QPR vs Southampton Match Preview: Can Eckert Lift the Saints After Still’s Exit? | OneFootball

As the Saints travel to Loftus Road, there have been countless rumours of who the next Southampton manager will be. Right now, interim boss Tonda Eckert has taken over from the under-21s, intending to restore some belief in the senior side.

A fresh face may be all that’s needed to provide a spark, but with the same group of players, can Southampton find a way to snatch three points?

Current Form

Manager Julian Stephen has taken QPR into a comfortable 13th position at this stage of the season. While recent form has dipped, with three losses in the past five, two wins in the process have shown they can still get the job done, despite not being at their best.

There was much anticipation over Belgian head coach Will Still at Southampton, but expectations were never met. Going five games without a win, after only two victories beforehand, prompted the Saints’ owners to pull the plug on his tenure. Sitting at a dreadful 21st place, they need to be careful they don’t get dragged even further as the season progresses.

What To Expect From QPR?

The Hoops were six games unbeaten at one point, but, similarly to the Saints, have started to see results turn into narrow losses, rather than picking up points on the board. Their last game, against Ipswich, showed that they won’t be backing down, though, and will stick to playing transition and direct football. They accumulated the same number of shots, more xG and missed a big chance, as they lost 4-1 to Ipswich.

They will look to press selectively in midfield and build forward through short passes and quick movement — but they’ll also be vulnerable on the break and struggle for consistent goal output.

Why Have Southampton Been So Bad?

There were moments of promise during Still’s reign, sadly undermined by the terrible finishing from his side. Creating over 20 xG but scoring only 13 highlights an issue with the players and recruitment, not the manager.

But in-game management soon came into the spotlight of criticism. Substituting pivotal players when searching for a victory, throwing attacking players on with no real intent, and an overall ineffective plan led to Southampton winning two from thirteen, despite the second-highest spending window in the league.

Recently, there’s been discussion of the Saints players losing faith in Will Still, and even reports of the senior players seemingly welcoming a Russell Martin return. But this is the issue. There’s been a real drop in quality from the squad in the past four or five games, and this isn’t due to their ability but their work rate and effort. Will Still, and managers before him, just haven’t got these players to dedicate themselves to winning each tackle and consistently putting their bodies on the line.

Injuries & Suspensions

QPR

Southampton

Predicted Lineups

QPR (4-4-2): Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Norrington-Davies, Esquerdinha; Vale, Hayden, Madsen, Chair; Kone, Burell

Southampton (3-4-3): McCarthy; Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie; Fellows, Downes, Jander, Manning; Robinson, Armstrong, Scienza

Predicted Scoreline

Interim boss Tonda Eckert is expected to stick with the familiar 3-4-3 shape he has used with Southampton’s under-21s and the formation Will Still utilised. Defender Ronnie Edwards will make his return to Loftus Road, having spent six months on loan with QPR last season.

The Saints look a mess at the moment, and while Eckert is among the contenders for the permanent job, this test and the one on Saturday could be crucial in showing whether he can steady the ship. With just a few days to work with a squad that’s gone five games without a win, a full turnaround seems unlikely overnight. QPR, meanwhile, remain a well-balanced side, and striker Richard Kone’s four goals so far show they do have a cutting edge Southampton currently lack.