Everton 0-1 QPR

New season. Same Everton.

That was the overriding feeling of fans exiting Goodison Park yesterday, after a first-half Tommy Smith strike had compounded a miserable Summer on the blue half of Merseyside.

Many expected QPR to be rolled over following their opening-day hammering at home to Bolton, but an accomplished defensive performance from the visitors combined with a toothless one from the hosts handed the Londoners their first points back in the top-flight.

After last season's home results against the 'lesser sides', coupled with our record at the start of the season, perhaps we were a little overconfident. QPR must be praised for their performance though - they were much more defensively sound than last weekend and inflicted our fourth consecutive opening day defeat, a club 'record'.

With injuries to wide players the line-up was always going to be a case of 'square pegs, round holes', but even so it was an uninspiring one.

The back five picked itself (Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines), but the rest of the side caused quite a shock. Jack Rodwell started on the right wing, with John Heitinga and Leon Osman in the centre and debutant Ross Barkley on the left. Tim Cahill supported Jermaine Beckford up top.

Arteta, Fellaini and Saha were all on the bench. It was to do with a lack of fitness I assume, but it came as a shock after being told that all three were ready for the season.

QPR started the game reasonably well and Tommy Smith went close with a snapshot on the half-volley that flew just wide of Tim Howard's post. Everton responded with a series of crosses, from one of which Beckford attempted an overhead kick - but got it all wrong.

Jack Rodwell went down in front of the Gwladys Street in what looked a decent penalty shout. The referee was having none of it, however, and having seen the replays I am inclined to agree with him. Not a penalty for me, although I have most certainly seen them given.

Everton's best chance came from a familiar outlet - a Leighton Baines free-kick. The left-back was handed the opportunity by the excellent Ross Barkley, who jinked past a host of QPR defenders on the edge of the area before being brought down.

Baines smashed the resulting set-piece against the underside of the crossbar before the ball bounced agonisingly over the Everton players following up.

Just as the home side looked to have a hold on the game, we fell behind. Phil Jagielka squandered possession on the edge of the box and Everton failed to clear before Tommy Smith swivelled and finished instinctively into the bottom corner.

Tim Cahill uncharacteristically missed a header from close-range before the break and Everton could have had another penalty for a push on Cahill by Fitz Hall.

Everton emerged early for the second half and straight-away had a good chance to draw level. Jack Rodwell was sent through after Ross Barkley had cleverly left a pass, but the England U21 midfielder wasted the opening with a weak shot.

David Moyes had the crowd in disbelief as he replaced Jermaine Beckford, meaning that we were chasing the game without a recognised striker.

His replacement, Marouane Fellaini, immediately carved out a chance for Tim Cahill, whose angled shot was saved by Paddy Kenny.

Louis Saha came on for the final 15 minutes, but a Ross Barkley long-range effort was the closest we came to rescuing a point. 0-1 it ended, a fourth consecutive opening day defeat and a thoroughly frustrating afternoon.

But hey, what did we expect? It's the start of the season, after all.

StickyToffee Player Ratings: Howard 5, Baines 6, Distin 6, Jagielka 4, Neville 5, Barkley 7, Heitinga 4, Osman 4, Rodwell 4, Cahill 4, Beckford 4.

Subs: Arteta 4, Fellaini 5, Saha 4.