Everton 0-1 QPR

I never go to Goodison thinking we're going to get beat but as this match wore on, even with scores still level, defeat had a certain inevitability about it.

Sometimes results just seem to go with the prevailing mass media narrative, and this one should fit in nicely with that of a club engulfed by growing turmoil on and off the pitch. Add the contrast with QPR’s newfound hope and, more poignantly, cash to splash having undergone the change of ownership and investment we are desperately seeking and you can be forgiven for thinking it was already set in stone.

In truth, things are not that bad. Yes, it was a disappointing game. Unfortunately also one that ensured there was no immediate respite from the mounting pessimism amongst most fans for this campaign. But it’s not exactly unusual to see us struggle early doors irrespective of who is the opposition.

Like not having any money, desperately needing more players, and not actually buying any, this is nothing new. In fact this is the fourth consecutive season we have lost our opening game. Furthermore, losing at home to the promoted sides now seems customary – last season saw nil poi against Newcastle and West Brom; while Blackpool got close to completing the set.

But while our slow starts are now well-documented, it is our weakness against sides who beckon us to show initiative – rather than disrupt and counter – that is the more troubling reoccurrence. 

We created chances but Baines’ crossbar-crashing free-kick aside our attempts failed to challenge Paddy Kenny in the opposition net. And so played out the same old story of an inability to threaten to score against a hard working, well-drilled opposition who nick a goal and understandably protect their lead.

Without much of a cutting edge or cohesion in our attacking play QPR were comfortable. One nil is hardly a damning margin of defeat but even given a full hour to rally it was seemingly insurmountable.

This was a performance full of sloppy play, misplaced passes, unforced errors, and wrong choices. There were shrugs and heads down well before full time. Most players looked tired, yet not necessarily physically. Defeat was not through a lack of effort but we certainly seemed low on sharpness.

QPR’s goal resulted from a passage of pressure in our third in which numerous players had ample opportunities to regain possession or at least clear, but instead resulted in a calamitous sequence of simple mistakes.

Whether certain goings on and the strife that has ensued has permeated the dressing room is open to question but it's clear things are not F-A-B.

It was no coincidence that the one player to rise above the lethargy was the one fresh face. As has been the case in pre-season, Ross Barkley was one of the few positives. He was unfazed on his league (and competitive) debut; prepared to try to make things happen, and equally so inclined to try to score himself. Outrageous, hype-fuelled levels of expectation are soon to be bestowed on our latest starlet by pundits and journalists alike but there's already a fair few blues resting their hopes for this season on his shoulders.

It’s too early to speculate whether those hopes are for more than comfortable survival in mid-table. With a fully-fit squad and all cylinders firing we are still capable of challenging within the top 8 we have occupied for the last 5 seasons. The squad has changed little over the past two years (although that is half of the problem); the wider realisation that our relatively meagre resources have surpassed breaking point does not instantly diminish their capability. Teams around and below us (let alone those at the top table) may have strengthened, spent more, and recruited some of the very players we’d have tried to sign. But again, it’s a familiar scenario.

Although triumphing against the odds and overcoming great setbacks (typically early season form, loss of key personnel for long stretches) are precious characteristics of this side it is possibly more imperative than ever that we don’t have to be practically suffocating in adversity before we get a few wins under our belt.

With a nightmarish 5 weeks starting late September ahead, featuring a run of fixtures against City away, Liverpool home, Chelsea away, Fulham away (where we’ve taken 4 points over the last 10 seasons) and United home, it is critical we see a decent return in the three games ahead (Blackburn away, Villa at home, and Wigan at home).

One thing is for sure, if we are to keep the dark clouds at bay we’ll need to get more than the 2 points combined (draws with Villa and Wigan) that we gained from those fixtures last season.