By Fitzgerald Cecilio

An own goal by Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar allowed a depleted Everton side to escape with a 1-1 draw Sunday at Loftus Road Stadium.

The draw helped Everton to stay in third place with 15 points, seven points behind leading Chelsea and three points from second placers Manchester City and Manchester United.

The tie kept the Rangers searching for their first Premier League victory. They are currently trailing the pack with just three points from three draws.

Junior Hoilett scored his first league goal for the Rangers in the second minute of the game but an own goal from Cesar in the 33rd minute allowed Everton to tie the count.

"The goal we conceded was due to not picking up from a set play and we need to do better than that," said Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

The Rangers failed to capitalize even with Everton playing one man short after Steven Pienaar's ejection in the 61st minute due to two yellow cards.

Everton manager David Moyes was happy with the outcome, considering his team had to survive without Pienaar in the last 30 minutes of the game.

"I am happy with the point," Moyes said. "We went down to 10 men and the players dug in. Overall it was a hard point."

Meanwhile, Newcastle also suffered the same fate as the Rangers after Demba Ba's late own goal allowed Sunderland to emerge with a 1-1 draw at Stadium of Light.

John O'Shea's header in the 86th minute hit the Senegal striker and sailed past goalkeeper Tim Krul, who could only watch helplessly as the ball found the back of the net.

The own goal cancelled out Yohan Cabaye's strike that put Newcastle on the board in the third minute.

"It was a magnificent effort," said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. "We said to the players before the game how important it was to the fans – we've now shown how important it is to us."

Pardew said he was contended with a draw as Newcastle played with 10 men in the last 65 minutes of the game following the dismissal of Cheick Tiote.

 

 

Queens Park Rangers, Everton Settle for 1-1 Draw