The first game of a season brimming with expectation for a very good-looking Everton squad. Only Anichebe out injured so some names were inevitably left out of today's 18-man teamsheet. But the side named carried no surprises, it's pretty much as you were for David Moyes, his three new players, Mucha, Gueye and Beckford all on the bench as the 11 starters had a very conventional and "safe" look about them.
The match started in brilliant sunshine, but some poor passing from Everton allowed Olsson to get behind the Everton de fence and attempt to lob Howard, who was out sharply. The Blues looked well flustered early on, hoofed clearances and pathetic passing seemingly the by-words as they struggled to settle under a determined onslaught from Big Sam's bruisers. But better possession soon had them retaining possession better and moving the ball around with more authority.
For Blackburn, Dunn did his groin going in hard on Pienaar and had to give way to Nzonzi before 10 mins were completed. Next off for treatment was Salgado as Everton looked to capitalize but Saha was offside. But a horrendous error by Howard, dropping the ball after what seemed a safe one-hand catch, let Kalinic slide the ball home with ease. Shocking!
Everton looked better on an attack down the right that Osman finished with a good cross but neither Saha nor Cahill in the area could reach it. Another good move nearly ended up on Cahill's boot but he was offside. Some better passing around the area allowed Osman and then Cahill to get a slight sight of goal but both attempts were blocked away. At the other end, Howard had to be alert, punching away a long Pedersen throw. Saha did well to steal the ball off Samba but could not get a decent shot in.
Osman won a good free-kick after getting an ankle-tap as he tried to get through three Blackburn defenders, But Arteta's free-kick came off the wall for Everton's first corner that ultimately resulted in Everton's first half-decent shot, from Pienaar. Pedersen rather nastily stood on Arteta's foot but nothing came of Distin's free-kick. Everton had improved a lot by half-time, but still a stupid goal behind, and a big hill to climb in the second half of a fairly scrappy game.
No changes at half-time (of course!) and Everton continued their lack-lustre performance for the next 15 wasted minutes until Moyes finally decided, on the hour (of course), to bring on Jermaine Beckford for the utterly ineffective Osman. 4-4-2?
Jones barged Arteta over to set up a wide free-kick which he slotted across to Pienaar but the quick moved failed miserably and Blackburn attacked with pace after Saha's shot was well blocked, Howard saving from Diouf who was offside. Blackburn had a stronger spell, Jones thwarted by Distin, and Nelsen missing a good chance from an unmarked position.
Everton got the ball to Saha in a good position but he lashed it over rather than passing to Beckford, who had not touched the ball since coming on 10 mins earlier. Salgado was booked for bringing down Jagielka. A poor corner by Arteta could not be controlled by Saha, and it was his final contribution, Bilyaletdinov coming on with less than 20 mins left.
Pienaar, who had continued his nondescript World Cup form, won a corner taken well by Bily that culminated in a series of half-chances for Everton that no-one could convert. Everton's performance was summed up by the dismal failure of Neville to trap an easy pass on the touchline. Poor in the extreme. An extended spell of Spanish-style short passing showed what Everton could do in possession until Neville spoilt it with a poor ball forward.
Blackburn were defending solidly but an all-too-familiar lack of guile when it comes to constructing attacks that would penetrate the opposition area and create real chances proved to be Everton's downfall when it came to rectifying that horrendous Howard howler. 2 mins into added time and Jagielka produced Everton's first real shot, and Robinson responded with a worthy save.
Simply nothing working for the Blues going forward today in their Shocking Pink away strip. A horrible performance in terms of attacking the opposition goal, and a horrible way start the season
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