How did that happen?
Blackburn Rovers 0 – 1 Everton. Trust me when I say that scoreline doesn’t tell the story of this one. Quite frankly Steve Kean probably won’t be sleeping for a week after witnessed the robbery at Ewood Park today.
Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Barkley Fellaini Heitinga Arteta
Osman
Anichebe
Everton lined up in their usual, non-adventurous 4-5-1 formation with Anichebe leading the line.
Everton started the game relatively brightly, Barkley again looking decent along with the active Osman. We had a few decent moves, the best being a cross from Barkley which Osman should have done better with.
Blackburn hit the post from a good move, David Dunn thought he’d scored but it hit the inside of the post and rolled across the Everton 6 yard box. Soon after both Dunn and Pedersen went off through injury. A poor half, 0-0.
The second half kicked off, and it was Blackburn dominance. Everton couldn’t get out of their own half, not helped by Ross Barkley who passed the ball to nobody, the new Blackburn forward Mauro Formica latched onto the wayward pass, then ran at Barkley who left his leg out. Formica dived onto the leg in what seemed like slow motion. Penalty. Barkley head in hands.
Hoilett stepped up to take the penalty. SAVED. A poor penalty which Tim Howard saved very well. But this wasn’t the end of the pressure, not by a long way. Blackburn just kept pumping the ball into the box for a good 15 minutes. Everton simply couldn’t get out of their own box. Chance after chance for Blackburn but Tim Howard was up to the task each and every time.
You felt the goal was coming, and it wasn’t long before Blackburn had yet another spot kick. Jagielka didn’t clear the ball, he instead gave it straight back to Blackburn, Mauro Formica ran at the defence and Jagielka took him down. Penalty number two, this time the lively Mauro Formica stepped up. The woodwork saves Everton.
Our best chance of the half came from an Everton break, Anichebe for what felt like the first time this afternoon got past Samba, put a good ball across the box where the onrushing Fellaini sent his shot over when he should have scored.
Blackburn hit the woodwork again as Evertons defence was yet again shambolic, Goodwillie found himself goal side and should have scored, Distin and Jagielka very dodgy.
90th minute. All Evertonians thinking ‘quite how are we going away with a point?’ and we get a ridiculous penalty decision. Samba challenged Fellaini in the air and somehow Lee Mason gave us a penalty. Arteta stepped up, and calmly buried it in the bottom right hand corner. Evertonians behind the goal were going absolutely crazy.
Robbery at Ewood Park. Blackburn Rovers 0 – 1 Everton.
Player Ratings
Howard – 10 – Incredible display
Neville – 5 – I’m straight to question why he is guaranteed a place in our starting XI.
Jagielka – 5 – Awful again, should have been 3 in 3 mistake wise. Post saved him.
Distin – 6 – Did OK. Just not confident in him.
Baines – 7 – Our only attacking outlet as usual. Must be very frustrated currently.
Barkley – 5 – Poor game for the young lad, bad decision for the penalty but he’ll learn.
Fellaini – 4 – Well off the pace, passing was awful.
Heitinga – 6 – Thought he did OK in the middle.
Arteta – 5 – Non existent really, cool penalty under pressure though.
Osman – 6 – Started well but faded
Anichebe – 4 – Samba’s bitch.
COYB.
We got absolutely pummelled. And I mean pummelled.