Southampton manager Russell Martin was proud of his players for beating QPR 2-1 after another week of dealing with transfer disruption.
Adam Armstrong bagged his fourth goal of the season after Samuel Edozie and Jack Colback had cancelled each other’s strikes out in the first half.
Saints were without Che Adams – who is wanted by Everton – and Bayer Leverkusen-bound Nathan Tella after weeks of uncertainty around the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia.
“There has been so much change and disruption, so I am pleased with the mentality of the group,” Martin said.
“Che wasn’t in a place to give it everything he’s got. He and Nathan both played last week despite the noise but it has been a long week for both of them.
“The first half was no where near good enough but the subs were important and we persevered.
“I’m pleased we won, but I’m not happy with the amount of moments QPR had and how we reacted to scoring again.
“Armo comes up with a really good finish but I am frustrated with many aspects of the performance.”
Saints opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Ryan Manning squirted a perfect through ball for Edozie to cut onto his right foot and smash through Asmir, giving the former Manchester City youngster his first professional goal.
Less than three minutes later QPR were back level when Colback’s 20-yard hit and hope went in off the post.
Rangers hit the bar after the break but Armstrong picked up a pass from Manning to thump into the bottom corner with Saints’ only shot of the second half.
Armstrong had only scored four goals for Saints since arriving from Blackburn in 2021 before doubling his tally in four matches this season.
Martin said: “Armstrong has been amazing. He is a talented football but he listens to the detail and trusts in us here.
“I think he is enjoying himself and feels how much we value him, which is important for every player.
“There is also his work-rate. Like at the end of the game he makes two huge tackles at the end of the game, it is incredible.
“He is a top person and a top player and will score a lot for us this season.
“Adam has been judged for two years on something that didn’t really suit him.
“Now he has something that really suits him and is thriving.”
QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth was left to rue his side’s missed opportunities.
He said: “A £15million striker was the difference today. Armstrong has scored a lot of goals already this season and he got a chance and took it.
“But we really limited Southampton to hardly any chances and we were the aggressors with shots on target. We didn’t throw it away, we just didn’t convert our chances.
“These are things I can work on though, I can’t work on heart and desire but that is here now. The boys are emptying the tank.
“All teams are going to get dominated at Southampton this season, they are a Premier League outfit without a shadow of a doubt, but I can’t deny we didn’t deserve something from the game.
“I don’t think many teams will come here and out-shoot them here this season. Somehow we have come away with nothing.”
Venezuela 1-1 Argentina: Rondon equaliser thwarts world champions on Messi return
Argentina dropped points in a second successive CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier, as Venezuela held them to a 1-1 draw in Maturin.
The spoils were shared at Estadio Monumental de Maturin, where Salomon Rondon's second-half header cancelled out Nicolas Otamendi's earlier effort.
After heavy rain delayed kick-off, Argentina took the lead in the 13th minute.
Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo failed to properly clear the returning Lionel Messi's free-kick, and Otamendi reacted quickest to poke home from 12 yards out.
The hosts went close to levelling either side of the break. German Pezzella cleared off the line from Rondon, while Geronimo Rulli - deputising for the suspended Emiliano Martinez - kept out Yangel Herrera's powerful header.
However, Venezuela did grab their equaliser in the 65th minute - and subsequently a point - when Rondon rose at the near post to power home from Yeferson Soteldo's cross.
Messi returned to the international scene for the first time since limping off in tears during the Copa America final.
But the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner could not help Argentina get back to winning ways, while he conceded possession the joint-most times (19) by any visiting player.
The conditions certainly affected the flow of the game, and was more to the suiting of Venezuela. Although they had just 40.1% of possession, the hosts outshot their opponents 16-8.
However, they have now failed to win their last five CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers; their longest streak since going six without victory between June and October 2021.
Israel 1-4 France: Rampant Bleus clinch back-to-back Nations League wins
France made it back-to-back wins in the Nations League, with Christopher Nkunku and Bradley Barcola among the scorers as they thrashed Israel 4-1 in Hungary.
Playing at a neutral venue in Budapest's Bozsik Arena, France flew out of the traps as Israel goalkeeper Omri Glazer let Eduardo Camavinga's strike squirm past him in the sixth minute.
Israel did draw level midway through the first half as Omri Gandelman headed Oscar Gloukh's cross home, but they were on terms for less than five minutes as Chelsea forward Nkunku flicked the ball through Ilay Feingold's legs before slotting a low finish into the far corner.
Randal Kolo Muani twice went close to extending France's lead before Matteo Guendouzi gave them breathing space in the 87th minute, rolling a finish beyond Glazer and into the bottom corner.
Didier Deschamps' men added further gloss to the scoreline two minutes later, Guendouzi finding a similar position, but this time opting to pick out Barcola for a curled finish.
The result sees France move onto six points in Group A2, one adrift of Italy – who beat them on matchday one. They face Belgium next time out on Monday.
Data Debrief: New-look Bleus sparkle
With Kylian Mbappe absent due to a niggling injury and Antoine Griezmann retiring from international football, Deschamps fielded a new-look frontline of Nkunku, Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.
Recording 33 touches in the area to Israel's five, and 15 shots to their opponents' one, France certainly impressed.
Kolo Muani was a particular bright spark despite not getting on the scoresheet, with his four chances created being at least twice as many as any other player (Theo Hernandez laid on two).
Haaland becomes Norway's record scorer with Slovenia brace
Erling Haaland became Norway's all-time leading scorer with a brace in their 3-0 victory over Slovenia.
The Manchester City striker was captaining his first nation for the first time, and marked the occasion in trademark record-breaking fashion.
Haaland broke the deadlock after just seven minutes of the Nations League clash at the Ullevaal Stadium, where Alexander Sorloth doubled the lead seven minutes after the restart.
Sorloth then turned provider just after the hour mark for Haaland, who broke Jorgen Juve's 87-year record with his 34th international goal in just 36 caps.
The result put Norway firmly in charge of Group B3 with seven points, three ahead of Austria and Slovenia, with Kazakhstan propping up the table on one point.
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