Everton 2 Blackburn Rovers 0: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Everton and Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park on Saturday April 16.
PREVIEW
LIVE
REPORT
EVERTON
2 - 0
FT
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Saturday, April 16 15:00
Premier League
Goodison Park
Osman (54)
Baines (75)
(HT 0-0)
ATT: 35,857
Strike one: Leon Osman scored Everton's opener in their defeat of Blackburn Rovers Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Rory Smith, Goodison Park 4:45PM BST 16 Apr 2011
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David Moyes has long held no doubts as to when Everton's season came to an end. His side, he knows, saw their status as contenders for a European place dismissed after an abject opening day defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Here, his players returned the favour. Everton have struggled to shake off the after-effects of that defeat all campaign.
Blackburn's hangover may last even longer.
Steve Kean's side stand to lose far more than Everton ever did, of course. Indeed, with victory here secured by strikes from Leon Osman and Leighton Baines, the latter from the penalty spot, Moyes's team now stand just a point off Liverpool and a putative European place.
That may not count as success, but it is a passable imitation of it.
It may take Blackburn rather longer to recover. They stand just two points off the relegation zone. They must face both Manchester City and Manchester United in their remaining five games, as well as daunting trips to fellow strugglers West Ham and Wolves. Their victory on the opening day left Everton fighting for their honour. Their defeat here leaves Blackburn fighting for survival.
There was little evidence in the spring sunshine at Goodison Park of the desperation, the desire that is usually attendant with such occasions.
Everton won comfortably without ever playing well, creating a chance for Jermaine Beckford in the first minute - fired over - and then scarcely raising the pulse rate until Baines whistled a long-range effort wide five minutes into the second half. Only Phil Jagielka's effort, blocked by Chris Samba, diligent even in a side with an air of damnation, threatened to bring Goodison out of its slumber.
Baines's shot, though, provided the necessary jolt. A moment later, the England international's short corner rolled to Osman, who jinked inside Ruben Rochina and arrowed a shot with the outside of his foot past Paul Robinson and into the far corner. Samba's toe changed the trajectory, but not the outcome.
It fell to the left-back to end any hopes of a comeback, emphatically beating Robinson from the penalty spot after Phil Jones's trip had prompted a swallow dive from Seamus Coleman.
Blackburn offered little resistance, their best chance falling to Morten Gamst Pedersen after Baines and Jagielka dallied over a clearance. The Norwegian fired just wide. It was at least an improvement on his previous effort, which went out for a throw in by the half-way line.
By that stage, the travelling support were seeking the exits. Even a group dressed as superheroes could bear it no longer. Even Superman, Batman and Bananaman can tell that Blackburn's plight is rather too much for them to solve.
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