Rangers Find Toffees Sticky...

QPR 1-1 Everton

The search for QPR's first Premier League win of the season continues, as the R's were held 1-1 at home by a spirited Everton side in front of the Sky cameras at Loftus Road this afternoon.

 

With Lee and Jess only returning this morning from their holiday in Cyprus, I have stepped in to write this one and let Lee have a night off. Personally, I don't like Sunday games, Saturday is football day, end of story. So I left a little later than usual and arrived just after 3pm, meeting up with Jenson before joining the Koreans outside the Stadium. Lee, Lorna, Sam, Luke and cousin Matt from Australia duly arrived, Matt attending is first Premier League game and we were all hoping he would bring us some luck. Last but not least, PK arrived, also fresh from 2 weeks in the Dominican Republic, but also arrived an engaged man as he popped the question to Jo whilst over there. By all accounts, the ever romantic PK wasn't exactly on one knee, but decided to take his chance whilst on both knees and rummaging through his insurance papers!! Either way and more importantly, the Lady said YES so massive congratulations to the both of you! Great News from two great people!!!

Onto the game and the R's got off to a fantastic start - Hoilett broke away at pace following an Everton corner and with everyone screaming for him to pass to a free Taarabt on the left, he fired a 30 yard effort that clipped Leighton Baines foot and looped into the net!

The early goal and bit of luck was just what Rangers needed and for 30 minutes, it would be fair to say the R's were in total control. Taarabt and Hoilett were causing all sorts of problems, Nelsen headed over a corner and a Traore cross evaded everyone when just waiting to be tapped home. But Everton were back on level terms on 33 minutes with a slice of fortune almost as big as the one Rangers had for their opening goal - Pienaar's free kick was met by the unmarked Distin who headed onto the post, only for the ball to bounce onto the diving Cesar and into the net. Again a defensive error costing us dearly. Soon after, Jelavic was tripped by Mbia in the box but the referee was having none of it when in honesty, it looked a clear penalty. Jagielka then headed against the bar and Rangers had gone to pieces since the goal. The half time whistle was met with much relief, despite a half chance from Hoilett going begging.

Although it was Everton that started the 2nd period the better, it was Rangers that nearly took the lead when Diakete dragged the ball back to Ji Sung Park who saw his goalbound effort superbly blocked by Jagielka. Things got worse for the Toffees on 60 minutes when Pienaar received his 2nd yellow card following a clumsy challenge on Boswinga.

Rangers looked to take full advantage and Zamora shot straight at Howard. At the other end, Mirallas saw his powerful effort deflected over by Mbia. Junior Hoilett again brought a great save from Howard and with twenty minutes to go, he wriggled into the box and forced Howard to parry his effort into the path of Granero, who blasted over when he really should have squared it to either Hoilett or Cisse who were eagerly awating the tap in.

Cisse was denied by Howard moments later when one on one, but the referee, who in truth was having a poor game, probably levelled things up when he waved away what looked a nailed on penalty when Hoilett was clipped in the box by Coleman.

Queens Park Rangers

• 33 Julio Cesar
• 03 Traore (Onuoha - 72' )
• 17 Nelsen (Ferdinand - 83' )
• 19 Bosingwa
• 02 Diakite
• 07 Park Ji-sung
• 10 Taarabt
• 14 Granero - LH Man of the Match
• 40 M'bia
• 23 Hoilett
• 25 Zamora (Cisse - 71' )

• Subs

• 01 Green
• 05 Ferdinand
• 15 Onuoha
• 11 Wright-Phillips
• 32 Faurlin
• 09 Cisse
• 12 Mackie

Man of the Match - 3 main contenders today, with 2 votes going to Samba Diakete, 3 votes going to Junior Hoilett but the winner, with 4 votes is Esteban Granero.

In summary, this was a much better performance than in recent weeks but sadly some of the same frustrations remain with a defensive error costing us dearly yet again and it seemed at times that Rangers were far more intent to walk the ball into the net rather than anything else. Junior Hoilett being the exception with that comment. Take nothing away from Everton, who are in no doubt a decent side and maybe Rangers could learn a lot from the way the Toffees superbly defended today. A win would have been most welcome, but a draw a fair result on the day I think...

After the game, we were astounded by the hundreds and hundreds of Korean fans all waiting for the apperance of Ji Sung Park, or his mate, John Si Park who Jenson seems to know. It is quite incredible just how much euphoria there is over this player. Although Djibril Cisse must have thought all the commotion was indeed for him, when he asked the QPR Security staff to escort him to his car as he didn't want to be stopped or see anyone. Needless to say he walked  undisturbed to his car and maybe should consider taking his head out of his arse before doing so in future. Very sad to see a QPR player behaving this way...

And finally, if you are driving around and see a someone who looks like Jose Bosingwa in a Smart Car and think, surely a Premier League player wouldn't drive such a car and it could not have been him? Let's just say, it probably was...

Lee is returning the compliment and will take the reporting reigns at the Emirates next week as QPR travel to Arsenal...

Come on You R'ssssssssssssss!!!!