Everton 3 - 1 QPR
16.12.2014 12:29
Ross Barkley's brilliant first-half strike helped Everton beat Queens Park Rangers and move into the top half of the Premier League table.
The England midfielder scored with a firm drive from 20 yards after starting the attack in his own half.
Kevin Mirallas's deflected free-kick made it 2-0 before Steven Naismith headed in Aiden McGeady's cross.
Bobby Zamora's close-range finish after Tim Howard's save came too late for QPR, who remain without an away point.
Zamora's strike was only the third league goal Harry Redknapp's side have scored away from Loftus Road this season and an eighth consecutive defeat on the road means they remain in the bottom three.
Their prospects of improving on that dismal record were not helped by a suspension to top scorer Charlie Austin, who had scored 50% of their goals this season before the trip to Goodison Park.
Chile striker Eduardo Vargas was deployed as a lone striker in his absence, with Matty Phillips and Junior Hoilett charged with offering support from wide positions.
The system worked well for the visitors in the early stages and Phillips went close with a dipping volley from the edge of the area after Leighton Baines headed clearance from Yun Suk-young's cross.
But Barkley, who was at the heart of Everton's best work, opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, exchanging passes with Romelu Lukaku before rifling a left-foot drive beyond Robert Green.
Everton had won only two league matches at home before this and the strike eased the tension around Goodison Park.
The hosts doubled their advantage just before half-time when Joey Barton brought down Naismith on the edge of the area and Mirallas's free-kick took a significant deflection off Vargas on its way beyond Green.
Mirallas and McGeady combined early in the second half for Everton's third. Green's poor clearance found its way to the Belgian, who passed to McGeady on the right of the area.
McGeady's clipped cross was headed in at the back post by Naismith despite the efforts of Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
Redknapp brought on Zamora as a substitute and he scored his first goal since the Championship play-off final last season after Tim Howard parried Jordon Mutch's low drive.
(BBC)
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