Late goals from Grzegorz Rasiak and Bradley Wright-Phillips secured a valuable win for Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton over QPR at Loftus Road.

Rasiak struck his 17th goal of the season from close range in the 81st minute just as Saints appeared to be heading for yet another of the draws which have undermined their automatic promotion bid this season.

Former Saint Dexter Blackstock thought he had levelled moments later but referee Trevor Kettle chalked off his effort for a foul and Wright-Phillips struck in stoppage time as George Burley's side stretched their unbeaten run to seven league games.

Until Rasiak's intervention all eyes were on Gareth Bale, the 17-year-old left-back who is the talk of the January transfer window with Saints this week turning down a bid of £8million, believed to be from Barclays Premiership leaders Manchester United.

And Wales' youngest-ever international did not disappoint with a display full of purposeful running and dangerous crosses, culminating in supplying the corner for Rasiak's breakthrough goal.

Southampton's early threat predictably came from the left boot of Bale, who exchanged quick passes with Jermaine Wright before fizzing the ball across goal in the opening moments.

Rasiak was inches away from connecting, and shortly after the Pole should have come up with better than a weak header wide when Bale's curling free-kick was fumbled by Simon Royce.

Rasiak should have hit the target after being played in by Jhon Viafara but delayed his shot too long, and Mario Licka then forced a diving save from Royce with an angled drive.

Rangers were already missing their most creative player, Lee Cook, through suspension and they were dealt a further blow when Marc Bircham limped off.

Their first attack of note came when Blackstock, who was on target when Rangers inflicted Saints' only home defeat so far this season, scuffed Steve Lomas' cross wide.

Blackstock should have fired Rangers ahead towards half-time as he latched onto substitute Stefan Bailey's clever pass, but he poked the ball just wide of Kelvin Davis' left-hand post.

Saints went back on the attack after the break and Viafara headed another free-kick from Bale wide before Rasiak wasted a gilt-edged chance with a weak finish after being put through by Licka.

Wright thumped a shot over the crossbar and Pele fired wide as Saints pressed, although they were nearly caught out again by Blackstock, who hooked Jimmy Smith's corner goalwards only for Wright to clear from the goalline.

Wright then tried his luck again and when Royce failed to hold his shot, Rasiak knocked the ball past the grounded goalkeeper but could not keep it in play.

Another lung-busting run from Bale was brought to a halt by Bailey and from the ensuing free-kick, the precocious youngster found the side-netting with Rangers still forming their wall.

But Saints finally made the breakthrough nine minutes from time when Royce fumbled Bale's corner and Rasiak threw himself into a crowd of players to prod the ball home from under the crossbar.

Blackstock immediately had the ball in the net from Jimmy Smith's corner but Rangers' celebrations were cut short by the referee's whistle.

And in stoppage time Saints made sure on the break when substitute Wright-Phillips sauntered into the penalty area and rammed his shot past the exposed Royce.

Teams

QPR Royce, Rehman, Mancienne, Stewart, Timoska, Baidoo,Bircham (Bailey 20), Lomas, Smith, Ray Jones (Nygaard 75),Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka, Furlong.

Southampton Davis, Baird, Lundekvam, Powell, Bale,Licka (McGoldrick 74), Wright, Pele, Viafara, Rasiak,Jones (Wright-Phillips 74).

Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Ostlund, Lallana.

Goals: Rasiak 81, Wright-Phillips 90.

Att: 14,686

Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).