Half-time: QPR 1 Everton 1

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Goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s unfortunate own goal meant an entertaining first half at Loftus Road ended all-square.

Junior Hoilett’s deflected effort gave QPR an early lead, but Everton levelled when Sylvain Distin’s header from Steven Pienaar’s right-wing free-kick hit the post before rebounding off Cesar and into the net.

Having sloppily conceded early goals in their previous two matches, this time Rangers found themselves ahead after only two minutes.

Following Cesar’s punch clear from a corner, Hoilett got the better of Phil Neville deep inside the Rangers half and galloped towards the Everton penalty area.

After opting not to put Adel Taarabt through on goal, the Canadian benefited from a huge slice of luck when his shot struck Leighton Baines, completely wrong-footing Everton keeper Tim Howard.

Slightly hampered by the non-availability of various players prior to the international break, Rangers manager Mark Hughes was able to ring the changes.

Out went Alejandro Faurlin, Anton Ferdinand and Clint Hill, with Stephane Mbia partnering Ryan Nelsen at centre-back, Armand Traore starting at left-back, Samba Diakite returning to the midfield and Ji-sung Park reverting to his preferred right-wing position.

Taarabt played from the left, with Hoilett supporting Bobby Zamora in the middle.

And after Hoilett’s opener, Hughes’ side – bottom of the table and without a league win this season – appeared to grow in confidence.

But they were pegged back by a mixture of bad luck and all-too familiar shoddy defending, with an unchallenged Distin able to meet Pienaar’s 32nd-minute delivery.

Everton then took control, appealing in vain for penalty after Nikica Jelavic went down under a challenge from Mbia, and then going close to taking the lead when Baines’ corner was headed against the bar by Phil Jagielka.

QPR (4-4-1-1): Cesar; Bosingwa, Mbia, Nelsen, Traore; Park, Diakite, Granero, Taarabt; Hoilett; Zamora.
Subs: Green, Ferdinand, Cisse, Wright-Phillips, Mackie, Onuoha, Faurlin.

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