It's a stroll for Saints at QPR

George Burley's side were always in complete control at Loftus Road and could have won by far more in an impressive display.

The game kicked off on the back of an emotional build-up.

There were wreaths laid in the centre circle and a minute's applause in memory of teenage QPR striker Ray Jones who died in a car crash the week before.

This was the first game QPR had played since and the family of Jones were also on the pitch before the game.

Rangers seemed more effected by it than Saints as George Burley's team bossed the early stages.

However, chances were hard to come by for either side.

Saints did create an opening with a free kick just left of centre 25 yards out on 15 minutes after Andrew Surman's shot had been handled but Youssef Safri shot into the wall.

Former Saint Dexter Blackstock almost got through for QPR a minute later and was only stopped by a terrifically timed sliding tackle from Wayne Thomas. Thomas was then in action at the other end as a corner found him at the far post. He drilled in a shot that Lee Camp had to turn over the bar.

From that corner on 18 minutes Saints did take the lead.

It was simple stuff with Safri whipping the ball in from the left straight onto the head of Grzegorz Rasiak, who climbed highest at the far post to head back across goal for 1-0.

Saints were keeping the ball and moving it around nicely, frustrating QPR who were hardly able to get a touch. In particular Safri was influential just in front of the back four.

Kelvin Davis had to be alert on 26 minutes to get behind a Martin Rowlands free kick and hold on to it and he kept his concentration.

QPR had big appeals for a penalty turned down on 31 minutes when Rowlands went down in the area under the challenge of Jermaine Wright. The referee waved it away and the pair exchanged words afterwards.

Rasiak decided to go alone on 33 minutes when he intercepted a short backpass. He rounded the keeper but was pushed out wide and, with Bradley Wright-Phillips calling for a cutback, decided to shoot from an acute angle and Camp was able to make the save.

Saints had another great chance to double their lead on 42 minutes. Wright fed in Nathan Dyer who unselfishly squared the ball to Rasiak on the penalty spot.

He slipped as he went to fire off a shot but kept control of the ball as he got back to his feet. By that stage there were two men on the line and Camp had closed in and he fired his effort over the bar.

But they did make it 2-0 seconds before half time.

Saints defended a poor near post corner, Dyer found Safri who fed through Jhon Viafara.

He galloped away to the edge of the area and was crudely hacked down by Camp. However, the referee played a great advantage and allowed Rasiak to slide in and turn the loose ball into an empty net.

The only surprise was that Camp was only booked after the event and he was even closer to getting a red in stoppage time when the ball broke to Surman whose shot cannoned off Camp's shoulder just outside the area with the Saints players appealing for handball.

However the most important thing for Saints was a deserved 2-0 half time lead.

Saints started the second half exactly where they left off and effectively sealed the points five minutes after the restart.

Dyer jinked inside his man down the right and delivered a terrific cross into the six-yard box which landed on the head of Wright-Phillips who simply had to steer his header goalwards to make it 3-0.

The striker had half a chance to add another seconds later after been found by Rasiak but, under pressure, he had to take it early from distance and couldn't get any power behind the shot, making it easy for Camp.

QPR finally carved a chance on 57 minutes but Ben Sahar fired a volley over the bar from eight yards out.

Wright-Phillips was the next on target but saw his shot blocked by the legs of Camp.

Dyer came so close to adding a fourth on 64 minutes but his half-volley from the edge of the area went just wide.

Burley made his first change seconds later with Jason Euell coming on for his debut in place of Surman.

QPR made a double change on 69 minutes with Marc Nygaard and Daniel Nardiello coming on for Blackstock and Sahar.

Saints responded four minutes later with Marek Saganowski replacing Wright-Phillips.

Rasiak nearly completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes when Damion Stewart let the ball drift over his head the Saints striker quickly lobbed Camp but Stewart got back to dive and volley off the line.

And he was just as close a minute later when he flicked a header goalwards from Gregory Vignal's inswinging free kick but Camp just tipped it over the bar.

Saganowksi looked like he would score after being picked out by Dyer but Michael Mancienne got back with a last-ditch tackle to stop him getting a clean shot away.

Mancienne got injured making the challenge and had to be replaced by Danny Cullip while Saints also made their final change with six minutes remaining with Stern John coming on for his debut in place of Rasiak.

He immediately slid the ball through to Euell whose shot was well held low down by Camp.

John almost scored himself seconds later after rounding the keeper but Stewart got back to stop him rolling the ball home. From the corner John then had a free head from six yards out that he put wide.

But it made no difference to the result as Saints made it six points from their last possible six ahead of the international break.

See Monday's Daily Echo for full match report, pictures and reaction.