QPR 1 EVERTON 2
Queens Park Rangers - Vargas 65'
Everton - Coleman 18', Lennon 77'
Man of the match - Aaron Lennon (Everton)
Aaron Lennon scored a late winner as Everton beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 to move nine points clear of the relegation zone and deal a heavy blow to Rangers’ own hopes of survival.
Seamus Coleman’s excellent finish put Everton ahead against the run of play in the first half before substitute Eduardo Vargas slammed home a Rangers equaliser shortly after the hour.
The hosts piled forward in search of a winner, but Lennon provided a surprise winner 13 minutes from time with his first goal for the club to give Everton a much-needed victory that left Rangers four points adrift of safety.
The defeat is QPR’s fifth in a row since Chris Ramsey was confirmed as permanent manager just over a month ago, and it places added importance on their next two matches away to fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa.
Everton, who bowed out of the Europa League to Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, can start looking up the table as two consecutive league victories, combined with a kind-looking run-in, should see Roberto Martinez’s side avoid a nail-biting relegation scrap.
Ramsey had claimed a heated half-time team-talk during last weekend’s defeat at Crystal Palace would prove the catalyst for improved performances from QPR in the final weeks of the season.
But his side still look on course for relegation as they sit second-bottom, four points from safety with only eight games remaining.
Everton were first to threaten when Leon Osman hooked narrowly over from a Leighton Baines corner.
Antolin Alcaraz had been replaced by John Stones after his woeful performance played a significant role in Everton’s European exit, and Stones played an important role in snuffing out a couple of promising moments from QPR striker Bobby Zamora in the early stages.
The visitors went in front in the 18th minute when Coleman took Osman’s pass and side-footed a cool finish past Robert Green.
* Agencies
