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Premier League
Mar 22, 2015 at 4pm UK
 
Everton logo

1-2

Vargas (65')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Coleman (18'), Lennon (77')

Live Commentary: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Everton - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League match between Everton and Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
2

Aaron Lennon scored the winner as Everton came away with a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road this afternoon.

Seamus Coleman opened the scoring in the first half, but Eduardo Vargas got the home side back on level terms after the break.

Lennon fired the ball in late on though, condemning Chris Ramsey's side to a fifth straight defeat.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good afternoon! Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to end their run of four losses in a row when they face Everton in an hour at Loftus Road. The teams have just been announced, so let's start with a look at the lineups.

QPR STARTING XI: Green, Isla, Onuoha, Caulker, Suk-young, Phillips, Barton, Sandro, Hoilett, Austin, Zamora

EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Gibson, McCarthy, Osman, Lennon, Kone, Lukaku

QPR SUBSTITUTES: McCarthy, Hill, Ferdinand, Kranjcar, Henry, Vargas, Taarabt

EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Robles, Naismith, Besic, Barkley, Browning, Garbutt, Alcaraz

The hosts are boosted by the return of captain Joey Barton, who is available again after serving a three-match suspension following a red card. His return is one of four changes to the side that lost to Crystal Palace last weekend, with Bobby Zamora, Mauricio Isla and Junior Hoilett also coming in.

Meanwhile, there are five changes for Roberto Martinez after his side lost to Dynamo Kiev on Thursday evening. John Stones, Darron Gibson, Leon Osman, Arouna Kone and Aaron Lennon all come into the starting lineup. Perhaps the biggest surprise of those is Kone, who is preferred to Steven Naismith, but the striker has been looking close to full fitness in the last couple of matches after a year out with a knee injury.

Here's Joey Barton arriving at Loftus Road a little while ago as he prepares for his first match in almost a month:


Everton have a good record against QPR in recent years, winning their last three meetings against the London side, with no losses in their last five meetings. QPR's last victory over the Toffees in the league was almost 19 years ago.

Roberto Martinez will be hoping that fatigue isn't too much of a factor this afternoon. His side were in action until almost 8pm in Ukraine just three days ago. It's not a short journey back, and it was a pretty draining match for the team, which goes some way to explaining the mass changes for the visitors today.

For QPR, victory this afternoon is vital if they want to stay in the top flight next season. They're four points adrift of safety heading into this match, but victory would be enough to move them above Burnley.

Ahead of this match, Chris Ramsey said at his pre-match press conference: "We are aware that we are running out of time and out of games, we have to go out on Sunday and give our best. Apart from the Crystal Palace game, the performances have been good. We have been unlucky in certain games. We just have to make sure that we don't give away silly goals like we have done and that we stay together."

Meanwhile, Martinez told reporters: "We've just arrived from Ukraine and we need to be ready for the game at Loftus Road where we will face a really enthusiastic side. They use the home crowd to their advantage and the ground to a very good effect. We see these nine games as nine finals. We want to get as many points as we can and we need to start looking at being able to perform in every game."

Here's a couple of the Everton boys getting used to their surroundings ahead of kickoff. It's a special match for James McCarthy this afternoon, as he makes his 50th start in the Premier League for the Toffees:


One player who will surely be looking to prove a point this afternoon is Charlie Austin. The QPR forward has been linked with an England call-up all season, but with the club's form taking a downward turn in recent weeks, and chances being scarce for the striker, he's been overlooked for England's upcoming matches, with Roy Hodgson preferring to hand a first call-up to Tottenham's Harry Kane instead. Austin has 15 goals in the Premier League this season, with only Kane, Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero finding the back of the net more.

Matt Phillips will also be key for the hosts this afternoon. The midfielder has scored one and set up four goals in his last five appearances in the league, including a spectacular long-range effort against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Everton certainly haven't been at their best away from home this season, having lost nine of their fixtures away from Goodison Park in the league. Only their opponents today and Leicester City have been less effective on the road.

As there's time before kickoff, why not watch what Sports Mole's On The Sofa team had to say about this match when they previewed the meeting:

This isn't the only 4pm kickoff in the Premier League this afternoon as league leaders Chelsea travel to Hull City today. You can follow live coverage from that fixture here.

This is the last fixture for both of these sides for the next couple of weeks as the international break gets underway after today. Upon their return, QPR travel to West Brom before hosting Chelsea. Meanwhile, Everton have a tricky run in April, with matches against Southampton and Swansea, who can both still clinch European places, as well as a match against Burnley, who are fighting relegation.

PREDICTION! With just a couple of minutes until the players make their way out of the tunnel ahead of kickoff, there's just time for a quick prediction. Everton looked impressive against Newcastle last Sunday, but surely will be affected by their Europa League outing. They should still have enough to beat a struggling QPR this afternoon though, so I'm going for a 2-1 away win.

REFEREE WATCH! The man overseeing the match this afternoon is Jon Moss. The players are now on the pitch ready for kickoff, which is just a few minutes away.

KICKOFF! Everton get the match underway.

The visitors are on the attack early on as they look for a quick breakthrough, but Arouna Kone's run into the box is blocked by Onuoha. The home side try to catch Everton out with a quick counter-attack, but nothing opens up.

CHANCE! Tim Howard has to make an early save as the hosts find themselves in the box again. Matt Phillips takes the shot, but it's straight at the keeper and is easily saved.

Phillips is looking really sharp for the home side in the early stages of this match as he finds himself in space on the edge of the box, and he tries to curl it in towards Zamora, but Stones made the clearance.

CHANCE! Barton quickly wins the ball back in midfield for QPR, and he plays the ball through for Charlie Austin. The striker flicks it on for Bobby Zamora, but the forward can only slice it high. It wouldn't have counted though, as the offside flag was up.

CHANCE! Everton finally manage to make their way back down the other end, and they force the first corner of the match when Lukaku's effort is deflected behind. Coleman curls it back in, and finds the head of Leon Osman, but he can't keep his finish on target.

Zamora is offside again as he charges into the box to try to collect a ball in from Austin. The striker protests his innocence to the assistant, but the replays show he was clearly ahead of Stones.

A handball by Kone gives the home side a free kick around 30 yards out, and Phillips whips it in for Onuoho. The initial delivery is cleared, but Barton plays is back in, but Jagielka just manages to stop Caulker getting his shot away. QPR are looking really dangerous on the attack in the early stages of this match.

Austin and Zamora are working well together up front, and the latter is played in again by his strike partner, but Stones does just enough to hold up the striker, giving his defensive colleagues enough time to crowd him out. Normally, it's Zamora setting up Austin, but it looks like Austin is keen to set up his teammate this afternoon.

Barton is certainly making amends for his three-match absence as he tries to find the head of Austin with a long ball forward, but Howard comes off his line to claim it first. Barton is involved again moments later to blast a free kick in, but there's no-one to get on the end of it.

GOAL! QPR 0-1 Everton (Seamus Coleman)

It's been all QPR in the opening 19 minutes, but it's Everton who take the lead as Osman charges towards the QPR goal on the counter before passing it out wide for Seamus Coleman, who hits it first time to wallop it past Rob Green, picking out the top corner from a tight angle. That's a superb finish from the defender.

QPR are quickly back on the attack down the other end as they try to get back on level terms. A Yun throw in gets the ball in the box, but McCarthy is back to make sure the home side's can't create anything from it.

CHANCE! Austin and Zamora are involved again, with the latter flicking it on for Austin, but his looping header is watched carefully by Howard, who has to stretch to stop it sneaking under the crossbar. Lukaku tries to create something on the break, but Caulker throws himself in front of the striker to make sure his path is blocked. It looks like the defender's injured his hand in the process, and has to head off for a moment for treatment on what looked like a dislocated finger.

CHANCE! The QPR strikers continue to stretch the Everton defenders as Barton and Yun play the ball through midfield before Phillips plays the through-ball for Austin. Howard comes off his line to try to stop Austin's effort, but Zamora goes up for the ball too, and heads it goalwards, but Jagielka is there to make the block.

