Everton cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Goodison Park this afternoon.
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The visitors started the game on the front foot and Gary O'Neil threatened early on as he fired an effort from about 20 yards at goal, but his shot went just wide of the target.
Everton almost took the lead when Nikica Jelavic found space inside the area and drilled a low shot towards the near post, but Rangers keeper Julio Cesar got down to his right to make the save.
The Toffees took the lead in the 34th minute when Ross Barkley gathered the ball on the left, cut inside onto his right foot and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net, beating the outstretched hand of Cesar.
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Just before the break Everton doubled their advantage as Jelavic robbed Karl Henry of the ball and ran into the box to slot an effort past Cesar into the net.
After half time, the Toffees went close again as Jelavic held the ball up on the edge of the box and laid it into the path of Seamus Coleman, who powered a drive at goal, but Cesar was there to make a great save with his fingertips.
Leon Osman was next to the test Cesar as he fired an effort from distance but the keeper was equal to it and kept his side in the game.
Jelavic got his second of the game as he converted from close range to poke Bryan Oviedo's cross past Cesar to all but seal the match for the hosts.
Coleman made sure that his side were going through to the fourth round as he got their fourth of the afternoon when he side-footed an effort past into the top corner to secure the victory.
Simon Sinclair
