Opposing skippers Joey Barton and Phil Jagielka share a few words and joke in the Loftus Road tunnel. The teams walk out to a rapturous reception, then go through the customary handshakes. Loftus Road, which is packed to the rafters, goes through the teams again - so we will too...

QPR coach Chris Ramsey believes his "heated" half-time talk during last weekend's defeat at Crystal Palace may end up being a turning point in their season.

"There was a constructive heated discussion at half-time," he said. "Our second-half performance was better.

"I think the players realised they didn't want the game to fall into a debacle for the travelling fans that had woken up early that morning to come to the game."

"The heated discussion was important," he said. "It shows that people want to stay in the division and want to do well for this club. It was constructive."

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Loftus Road sounds like my primary school disco in the mid-1990s. Dutch dance duo 2Unlimited are pumping out, asking 'Are You Ready For This?'

Almost. The players have completed their warm-ups, disappeared back into the bowels of the main stand, and that means we are 10 minutes from kick-off. Time to get a packet of cheesy puff crisps and a bottle of cheap fizzy pop before it is game on.

Everton:, external James McCarthy will make his 50th Premier League start for the Blues this afternoon.

Image source, @liverpoolecho/twitter

So Mr Hind (see below) is one of the Martinez dissenters, but I'm sure he would not have stooped to vandalism. But some scally (or scallies) has done.

The Everton caretaker arrived at Goodison Park this morning to find someone had spent their Saturday night going wild with a can of paint outside the stadium.

The culprit sprayed "Martinez Out" and "Not Good Enough" onto the wall of a stand in white paint, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Mr Hind: Lost faith in Martinez months ago. Refusal to change things and saying all games are "phenomenal" is an insult to all fans."

You don't tend to see many Premier League managers out on the pitch ahead of kick-off. But, while most gather their thoughts in the dressing room or make sure that their missus has arrived in the corporate area safely, QPR's Chris Ramsey is out on the grass. He looks thoughtful as he smashes a few balls around, before prowling around casting his beady eye on his men.

QPR keeper Robert Green is grinning away as he is put through his paces to the background noise of The Clash's classic 'London Calling'.

And so he might. Because it was 'Hodgson calling' for Green last night, when the 35-year-old picked up the blower to discover he had been recalled to the England squad., external

Green has been capped 12 times by England, but has only appeared once for his country since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Interestingly, the name of centre-back Antolin Alcaraz - who had a shocker in Kiev - started to be scribbled down on the official team sheet. But then it was scrubbed out and replaced by John Stones, who many felt should have started against the Ukrainian side anyway.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez makes five changes from the side which were humbled 5-2 by Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson replaces the suspended Gareth Barry while England defender John Stones, veteran midfielder Leon Osman, striker Arouna Kone and flying winger Aaron Lennon come in for Antolin Alcaraz, Christian Atsu, Ross Barkley and Steven Naismith.

QPR are boosted by the return of captain Joey Barton from suspension as boss Chris Ramsey makes four changes from the side which lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace.

Barton replaces Karl Henry in midfield while Chile full-back Mauricio Isla comes in for the injured Darnell Furlong. Forwards Bobby Zamora and Junior Hoilett are preferred to Adel Taarabt and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Tune in to BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra for live commentary with Mike Sewell and former QPR striker Clive Allen at Loftus Road.

QPR boss Roberto Martinez on his side's reaction to Thursday's defeat in Kiev: "The clear reaction has to be understanding the nature of today's game. QPR, who I have watched a lot, have been unfortunate at home this season.

"First and foremost we must be switched on. We need an edge in our performance like we did against Newcastle and perform in the manner that we can.

"We have got nine games left, 27 points to fight for, we had a fantastic experience in Europe but we know we need to do much better in league - starting today."

Can Everton stem the tide at Loftus Road today? Or will they be sucked into the relegation battle with another defeat? Time for you to climb on to your soapbox. Let me know how you are feeling Everton fans. Are you safe from relegation? Are you still behind Martinez's management?

And don't worry Rangers fans, we won't leave you out. Can your side drag themselves out of the mire? Was Chris Ramsey the right man to do it?

Whatever you want to talk about use #bbcfootball on Twitter or text 81111. Come on, let's be having you!

Roberto Martinez may have enjoyed a dream start at Goodison Park last season - but the honeymoon period appears to over. In fact, the Spaniard has been booted out of the marital bed and into the spare room by some Toffees fans. Some are even after a divorce.

And it is easy to see why. Everton have suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches, culminating in an embarrassing 5-2 defeat by Dinamo Kiev on Thursday.

QPR boss Chris Ramsey on four changes to the team which lost 3-1 at Crystal Palace: "We had a few players back from injury, and I thought we needed to make couple of changes after last week. The players coming in will give everything they have got.

"The players are aware that they can move within a point of [fourth-bottom] Sunderland and know today is a massive game for us."

On Joey Barton's return from suspension: "Joey is really good around the club, even when he is not playing, and I hope he can take that attitude on the pitch and galvanise the troops."

Four changes for QPR, who will move a point from safety with victory. Experienced midfielder Joey Barton returns against his boyhood club.

QPR XI: Green, Yun, Caulker, Onuoha, Isla, Barton, Sandro, Phillips, Hoilett, Zamora, Austin.

Everton make just switch from the side which started their last Premier League outing against Newcastle.

Everton XI: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Lennon, Gibson, McCarthy, Osman, Kone, Lukaku.

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp watched his QPR team boost their hopes of a Championship play-off place with a late show at Middlesbrough.

Injury-time goals from Bobby Zamora and Ravel Morrison handed Redknapp's men a dramatic 3-1 win.

Redknapp has gone. Morrison has gone. But Zamora is still causing defenders headaches - only now they are Premier League, not Championship, defenders.

Image source, Getty Images

What a difference a year makes. Back on 22 March 2014, Roberto Martinez was the toast of the blue half of Merseyside.

Everton had just beaten the Spaniard's old side Swansea, moving up to fifth in the Premier League and strengthening their hopes of European qualification.

Now, on 22 March 2015, the Toffees are in a much stickier situation. They are nine places lower in the top-flight table. And are a whopping 23 points worse off.

No wonder the most likeable man in football may be feeling a little isolated at the moment...

Image source, Getty Images