QPR’s survival chances were dealt a major blow at Loftus Roas as visitor Everton picked up a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Seamus Coleman and Aaron Lennon.
Everton’s body language early on suggested they were still coming to terms with their 5-3 Europa Cup defeat against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday as QPR were quicker to the ball, but failed to test Tim Howard in the visitors goal.
On nine minutes Leon Osman got on the end of a corner but his effort flew over Rob Green’s goal as Everton started to liven up.
Youngster John Stones was being tested by the presence of Bobby Zamora in the Rs attack but showed why he is one of the most highly rated defenders in the Premier League with a commanding display.
Coleman’s late tackle on Yun led to a QPR free kick and Joey Barton’s delivery was inches away from being directed in by Nedum Onuoha.
On 17 minutes Everton hit QPR on the break with Arouna Kone’s cross from the left picking up Lennon who laid the ball off to Osman who picked out Coleman is lots of space just inside the penalty area and the Irishman’s effort hit the far post before nestling in Green’s bottom left hand corner.
QPR looked to get back on a level terms and a superb cross from Charlie Austin picked out Zamora but the big strikers header failed to trouble Howard.
Junior Hoilett who made little impact in the half picked up the booking of the game for a late foul on the lively Lennon as the home side struggled to recover from going a goal down.
Rangers came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half, Hoilett effort hit the post and Phillip’s header was eventually touched hom by Austin but the linesman ruled the goal out as Phillips was adjudged to have been offside when Hoilett hit his shot.
The Rs continued to pile on the pressure with Hoilett seeing a lot more of the ball than he did during the opening half.
At the other end, a last ditch challenge from the recalled Mauricio Isla denied Osman a clear effort on goal after good link up play between Kone and former Chelsea man Romelu Lakaku.
Yun then went into the referees notebook after he took out Lennon on the halfway line.
With 30 minutes remaining, QPR boss Chris Ramsey sent on Eduardo Vargas for Hoilett in the hope of adding some better quality in the final third.
It proved to be an inspired decision as the Chile international smashed the ball home from close range after Everton failed to clear a corner from Phillips.
Roberto Martinez was then forced into replaced Lukaku who looked to have starined his hamstring and sent on England international Ross Barkley.
Zamora blazed over when well placed after racing through on goal as Rangers made their second change with Karl Henry replacing Sandro in the heart of the Rs midfield.
Just as QPR looked like they might go on to grab a winning goal then fell behind for the second time in the game as Lennon fired into the bottom corner following good work by Coleman down the right wing.
Kone was forced to limp off and Everton sent on Steven Naismith. QPR responded by replacing Zamora with Adel Taarabt.
Taarabt was straight into the thick of the action, linking up with Austin, Taarabt shrugged off two challanges but dragged his curling effort wide of the goal.
Rangers continued to push for another equaliser but it was not to be as Taarbt’s effort hit the crossbar after he was slipped in by Steven Caulker in injury time.
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