Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

12th April 1993: Everton (3) – QPR (5)

Team: Roberts, Bardsley, Wilson, Peacock, McDonald, Impey, Wilkins,
Holloway, Ferdinand, Allen, Sinton (Barker)
Subs Not Used: Stejskal, Ready

Attendance: 19,057

The R’s have only won 4 times at Goodison Park in 22 visits and two of those
came in the same year. Our last victory there was on 20th November 1993 and
we also beat them in a dramatic encounter the previous April.

Richard Tanner wrote the following report for the Daily Mirror:

‘Goal-hungry Les Ferdinand hammered his second hat-trick in three days
hen sent a message to Graham Taylor: “I’m ready for England.”

QPR’s powerhouse striker followed on the first treble of his senior career
against Forest on Saturday as he sent Everton crashing to their heaviest home
defeat for nine years. Ferdinand’s treble came in 12 devastating minutes
just before and after half-time and took his season’s tally to 21.

Now he hopes the sudden goal-burst will clinch his place in Taylor’s England
team for the World Cup clash with Holland at Wembley later this month.
He said: “I’m back to my best form just in time for England.”

Before this game all but one of his goals had come at Loftus Road and he added:
“I’ve been aware of my poor away record and I came here today thinking I was
going to improve it.

"But it’s hard to believe I did it with a hat-trick so soon after getting
the first one of my career.” Ferdinand was praised both by his own boss,
Gerry Francis, and Everton’s shattered manager Howard Kendall.

Francis said: “Les was frightening today with his strength and pace.
I’ve no doubt he’ll be in the England squad – and he must have given himself a
great chance of actually playing.” And Kendall buried his disappointment to say:
“He has done a one-man demolition job on us.”

Andrew Impey opened the floodgates after 5 minutes by crashing in a left-foot shot.
Andy Sinton and Ferdinand both went close before Tony Cottee equalised on the
half-hour with a jack-knife header. Then Ferdinand took over.

Six minutes before the break he hammered home a 12-yard shot after good work
by Bradley Allen and Sinton.

He poached his second goal just 50 seconds into the second half, when
Neville Southall allowed an Impey cross to squirm out of his arms, and completed
his treble in the 51st minute with a powerful 15-yard shot.

David Bardsley piled on the agony for Everton in the 79th minute when he fired
home a 25-yard shot.

Then Rangers took their foot off the pedal and allowed Everton two consolation goals
in the last three minutes through subs Stuart Barlow and Preki.’

Steve Russell