Southend run riot against QPR
Gregory's side were no match for Southend
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Friday, 09, Feb 2007 10:44
Southend United claimed a 5-0 win against Queen's Park Rangers to help move themselves closer to safety at the bottom of the Championship table.
QPR goalkeeper Simon Royce gifted the Shrimpers their first goal on eight minutes with a bad mistake. Royce scuffed an attempted clearance which bounced straight into Southend striker Lee Bradbury and into the goal.
Steve Lomas then nearly put through his own goal only for Royce to save his blushes with a fine reaction stop after a Shrimpers free-kick had caused confusion in the QPR box.
Rangers had a claim for a penalty turned down just before half-time when Lee Cook appeared to be felled by Peter Clarke but their appeals were turned down by the referee.
Southend had their goalkeeper, Darryl Flahavan, to thank for keeping the score at 1-0 as Rangers upped the pace at the start of the second half.
But Mark Gower scored the crucial second goal to extinguish the hopes of the visiting side after 70 minutes. QPR failed to deal with Kevin Maher's free-kick and Gower slotted home.
Efe Sodje made it 3-0 eight minutes later, powering home a header from close range, after another well-delivered Maher set-piece - this time a corner.
Maher then dictated the remaining minutes and put on a real show for the home fans to enjoy.
He curled in Southend's fourth goal from the edge of the area in the 90th minute and then added a fifth in injury time, scoring direct from a free-kick which Royce had little chance to save.