranjcar’s sublime 88 minute equalising free-kick.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Southampton 1 (Ramirez) Queens Park Rangers 2 (Remy, Bothroyd), Premier League, March 2013

Queens Park Rangers 1 (Hoilett) Southampton 3 (Lambert, Puncheon, Ferdinand OG), Premier League, November 2012

Southampton 0 Queens Park Rangers 0, Championship, March 2009

Harry Redknapp (Getty Images)

STATS…

Southampton have failed to defeat Queens Park Rangers in their last five home games, including three defeats.

Southampton striker Graziano Pelle is the Premier League’s joint third highest goal scorers with three goals from five appearances.

Queens Park Rangers have suffered the largest margin of defeat so far this season in the Premier League, their 4-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in August.

Southampton have the longest winning streak in the Premier League with three successive victories.

Saturday’s game at St Marys will be the 76 meeting between the two clubs, with both Southampton and Queens Park Rangers recording 27 wins each.

Southampton have the best defensive record throughout the Premier League having conceded just three goals all season.

Queens Park Rangers have the worst goal difference tally in the Premier League having scored just three goals and conceded eleven.

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster has the joint highest number of clean sheets (3) in the Premier League this season.

ODDS…

Southampton to win: 1.4

Queens Park Rangers to win: 8

Draw: 4.4

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

Queens Park Rangers leapfrogged Southampton into 15 in the Championship after edging past the Saints 3-2 in their five-goal thriller at St Marys on February 9 2008.

However, it was the hosts who took the lead inside 60 seconds as Darren Powell fired home for Southampton, only for Martin Rowlands and Patrick Agyemang to score past Kelvin Davis to quickly overturn the deficit at the break.

Agyemang completed his brace on the hour mark to establish a two-goal cushion for QPR, although Stern John’s 90 minute goal set up a tense finale.

TV: Highlights on BBC 1 from 10.30pm on Saturday.