Everton put another massive dent in Queen Park Rangers' survival hopes with a solid 2-0 victory at Goodison Park. Darron Gibson scored a deflected goal and Victor Anichebe sealed the victory in the second half from short range.sta
Everton vs. Queens Park Rangers, 2013 EPL: Final score 2-0, Toffees further damage Rangers’ survival hopes
Everton remained of the fringe of the battle for fourth place with an efficient 2-0 victory over the increasingly relegation threatened QPR
Chris Brunskill
Everton tend to start games one of two ways. Either they give up a ridiculous early goal or, like today, they start fast but can’t score.
Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman had some good early results on the right wing and nearly earned a penalty for the Toffees in the 5th minute. Mirallas found Coleman making a slicing run into the QPR box before apparently being brought down by a defender. Referee Lee Mason wasn't interested and to be fair, the Everton protest was fairly light.
Everton's best early chance came in the 9th minute after Steven Pienaar's back heel pass to Leighton Baines was fired in front of goal by the fullback where Victor Anichebe just missed connecting on a diving header.
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QPR settled as the first half progressed and nearly took a lead in the 27th minute when Loic Remy forced an excellent save from Tim Howard. Remy's shot from the center of the area looked destined for the upper right corner but Howard was able to get a hand out and push the ball away for a corner.
Everton came close yet against in the 35th minute when Darron Gibson directed an indirect free kick into the QPR area. The chance was wasted though by Sylvain Distin who's horrible effort went well wide of the goal.
Gibson would not be denied in the 41st minute and took advantage of a massive deflection in front of the goal to put Everton in the lead and score his first goal of the season. Júlio César looked to have the shot covered as it headed toward the left corner, but when the ball hit off Clint Hill and swerved right, there was nothing he could do. Gibson was a bit reluctant to celebrate but the initial shot was clearly on target so he had nothing to be ashamed about.
Victor Anichebe hit a short range shot off the post in the opening minutes of the second half after he was allowed to stand within 6-yards of the QPR goal for several seconds before attempting his shot. Maybe he had too much time, maybe he got distracted checking his e-mails with all the time he had, whatever the case it was a bad miss.
In the 56th minute, Everton finally capitalized on all the pressure. Anichebe directed a shot in past César off an initial ball from Distin off a corner to make it 2-0 to the Toffees.
Everton cruised on to the victory, further damaging QPR’s hopes of remaining in the Premier League next season.
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