Queens Park Rangers assistant manager Kevin Bond has said that today's FA Cup third-round loss at Everton will not have a negative effect on their bid for promotion from the Championship.
The Hoops fell 4-0 at Goodison Park as goals from Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman and two from Nikica Jelavic saw Roberto Martinez's men through to the fourth round.
"Not making any excuses for us, but I think we were playing against one of the top sides, and they played very well, making it very difficult for us," Bond told reporters. "We couldn't afford to come here and be too gung-ho and we felt we needed to try to stay in the game.
"We held out as long as we did, but the longer the game went, you did feel that it was only going to be a matter of time [before Everton scored]. I think in order for us to maybe do something about it, we needed to come in at half time only 1-0 down, and I think the second goal almost settled the game as a contest really.
"It is disappointing, but this is not going to define our season. Not trying to wash over the defeat but, hopefully in the grand scheme of things, this won't have too big an effect on what is our main aim."
Rangers sit third in the Championship, five points adrift of leaders Leicester City.
Michael Penkman
