Everton condemn QPR to another away loss

Everton 3 QPR 1

QPR remain in the bottom three and without an away point this season after losing at Goodison Park.

Substitute Bobby Zamora scored a late goal for the visitors but by then Everton were in complete control after goals from Ross Barkley, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith.

Rangers have lost all nine of their matches on the road this season, eight of them in the league, and are the only side in England not to have picked up a point away from home.

With top scorer Charlie Austin suspended, Rangers looked to Matt Phillips and Junior Hoilett to get forward in support of Eduardo Vargas.

Phillips went close with an early volley and QPR looked fairly comfortable before a combination of luck and Barkley’s brilliance enabled Everton to go ahead on 33 minutes.

The youngster charged towards the penalty area, skipped away from Nedum Onuoha and tried his luck with a shot which deflected in off Mauricio Isla.

It was 2-0 at half-time after another deflection, this time when Mirallas’ free-kick struck Vargas, giving wrongfooted keeper Rob Green no chance.

A poor clearance from Green led to Naismith adding the third eight minutes into the second half, the Scot heading in unmarked from Aiden McGeady’s right-wing cross.

Everton then relaxed and Rangers deserved their goal, which came when Zamora was on hand to slot home after keeper Tim Howard had parried Jordon Mutch’s shot – the striker’s first goal since his play-off winner at Wembley clinched promotion.

But Everton were worthy winners and almost scored a fourth when Samuel Eto’o’s injury-time shot hit the post.

QPR Green, Isla, Onuoha, Dunne, Yunn, Phillips (Zamora 59), Mutch, Barton, Fer (Kranjcar 77), Hoilett, Vargas.
Subs not used: McCarthy, Hill, Wright-Phillips, Henry, Ferdinand.

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