QPR too strong for Toffees

QPR secured their first points on their return to the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

Tommy Smith scored the only goal in the first half to inflict the Toffees' first home league defeat since December.

The closest the home side came to scoring was when Leighton Baines hit the crossbar with a first-half free-kick as a difficult week off the pitch for Everton - due to financial difficulties - was matched on it .

So tight are the finances at Goodison Park that manager David Moyes has not been able to sign anyone this summer.

With a number of senior first-teamers still not fully fit, Moyes' resources were stretched even thinner and QPR - who this week were taken over by airline boss Tony Fernandes - took full advantage to snatch their first points of the season.

Smith had given an early warning of the danger he posed before his winner with a low snap-shot half-volley which flew narrowly wide of Tim Howard's right-hand post.

Everton took control after that with Jack Rodwell having an appeal for a penalty turned down, while debutant Ross Barkley impressed and earned a free-kick that Baines smacked against the woodwork.

Everton's early dominance began to wane and from QPR's first real spell of pressure they took the lead. Phil Jagielka carelessly gave the ball away to Alejandro Faurlin and it was quickly transferred to Akos Buzsaky whose low cross perfectly picked out Smith to score.

Everton could have equalised before the break through Tim Cahill and Jermaine Beckford nut they both had headers saved. After the break substitute Marouane Fellaini teed up Cahill for a narrow-angle shot from the right which Paddy Kenny turned behind.

Barkley fired a low drive wide before his deflected shot after cutting in from the right was well held by Kenny as QPR held on quite comfortably.