Southampton beats fellow struggler QPR 3-1 in EPL

(AP Photo/Bogdan Maran)

By MICHAEL BOTSFORD

LONDON (AP) Southampton won the matchup of the Premier League's bottom two teams, beating Queens Park Rangers 3-1 away on Saturday to increase the pressure on home manager Mark Hughes.

Ricky Lambert opened the scoring for the visitors in the 23rd minute, knocking in a rebound after Jason Puncheon's shot was saved by Julio Cesar. Puncheon then added the second just before halftime, and winless QPR was loudly booed at the break.

QPR got one back through David Hoillett in the 49th, but Southampton sealed the win in the 84th minute when Anton Ferdinand put Morgan Schneiderlin's cross into his own net.

Southampton now has eight points from 12 games, while QPR remains rooted to the bottom with four.

Updated November 17, 2012