Steven Naismith grabs a goal and assist as Everton ease past travel-sick QPR. Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas also notch for the Merseysiders before the latter is forced off through injury, whilst Bobby Zamora stabs home a consolation effort to deny the Toffees a clean sheet once again.
Barkley Opens his Account
Handed a spot in the double-pivot due to Gareth Barry’s suspension, Ross Barkley still managed to notch his first goal of the season with an excellent long-range strike for the Toffees. With Barry back for the weekend trip to Southampton, Barkley owners will be hoping for a move back to a more advanced role once again and, at a price of just 6.8 in the Fantasy Premier League game, the youngster – who has started six of the last seven – may yet find himself a place in our Fantasy plans, with showdowns against Stoke, Newcastle and Hull following on from the St Mary’s clash.
Mirallas Concern for Toffees
Elsewhere in the Toffees’ midfield, Kevin Mirallas took his tally to two goals and an assist in the last four with a deflected free-kick against the R’s. Handed a fifth successive start since returning from injury, the Belgian is starting to find his form once again but, after being stretchered off towards the end of the match, is set for ankle scans this morning, with question marks now hanging over his availability as the Gameweeks come thick and fast.
Naismith Ends Goal Drought
The Scot returned to Everton’s starting XI for the first time since Gameweek 12 after recovering from a hamstring injury. Naismith served up a goal, assist and maximum bonus, outscoring fellow forward Romelu Lukaku by 12 points to five to serve a reminder of his potential. At a price of just 4.8, he may well benefit if Mirallas is, indeed, injured, though having previously scored just once in nine appearances, the Scot needs to up his consistency to become a viable option.
Zamora Compounds Baines’ Misery
With top scorer Charlie Austin sitting out a one-match suspension, little was expected from a side that had previously netted just two goals away from home to date. Substitute Bobby Zamora replicated Barkley’s feat by also scoring his first goal of the campaign to further frustrate owners of Everton defenders, who have now gone six matches without a clean sheet. With just one set of attacking returns in his last six appearances, Leighton Baines is struggling to justify his lofty price tag and his owners were left with a single point last night after he collected a yellow card. A possible injury to Mirallas could also benefit the left-back, though, after the Belgian’s return has seen his share of dead-ball duties diminish in recent weeks.
R’s Away Day Woes Continue
If Harry Redknapp’s side are to survive, it’s clear that their displays at Loftus Road will be pivotal. Last night’s result means QPR have lost all eight road trips and conceded at least twice on every occasion, whereas in front of their own fans, they’ve dropped just two points in the last four. Encouragingly for Redknapp, up next is a run of three home fixtures in the next four (WBA, CPL, SWA) which certainly hand his side a fighting chance – with Austin averaging 6.5 points per Loftus Road appearance and Leroy Fer notching in each of his last two at home, the R’s still have reason for optimism despite last night’s showing.
Having earned two clean sheets in the last four at home, Redknapp will be keen to have Steven Caulker back for the weekend. The R’s boss later confirmed that Caulker missed out with a head injury sustained at Burnley, despite the fact that it was previously reported that he had suffered a head injury in a post-match incident.
