Saints 2-3 QPR

Darren Powell got Saints off to the perfect start with a goal after just 55 seconds but two goals in the closing stages of the first half saw them trailing at half time.

QPR stretched their lead in the second period, all three goals a result of defensive errors, and it meant Stern John's late strike, after Youssef Safri had been sent off, was a mere consolation.

Dodd said: "We got off to a fantastic start and looked to build on that.

"We had two or three great chances through Stern and Bradley and if we'd have taken one of those it might have been a wee bit different but it's disappointing three mistakes cost us goals.

"That was our problem earlier in the season where individual mistakes have cost us."

Saints scored in the first and last minutes of the match but in between were taught a lesson in clinical finishing by QPR.

To make things worse Saints captain Youssef Safri is now facing a three game ban after being shown a straight red card 12 minutes from time.

Saints could hardly have got off to a better start.

Bradley Wright-Phillips chased down a ball over the top and QPR keeper Lee Camp slid to claim it but his momentum took him just outside the box.

Adam Hammill stepped up to take the free kick on the left edge and swung it into the area where Darren Powell came through a melee of players to finish in the opposite corner within a minute of the kick off.

QPR looked dangerous in attack though and Safri had to be on his guard to head away a Kieran Lee cross that looked as though it could drift in at the far post while Kelvin Davis made a comfortable save from Gavin Mahon moments later.

Stern John tried to catch Camp off guard with a quickly taken half volley from 40 yards on ten minutes but it went wide.

Hogan Ephraim couldn't quite make a clean contact when he had a yard in the box to shoot and it was an easy save straight at Davis.

Wright-Phillips had the same problem from a corner on 21 minutes with his glancing header going wide at the far post.

Martin Rowlands came close to levelling the scores two minutes later with a terrific volley from the edge of that area that flew just over the top right hand corner of Davis' goal.

It really was a very good game with both sides playing open, attacking, passing football and pushing on looking for goals.

Saints missed two glorious opportunities to double their lead in the space of a few seconds on 35 minutes.

First Andrew Surman split the defence with a terrific ball into the path of Wright-Phillips but his weak shot when through one-on-one was straight at Camp.

The QPR keeper's ball out was then intercepted and Saints found themselves with three players in behind and just Camp to beat.

Jason Euell had the ball on the right and quickly squared to Stern John who just had to side foot home from the penalty spot but skied his effort so far over the bar.

Camp was in action again three minutes later when he palmed away Andrew Davies' header from a corner.

And predictably Saints were made to pay for their wastefulness when QPR equalised on 38 minutes.

Rowan Vine charged past several despairing tackles and fed in Rowlands who finished low past the advancing Davis inside the area for 1-1.

And it got worse just before half time when QPR took the lead.

Damien Delaney put in a deep cross from the right, Patrick Agyemang had peeled off to the far post and in behind left back Jermaine Wright and side footed low past Davis from the edge of six yard box for 2-1.

That proved to be the last chance of the half and despite playing well Saints' poor finishing meant they had plenty of work to do in the second half.

Both sides made a change at half time.

Dodd and Gorman brought on Marek Saganowksi for Hammill while QPR's switch saw Akos Buzsaky replacing Kieran Lee.

Dodd and Gorman made another change on 53 minutes with Jhon Viafara coming on for Wayne Thomas.

Buzsaky became the first player in the book for a foul on Surman.

The second half wasn't as open as the first with QPR having a lead to protect and not pushing men forward and leaving gaps at the back quite as much.

And then Saints went and shot themselves in the foot with a truly comical third Rangers goal on 61 minutes.

Camp kicked a long ball from his hands and as Davis came out of his area to clear Wright decided to try and control on his knee but only succeeded in knocking the ball past his own keeper.

The chasing Agyemang ran on and grateful slid the ball home from close range under no pressure.

Powell went on to become the first Saints man in the book two minutes later.

Dodd and Gorman made a third and final change to try and get back into the game with Adam Lallana coming on for Wright-Phillips on 68 minutes.

Delaney was booked for a foul on Euell a minute later.

Lallana showed a bit of thrust and determination with a powerful run and shot from 20 yards that went just wide.

Saints were showing occasional signs of life but the fans were growing ever more frustrated.

The icing on the cake came on 78 minutes when Safri was sent off.

Agyemang had the ball and Safri thumped into a tackle winning the ball but sending the QPR man up in the air with the follow through which was deemed too aggressive and a deliberate trip and referee Anthony Taylor showed him the red card.

Former Saints striker Dexter Blackstock was introduced on 79 minutes for Agyemang.

QPR made a final change on minutes with Mikele Leigertwood replacing Ephraim.

It almost got worse for Saints as Blackstock put the ball right across the face of goal but there was no one there to tap it home.

Saints gave themselves hope when John pulled a goal.

The fourth official had just shown the board for four minutes of stoppage time when Euell's ball found John who finished across Camp into the far corner for 3-2.

Saints threw a few balls in the area but it was QPR who came closest with Buzsaky curling a shot just wide of the post and when the final whistle went the late rally proved not to be enough for Saints who slipped to another defeat.