Pienaar sent off at QPR

London - Everton lost ground on the top three in the English Premier League on Sunday after they were held to a 1-1 draw at bottom side Queens Park Rangers.

But David Moyes's side will be thankful for a point after they played the last half-hour with 10 men after the sending off of former Bafana Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar.

The result left them still three points behind Manchester United and Manchester City, with Chelsea four points clear at the top.

Fourth-placed Everton began the day hoping to close to within one point of the two teams immediately above them, United and City.

But after Pienaar was sent off for a second booking just after the hour mark, they were under the cosh from QPR and did well to take a point from the match.

Junior Hoilett had given QPR a dream start with a breakaway goal after just two minutes but Everton equalised on 33 minutes when Sylvain Distin's header rebounded off the post, hit goalkeeper Juilo Cesar and rolled over the line.

Phil Jagielka hit the bar with a header before half-time but Everton's momentum was ended when Pienaar was sent off for a second booking.

QPR had chances to pinch a winner and goalkeeper Tim Howard had to save Everton on a number of occasions as the two sides eventually settled for a draw.