QPR boss Julien Stephan takes full responsibility and apologises to fans after the 5-0 defeat to Southampton on Tuesday night.
Finn Azaz, Kuryu Matsuki’s double, Leo Scienza and James Bree boosted the Saints’ Championship playoff hopes, sending them up to 7th in the table, and go a 7th league match without defeat.
Queens Park Rangers meanwhile are 13th with 47 points from 34 games played, 7 points from the playoff places.
The result is also Southampton’s biggest league win since a 5-0 beating of Swansea in 2023, and extends Southampton’s winning run against QPR to six games, stretching back to 2014.
QPR boss Julien Stephan speaking to BBC Radio London:
“We knew that after the third one it was very difficult to come back and we conceded the fourth one quickly.
“It was a repeat [situation] but its just a question of how we can manage the situation in order to prepare the next one (game) and how we can give some playing time for some players, how we can give some rest for other ones.
“I would have liked to change one or two players more but it was not possible so now for me, the main thing is to switch quickly, to reset quickly, and to think about the next one and see how we are able to react, and I’m sure that these players are able to react.”
Stephan, per Sky Sports:
“It was a tough evening.
“We conceded goals in bad moments – at the start of the half, in the last seconds of the half and then two minutes into the second half. It was finished in about 47 minutes.
“When Nico (Madsen) has his injury in the 31st minute it was a crucial moment for us.
“After we conceded the first goal we had a good reaction and I felt it was possible to comeback but when we lost Nico the momentum completed changed.
“I want to take full responsibility for the game because I make the choices and I want to apologise to the fans.
“It is not the real face of QPR and on Saturday we will react. We will stay united and play the next one with hunger.”
Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert speaking to BBC Radio Solent:
“There are many games we could have scored more than one and sometimes that’s enough, but today there were some key moments that came our way and we do have some quality players on the pitch.
“These night games are always special at St Mary’s. It’s a quick pitch and we needed to make sure that we are really sharp and we were right from the beginning, the first goal was because of that.
“I’m very big on confidence and I believe every player needs to back themselves, he [Matsuki] has got his head down and worked hard despite not playing very minutes and today is a consequence of that.
“We’re still not where we want to be, we have to keep our heads down, be humble and keep working, we need to turn this into a really good month when we have our game Saturday.”
Eckert, per Sky Sports:
“We are happy for the performance.
“Every game for the rest of the season will write its own story and every game will unfold in its own way but I think we have shown some statements that we are there.
“That doesn’t mean anything at the moment. We need to keep our heads down, stay humble and keep working.
“He [Matsuki] is the type of player who doesn’t get marked in the box. It is lucky they did and then he got there before the goalkeeper.
“Kuryu has played for some big clubs and played in front of some big crowds so has natural confidence.
“He is a very good player and a nice player to coach.”
Here’s the social media reaction as the QPR boss takes full responsibility and apologises to fans after the 5-0 defeat to Southampton…
@QPRRiley: every single time we have a somewhat decent chance play offs injuries kill us. same thing happened in 21/22
@1882Rs: I go to uni here lads you’re doing me no favours at all
@QPROrlando123: I get our fans overreact sometimes but today it is completely justified, embarrassing display.
@Daniel_QPR: Everyone looks tired, Jimmy you apologise at the end but are you leadership for this team. We have strikers who don’t know what they are doing people who can’t cross and defending today was shambles, same ball through every time. Hamer in goal till end of the season.
@Cps2300: So relaxed to losing 5-0.
@HarbzTommy: I can’t really back him tonight, glad he’s taken the responsibility. Too many Injuries in this squad to properly compete but today was no excuse. Definitely should NOT be sacked, hasn’t had a fit squad all season. Onto the next 🤍💙
@ChrisAllum1: Players have embarrassed the club and completely let the fans down tonight.. forget the post match interviews just get on the coach and go..
@Anton_zzz7: “they gave everything today” did we watch the same game or what
@JackM_QPR: Feel sorry for him. Not being given much of a chance due to the injury situation.
@kane_qpr1: “I want to protect the players” there is no protecting Walsh mate.
@SteveH1982: 1 step forward, 2 steps back always with you fuckers. 7-1 and 5-0 in the same season. Heads need to roll tonight. Hope the M3 is blocked for you on the way home. Cunts.
@HarryRJC: Second battering of the season. Travelling fans deserve so much better. If Madsen is out long term I really worry how we’ll cope rest of the season without him.
@hitman_hearn: No press until we’re behind, Morgan up top, Hayden plays the full 90, that is the worst away day I’ve ever been on. Left after 70mins along with everyone else. Utter dogshit from front to back and in the dugout. Nearly 2000 turned up but no players did
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