Everton 0-1 QPR

A difficult week off the pitch for Everton was matched on it as their delayed start to the Barclays Premier League season began with a home defeat to newcomers QPR.

• Jolly: QPR rise to challenge

In the days preceding kick-off the Merseyside club had been in the news as their financial plight came under the spotlight once again.

So tight are the finances at Goodison Park - chairman Bill Kenwright admitting they cannot borrow any more money from the bank and desperately need a new owner - 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 a 1-0 win.

Tommy Smith scored the goal just past the half-hour - securing their first points of the season - in what was probably the visitors’ only real chance to inflict Everton’s first home defeat since December.

It was also the visitors’ first top-flight away win since February 1996.

In fact, the last time QPR beat Everton 15 years ago they did so with the help of the likes of Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley.