AMSTERDAM — Tim Howard and Everton got their season off on the wrong foot on Saturday, with an unlucky 1-0 Goodison Park loss to promoted Queens Park Rangers.
Moments after Toffees restart maestro Leighton Baines struck the underside of the bar, QPR struck back. Tommy Smith's fine 15-yard finish gave the visitors all they needed from their only shot of the day. Everton, who saw their season start delayed last weekend, have now dropped four straight EPL openers.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan watched on from the dugout as Aston Villa tentatively moved top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over visiting Blackburn.
Down one level in the Championship, Robbie Findley played a key role off the bench in Nottingham Forest's fight back for a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Leicester City. Shortly after the halftime entrant forced a good save with a route one volley, it was Findley's burst to a goalmouth feed that forced Matt Mills to handle in the area.
Lewis McGugan then made good on the resulting 79th minute spot kick before George Boateng added a corner kick header at the death, lifting the Reds to 12th place through four matches.
In Bundesliga action, FC Nürnberg right back Timothy Chandler went the distance in a 2-0 loss at defending champs Borussia Dortmund. Der Club now stand 12th after three rounds.
Next door in Ligue 1, Quentin Westberg was relegated to the bench for Évian's 1-1 draw at Ajaccio.