PENALTY APPEAL! The visitors want a penalty as Joey Barton appears to use his hand to block a shot from Gibson, but the referee isn't interested and waves for the action to continue.

Everton are starting to see a bit more of the ball as Lukaku makes a run down the left, which comes to nothing, before Gibson wins it back and plays it forward for Lennon, but the winger is offside.

CHANCE! Bobby Zamora really should be scoring from there as Austin loses Jagielka out wide to send in a superb cross for Zamora, who is just a few yards out, but he fails to get a foot to it for what would surely have been an easy tap in.

CHANCE! Surely one of these will go in from Zamora sooner or later?! The striker is involved again as Phillips sends a high ball into the box, leaving Zamora with a free header, but it goes high.

Everton are back on the attack as they clearly want a second goal before half time, but Kone has his effort blocked, while Coleman can't find Lukaku as he tries to get the ball back into the area.

Barton threads a well-timed pass forward for Zamora, but Jagielka and Stones, who are working hard at the back, are both ready to block his run.

BOOKING! Junior Hoilett is the first player into the book as he goes in late Osman.

Everton are keeping the ball well in midfield as they patiently try to make their way forward again, but Austin is fouled by Stones to give QPR a free kick in a dangerous position.

CHANCE! Barton tees it up for Phillips who tries to drill it into the low corner, but it curls well wide, wasting the opportunity as Austin and Zamora were waiting in the box.

Baines is applying the pressure down the left as Everton look to create one final chance before the break, but he catches Isla to give away the free kick.

HALF TIME: Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Everton

So at half time it's Seamus Coleman's wonderstrike that separates the two sides. Chris Ramsey will be relatively happy with the way his team has played so far, but he'll bemoan their missed chances.

In the opening 45 minutes, Everton had a little more of the ball with 53%, and twice as many shots with six, although the Everton defenders have worked hard to limit the home side's chances.

Here's the moment Seamus Coleman celebrated his fifth goal of the season for Everton.

Everton's Irish defender Seamus Coleman celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match against Queens Park Rangers on March 22, 2015© Getty Images


The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half.

RESTART! The visitors get the second half underway.

DISALLOWED GOAL! QPR have the ball in the back of the net after Hoilett hits the bar with a long-range effort, just missing the top corner, while a follow up from Zamora is cleared off the line. Matt Phillips eventually manages to head it in, but the midfielder was offside. That's just the kind of start QPR would have been looking for though.

Sandro plays the ball forward for Yun down the left flank, and he eventually manages to get the ball to Austin. Hoilett tries to get into space in the box, but the visitors have numbers back to clear the danger.

McCarthy plays a long ball forward to Osman, who has Isla for company, but has space ahead of him. The defender does well though, making a well-timed challenge to take the ball away from the Everton man on the edge of the box. He had to get that right or it could have been a penalty.

BOOKING! Yun Suk-young is shown the yellow card for a late challenge on Lennon. The Korean really can't have any complaints, that was a clumsy tackle.

Isla is having to working hard as Everton apply the pressure while looking for a secon. Kone weaves his way past a couple of defenders, but the Chilean makes the clearance.

Barton steals the ball away from Lukaku and finds Zamora, who plays it through for Austin in a dangerous-looking counter-attack, but McCarty shows superb pace to sprint back and beat the striker to the ball.

The hosts are starting to threaten again as Hoilett flicks the ball in towards Zamora, but it's cleared before the striker can get the shots away.

SUB! QPR are the first to make a change as Eduardo Vargas replaced Hoilett.

There's an injury concern for Everton as Kone is on the receiving end of a high challenge from Sandro, leaving the striker clutching his face in pain. He looks alright though, so should be ok to continue.

CHANCE! QPR are on the attack again with Vargas picking the ball up from Isla. He pulls it back for Sandro on the edge of the box, but the Brazilian's attempt at a powerful low finish is blocked by Jagielka. Meanwhile Lukaku appears to have picked up a hamstring problem.

Barton tries his luck with a 25-yard strike, but he does manage to force a corner as it's deflected behind for a corner.

