Southampton proved their promotion credentials with an impressive victory over Championship top-eight rivals Queens Park Rangers.

The two sides started the game on the same amount of points on the edge of the play-off places but victory for Saints boosts them to fifth in the standings.

Kuryu Matsuki gave Tonda Eckert's side an early advantage when he struck Leo Scienza's deflected effort home from close range and Cameron Bragg then doubled the lead in the second half via the foot of QPR captain Jimmy Dunne.

Keven Schlotterbeck headed a corner high into the net at the back post to make it three before Richard Kone responded minutes later for the visitors with a thumping strike that flew in off the post.

Saints substitute Welington then added a fourth in injury time, the ball falling kindly to him in the area before he swept it into the net to seal the three points.

Southampton should have taken the lead after just four minutes when Leo Scienza's cross found an unmarked Matsuki who struck his effort high and over the crossbar from close range.

But missing that chance clearly did not faze the attacking midfielder who managed to open the scoring minutes later.

Scienza played a give-and-go with Finn Azaz on the edge of the box before letting off a shot that spun towards Matsuki.

The 23-year-old then let the ball run across his body before twisting and firing the ball across goal and into the net past Pierce Charles for his fourth goal of the season.

QPR then had a great chance to level when Kwame Poku was picked out inside the box, but his effort flew into the side netting.

Southampton thought that they had doubled their lead just before the break as Lewis Dobbin glanced Scienza's corner into the net, but in the process Jack Stephens was seen to be in an offside position and interfering with play.

Saints did find a second just before the hour mark when Ryan Manning pulled a low cross back for Bragg to strike at goal, taking a big deflection via the foot of Dunne on its way into the net.

Saints then scored a third when Manning's corner flew to Schlotterbeck at the back post who headed the ball high into the back of the net before running off to celebrate in the corner of the ground.

Just two minutes later the Hoops got a goal back when Richard Kone surged towards the Southampton box and unleashed an effort that flew into the net via the right-hand post.

But Tonda Eckert's side then sealed the deal when Welington followed up a Divin Mubama run, picking up the ball and slotting it past Charles to make it four.

Bragg caught the eye with an impressive performance for Saints in the middle of the park alongside the experienced James Ward-Prowse.

His seven recoveries and four tackles were a major contributing factor to Saints stifling the Hoops' attack as they dominated their opponents and prevented them from getting up the pitch.

Bragg ran the show on the ball too, accurate with 95% of his passes and finding Southampton's forwards often as he moved the ball quickly, taking limited touches to keep their attacks flowing.

The academy graduate really took his chance as he played his first 90 minutes for Saints since being sent off against Portsmouth in October.

He was given a standing ovation by the home fans after being substituted in injury time, his name ringing around the stadium as he was clapped off.

Kone's strike in the second half had a number of QPR fans running back to their seats, but in reality they never looked like beating Southampton.

Despite having 45% of the total possession, they only managed two shots on target compared to Saints' nine on the day, with some of their best moments coming in the first half, especially Poku's attempt.

Julien Stephan's side remain ninth and two points off the play-off positions with Saturday's defeat their third of the campaign.

Their next two matches provide an opportunity to regain some momentum as they take on Burnley and Lincoln City at Loftus Road where they have lost just once this season.

The Hoops possess the eight best home record in the Championship this campaign having won three of their six matches in west London.

Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:

"The boys were really good and came up against a really good side in QPR who scored five last week.

"The last 20 minutes could have been easier but it was not easy to defend against them and the boys did a good job.

"The reaction from him [Bragg, since the derby] has been brilliant and it's so important that you come back into the side with your chest out and he has done that.

"At the start of his senior career that just shows his maturity, he doesn't shy away from the ball and we need that."

QPR head coach Julien Stephan speaking to BBC Radio London:

"We started the game well and created some big chances in the first ten to 15 minutes, we did some good things collectively during the first half.

"We had some chances to score and this kind of game is one where if you don't take your opportunities then it becomes more difficult.

"The main disappointment that I have is the start of the second half and I don't know why we started it like we did.

"The first 20 minutes was very poor for us technically and we lost a lot of balls, we had to stay in a low position and against a team with this quality they killed the game in this period."