Can You Hear the Fat Lady Sing??

Everton 2-0 QPR

As so many times this season, the football gets in the way of a good day out, as Everton ran out more than comfortable winners at Goodison Park this afternoon.

Well the day started with plenty of amusement - with Jenson missing today due to family commitments and myself and PK's cars, simply not up to the journey, Jenson kindly loaned us the Stadium Wireless car (thanks again, mate). I got a phone call at 9 from PK and immediately I thought something was wrong, but PK was asking how to start the car and as Jenson was sleeping, he didn't want to bother him. With that issue sorted, I joined PK in Wycombe and onto the next issue - getting talksport on the radio. A helpful text from Jenson gave us instructions but we managed to put the car into cruise control. After being thrown back in our seats and starting to fly up the M40 at a rate of knots, we decided to call Jenson who guided us through the procedure. It was plain sailing from there and we met Lee, Jess, Sam and Luke on the M5 services for a coffee and then onto Goodison for arrival at about 2pm.

Shortly after, we thought for a moment we had a contender for Pie of the Season but that took a dramatic twist, more on that later...

Onto the game and Rangers started the game pretty well, Junior Hoilett struck a curler just wide following a good move and Remy forced a fine save out of Howard.  Everton were slowly creeping back into the game and Distin should have done better, slicing wide from close range. But 5 minutes before the break, came the opening goal which probably sums up the luck we have had this season - Mirallas's shot came back into the path of Gibson, who's low drive struck Clint Hill and deflected into the net.

Onto the second half and on 56 minutes, it was 2-0 when Anichebe, who minutes earlier had hit the post, flicked home Distin's knock down from a Baines corner. From here on, Rangers looked a beaten team, a team that had all but given up and a team that looks, sadly, relegated....

Queens Park Rangers

• 33 Julio Cesar
• 05 Samba
• 06 Hill
• 15 Onuoha
• 19 Bosingwa Booked
• 07 Park Ji-sung (Taarabt - 62' )
• 14 Granero Booked (Diakite - 74' )
• 16 Jenas
• 23 Hoilett
• 29 Townsend Booked
• 18 Remy

Substitutes

• 01 Green
• 20 Fabio
• 21 Ben-Haim
• 02 Diakite
• 10 Taarabt
• 12 Mackie
• 37 Bothroyd

Man of the Match 

In honesty, it was a real struggle finding this one, Jess went for Andros Townsend, Luke refused to vote and I don't blame him, Sam gave it to the R's support that made the effort today and were superb throughout despite what was going on in front of them. It also spoke volumes from our performance that PK went for Fellaini. But we do actually have a winner, from Lee and myself and the only reason I personally gave the award, is that I have thoroughly enjoyed watching one of the best strikers Rangers have ever had and I will miss him when he goes... Loic Remy

Awayday Pie Rating

As mentioned, after the first few bites, we thought we may have a real contender, but the homemade efforts got the following votes from our experts...

Lee - Steak - excellent flavour but pastry was a tad thick and dry - 8.5

Lofty - Steak - again, good flavour but highlighted the dry pastry - 9

Luke - Steak - far too salty for his liking - 6

Giving Everton an awayday pie rating of 7.8/10

Well it was a long journey home in awful conditions but after a stop at Stafford services with the gang, there is no doubt now that we need no more convincing, we are on our way down and we had started to chat about the various appealing away trips that we will go to next year. The sad thing is, it doesn't even look like we will go down with a fight, more like a whimper, which is so disappointing.

But admittedly, we looked very much a relegated team today...

Lee will return next weekend and with Stoke as unappealing as it would be anyway, it will be interesting to see how this one pans out...

Keep the Faith

&

Come on You R'ssssssssssssss!!!!