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.
Everton 2-1 Blackburn
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.
2003-04 Match Reports Index
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While mathematical safety is still not yet assured, it would take a horrible shift in fortunes for the Blues to get sucked into the bottom three in the next four games so the focus must be on climbing as high in the table as other results will allow.
There is also the matter of Everton needing to atone for an utterly abject first-half display at Ewood Park in November, which was the main reason why Graeme Souness's men ran out 2-1 winners and snapped a five-game losing streak at home.
The good sign is that the Blues have lost just once in nine games, managed to shut out high-flying Chelsea last week, and have shown that they are capable of demolishing similarly-matched teams when the mood takes them. The question is, as always, which Everton will we see this time?
Alan Stubbs appears to have recovered from a niggly groin problem but David Weir's assured display at Stamford Bridge last weekend on his return from a lengthy absence will surely see the Scot retain his place alongside Joseph Yobo.
David Unsworth remains a doubt with an ankle complaint, while Tony Hibbert has a knee injury and Kevin Campbell is reportedly ill, again. In all, it would be surprising if Moyes changed the line-up from that which started at Chelsea.
Blackburn, meanwhile, have Michael Gray back in contention, but Andy Todd has fallen out with Souness and is unlikely to play any further part in Rovers' season. They have won consecutive games against Fulham and Leicester to significantly ease their relegation worries but they remain deeply fallible so this is a should-win game for David Moyes's men.
Lyndon Lloyd
Matchday Stats
This will be the 145th meeting between Everton and Blackburn Rovers in all competitions, and the 75th at home. This match will be the 20th meeting in the Premier League.
Everton's full record against Blackburn Rovers is:
P
W
D
L
F
A
Premier League
19
8
2
9
21
26
Division One
106
44
23
39
200
182
Division Two
6
0
4
10
FA Cup
7
1
18
Charity Shield
3
Zenith Data Systems Cup
TOTALS:
144
62
28
54
248
229
Our record at home to Blackburn Rovers is:
11
53
32
12
120
14
74
43
15
16
145
84
The last match between the two sides was earlier this season on 10 November 2003 when Everton fell into the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park. The last match between the sides at Goodison Park was on 14 December 2002, when Everton registered a 2-1 victory.
Everton’s biggest home victory over Blackburn was on 14 October 1933 when the home side won 7-1, whilst Blackburn’s biggest victory away to Everton is 3-0 which has happened on four occasions, the last being 4 April 1994.
The most common victory for Everton is 1-0, which has happened nine times in Everton's 43 wins at home. Blackburn's most common victory is 2-0 which has happened five times in Blackburn’s 16 away victories. The most common draw between the teams is 0-0 which has happened six times in the 15 draws.
Everton's record for 24 April is:
European CWC
31
This will be the first meeting between the sides on this date. Everton’s only other Premier League match on this date was in 1999 when Charlton Athletic came to Goodison Park and were duly sent packing with a comprehensive 4-1 victory for the Toffees.
It was 19 years ago today that the second leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final at Goodison Park was played. Bayern Munich were outplayed by Everton, as goals from Graeme Sharp, Andy Gray and Trevor Steven sealed an historic 3-1 victory to send the Blues into their first and only European final to date.
Milestone's that can be reached in this game:
Steve Flanagan
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Steve Milne