Match Summary

Everton returned to full strength for the visit of Harry Redknapp's relegation-doomed Queens Park Rangers. Fellaini and Pienaar were back from suspension as Heitinga and Barkley went back on the bench but Hibbert did not return to the squad yet as Phil Jagielka, named new Captain, led the team out.

The game started with most of the football being played in the opposition half, Coleman well involved. But it was Hoilett who had the first half-decent shot, curling one beyond Howard and his far post (just). Coleman was then floored by Hill in the QPR area in a very obvious penalty — not given by Lee Mason.

Very poor control by Jagielka almost gave the game away as Everton looked to settle, Coleman getting in a good cross that Fellaini spurned, then from the other side, a clever back heel and a chip set up for Anichebe, who missed his header completely.

QPR won the first corner but it was poor. It was then Everton's turn, Baines swinging over a great delivery that Jagielka missed completely. Three good aerial chances, all missed completely! Anichebe almost brought down a deep ball from Distin off his chest but it did not come off.

Anichebe was illegally restrained in the area as he once again controlled the ball and tried to pull away from his marker for the shot; no call. Remy fouled Coleman, exactly has Hill had earlier and this time a kick was awarded, since it was well outside the area. A spell of QPR control followed with a fabulous shot from Remy that Howard saved well.

With Everton showing little intent or desire to compete for or hold the ball, QPR came forward again and won another corner, defended away. Baines dropped in a good free-kick for Anichebe, then a series of corners that looked to threaten the QPR goal but didn't really, the quality of the football being barely acceptable.

Finally Lee Mason produced a card for Bosingwa, fouling Coleman, the resulting free-kick laid back nicely for Gibson but no-one could turn his low drive into the net. Then Fellaini got booked for a totally nothing coming together with Jenas.

Gibson tackled well (from behind!) to deny a QPR a threatening move. After more Everton pressure the ball comes to Gibson whose drive takes a wicked deflection of Hill, and wrong-footing Cesar for the first goal with 5 mins left of the otherwise typically uninspired first half against a poor QPR.

Howard needed to get down and stop Rrmy's early shot after the break. Then Mirallas did brilliantly to get to the by-line and pull back a peach for Anichebe, 8 yards out, who surely would score... but no, when he did finally shoot, he hit the post!

A corner from Baines to Distin deep beyond the far post forced a great save from Cesar, Granero then fouled Gibson, kicked the ball away, and earned himself a yellow card. A series of corners followed the free-kick, Jagielka's shot was blocked. Then Townsend gave away a corner when he thought he hadn't and his name went in Mason's book for kicking the ball away.

It had been all Everton for the first 10 mins but nothing would go in until, on the fifth corner, Distin's header in was clipped past Cesar by Anichebe, and Everton now had a two-goal lead that their increased tempo and drive since the break fully deserved.

With the cushion established, everyone in Blue relaxed, and the pace of the game flagged noticeably. Pienaar should have gone in and shot but chose to play it wide to Mirallas whose shot was wide. A good free-kick for a foul on Fellaini came to nothing.

Anichebe got a bash to his shoulder and was aggrieved when a foul was not called, the whole episode caused him the usual pained anguish and arm waving. Osman then fed Anichebe who looked to turn and shoot but was blocked.

From a rare QPR corner, it looked like a good break was on for Everton but Pienaar's forward pass was all wrong and the chance evaporated. A brilliant shot from very far out wide right brought a nice diving save from Cesar.

Gibson then went in the book for catching Taarabt's ankles. Howard had to save firmly from a hard hit Onouha shot. Osman then made way for Jelavic. Gibson had another poke form distance and a deflection earned another corner that came to nought.

Four minutes of added time, presumably for the yellow cards and substitutions, saw Townsend fire a shot just wide of Howard's left post. David Moyes threw on Johnny Heitinga to give the Everton crowd a chance to salute match winner Anichebe.

In the end, it was a typically competent if rather uninspired and mostly uninspiring 'workmanlike' display by the Blues against the doomed London club, but three more vital points keep them hanging on to the shirt-tails of the main contenders for Champions League football next season, adrift by a three-point gap after last week's six-pointer against Spurs — and another North London six-pointer set for Tuesday against Arsenal.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton's quest for Europe shifts back to Goodison Park and the visit of a Queens Park Rangers side staring relegation back to the nPower Championship square in the face.

Despite the lavish sums of money that owner Tony Fernandes has splashed out on the West London side in an effort to stave off the danger of the drop this season, Rangers are seven points adrift of safety with just six games to play.

And, having won just twice away from Loftus Road all season, a trip to Merseyside to face an Everton team chasing an unlikely — but still possible — Champions League dream is one of the last fixtures Harry Redknapp would want as he tries to pull off what would be a spectacular Houdini act.

With neither Chelsea nor Tottenham in Premier League action this weekend — they were due to play each other but Chelsea have FA Cup semi-final commitments against Manchester City — the Blues have the chance to pull within three points of those two clubs from the Capital with a win this weekend and they will also be hoping that Arsenal slip up against Norwich before the trip to The Emirates on Tuesday.

Moyes will have his options expanded by the return from suspension of Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar and they will likely step straight back into the starting line-up, probably at the expense of Ross Barkley and John Heitinga, both of whom started the 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane last Sunday.

The manager had deployed a three-man defence in the last home game against Stoke City but the importance of accommodating his two returnees will likely trump any desire to experiment further with that new formation.

While that top-four finish remains a possibility — with two straight wins, Everton could be ahead of Arsenal and level on points with Chelsea and Spurs before the latter two teams play another Premier League game — victory in this home clash with the team currently second bottom in the division is imperative.

Unbeaten in four League games now, the Blues should have more than enough for QPR, particularly if Kevin Mirallas can maintain his current form, and there would be no excuse if they didn't collect all three points. Moyes's men have had trouble killing off sides like this when they have needed to, though, this season so there will be little scope for taking the foot off the accelerator. Nothing but a win will do.

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