QPR salvage a draw against Everton at home
Queens Park Rangers' dismal home record continued as the Londoners were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Everton at Loftus Road on Saturday.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 03, 2012 11:31 PM IST
Queens Park Rangers' dismal home record continued as the Londoners were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Everton at Loftus Road on Saturday.
Mark Hughes' side have now won just two of their 14 matches at home this season and the club is hovering just outside the relegation zone with a demanding run-in looming.
Rangers, beaten in six of their past eight matches, were on the back foot almost from the kick-off after Tim Cahill rattled the woodwork for the visitors.
The Merseysiders, unbeaten in seven games coming into the game, duly took the lead after the half-hour mark when Royston Drenthe punished slack play by QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt.
Moroccan international Taarabt gave away possession cheaply near halfway and on-loan Royston Drenthe pounced before rifling a low shot from 30 yards past Paddy Kenny in the QPR goal.
However QPR drew level within five minutes after January transfer window signing Bobby Zamora bundled in an Akos Buzsaky free-kick.
The afternoon took a surreal turn after the appearance of a squirrel on the pitch for several minutes but QPR were soon back on the attack and should have taken the lead near half-time after hitting the woodwork twice within seconds.
Taarabt's shot from the edge of the area rebounded off the post but only as far as Zamora, who squared for Buzsaky only for the Hungarian to hit the post from close range.
A scrappy second half saw saw Rangers continue to create chances with Buzsaky and Taarabt both having shots on goal.
QPR boss Hughes brought on Jamie Mackie with 10 minutes left but the Scottish international was unable to make a mark and Everton finished the stronger leaving Rangers grateful for a point.