GOAL! QPR 1-1 Everton (Eduardo Vargas)

Super-sub Eduardo Vargas has found the equaliser for the hosts as the corner falls to Sandro. His effort is blocked, but Vargas is waiting just a couple of yards out, and he lashes it into the roof of the net from close range. It's absolutely rocking at Loftus Road now as the home supporters sense a chance for victory!

SUB! It gets worse for Everton as Lukaku's hamstring problem has ended his afternoon, with Ross Barkley taking his place.

There seems to be a new-found intensity in the home side's play as they try to get back in the Everton area. Zamora's progress is halted though when a solid challenge from Stones leaves him a bit shaken up.

SUB! It's a straight swap for the hosts as Karl Henry comes on for Sandro, who is still working his way back to full fitness.

CHANCE! Baines sprints down the left in a bid to set up Kone, but Onuoha is ready to make the block, stopping the striker and launching the hosts on the counter. Zamora has it on the edge of the box, and he goes for glory, striking it from 20 yards out, but it was always rising and ends up going well high. QPR are certainly looking the more likely at the moment.

CHANCE! Zamora and Austin haven't had quite as much of an impact as a duo in the second half, but they link up again now as they look to give QPR the lead, but Austin's finish is somewhat rushed, and he scuffs it wide.

GOAL! QPR 1-2 Everton (Aaron Lennon)

As with there first goal, it's completely again the run of play, but Everton are back in front courtesy of a rather clinical finish from Aaron Lennon. Coleman crosses it in towards the winger, who hits it first time to find the bottom corner. That's the first time Everton have really threatening in the second half, and they've certainly made it count.

SUB! It's another injured striker as Kone limps off to be replaced by Steven Naismith.

SUB! The hosts make their final change as Bobby Zamora heads off to make way for Adel Taarabt.

QPR are on the ball, with Barton playing it out wide for Yun, who sets up Phillips for the cross, but Stones beats Austin to the ball to get it clear. Everton will probably be happy just to see this out in the final 10 minutes, and they've got numbers back to make sure they're strong at the back.

Everton win a corner, but Phillips gets back to help clear Baines's delivery in. He looks to bring it out, but Osman wins it back and tries to catch the hosts out with a quick run forward, but Isla blocks it.

CHANCE! It's end-to-end stuff as both sides push for another goal. Adel Taarabt almost scores a spectacular goal as he rifles the ball towards the bottom right from 25 yards out, but it's just a couple of inches wide. Tim Howard will breath a sigh of relief, as he looked rooted to the spot.

QPR haven't given up yet as Barton and Taarabt play it through the middle before looking for Austin, but Stones is back to make sure the striker can't get his right foot to it. It's left Stones in some pain though.

Vargas fires a long ball forward, but Baines heads it away. It soon flicked back in by Taarabt, but his delivery is turned behind for a corner. Meanwhile, there's a big cheer as the fourth official holds up the board, revealing that there are five minutes of stoppage time to come.

CHANCE! Isla floats the ball in, and Caulker is waiting for it just a couple of yards out, but Howard beats him to it, decisively claiming it for the visitors.

Taarabt times his run forward superbly, and weaves past a couple of defenders with some impressive footwork, but the cross is poor.

OFF THE POST! Taarabt comes within milimetres of rescuing the draw for the hosts as Caulker wins the ball back from Stones to flick it into the path of the midfielder, but his half-volley hits the top of the post, before going behind.

BOOKING! Steven Naismith wastes some time by delaying a throw in, earning himself a booking.

FULL TIME: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Everton

Taarabt's effort off the post will be the home side's last of the afternoon as a high ball in from Caulker comes to nothing, leaving the referee to blow his whistle and end the match.

It will be a difficult result for QPR to accept. They played well, and were unlucky to have a goal disallowed and see an effort hit the post late on, but it's not enough to cut the gap between themselves and 17th. It looks rather bleak for the Loftus Road side now.

For Everton, Aaron Lennon's first goal for the club moves them up to 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three, with every side below them having lost this weekend.

Well, that's all from this match, but stick around for post-match reaction, analysis and player ratings. Until next time, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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Chris Ramsey manager of QPR looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Queens Park Rangers at KC Stadium on February 21, 2015
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