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Match Summary Steve Watson came in with McFadden dropping to the bench, and no sign of Alan Stubbs, who must still be having trouble with his groin. The match started with a good effort from the kickoff, Tugay wellying it over Martyn and the Everton crossbar from the centre circle. But Everton were lively in reply, with Gravesen particularly sharp for once. Craig Short got in a fee header from an early corner, forcing an excellent reaction save from Martyn. Everton went right up the other end, with Radzinski sending in a great ball for Watson to head in at Friedel and force a fantastic tip-over. Naysmith then got a superb header in and someone saved it on the line, possibly with a hand, but Everton claims were brushed aside. Gravesen had to retire after 20 mins, following a great start, having a problem with his knee, just as David Weir nearly gifted the ball to Cole. Nyarko then came on. After the bright start, the game settled into a less promising midfield stalemate, with both sides defending solidly and looking for openings. Yobo was the one to finally break through but his powerful shot was straight at Friedel. Blackburn then forced a couple of great chances, Stead drifting one over Martyn, who had to touch it out for a corner. And from that, Amaruso powered in a brilliant header that was a certain goal but Linderoth was on the line to scoop it over the bar. Just before the break, a long throw down the right was put in quickly to Radzinski, great strike but Friedel was there at a stretch. Corner: Watson volley — just wide!! Everton started the second half nervously, with Naysmith at sixes and sevens but they eventually settled, although some frustration was creeping in, with decent attacks few and far between. The usual silly claims for a penalty came when a Rooney shot was blocked at point-blank range in the box by Amaruso's arm. There was more excitement off the field than on, with agro breaking out in the Lower Bullens amongst the Blackburn fans. Neill then went in very hard on Kilbane and got himself in the book. Naysmith then went off, to be replaced by Unsworth as the game looked increasingly like a 0-0 draw. With barely 10 mins left, McFadden came on and immediately ran at Tugay who dragged him down: yellow card... but nothing from the free-kick. Instead of Everton scoring though, it was Stead who stepped up to score with a powerful and well-placed glancing header after a great ball in from Cole: 0-1, and Blackburn set to leapfrog over the blues to the magic 40 points. So much for all those wonderfully positive match predictions of slaughter for the Lancastrians! And yet another opportunity for us at ToffeeWeb to descend into a pit of negativity... can you really blame us? Everton were poor after Gravesen was forced off, and then produced a shockingly bad second half to lose a vital game and descend back towards the relegation places.
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Finalé: David Unsworth's second-half appearance proved to be his last game in an Everton shirt as he turned down improved contract offers and eventually moved to Portsmouth. |
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| Match Facts | |||||
| Everton (4-4-2) Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks |
Blackburn
Rovers (4-4-2) Puce shirts, puce shorts, puce socks |
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Chelsea (A)
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