• Date: Sat 02 February 2008
  • Venue: Ewood Park
  • Ref: Wiley, A
  • Attendance: 27,946

Blackburn Rovers vs Everton

Team Lineups

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Zurab Khizanishvili
Stephen Warnock
Andre Ooijer
Steven Reid
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
David Dunn (Benni McCarthy, 56)
Matt Derbyshire (Kerimoglu Tugay, 73)
Roque Santa Cruz

Everton

Tim Howard
Phil Neville
Joleon Lescott
Leighton Baines
Phil Jagielka
Tim Cahill
Leon Osman (James Vaughan, 75)
Lee Carsley
Henriques Manuel Fernandes
Mikel Arteta
Andrew Johnson, A


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

FT:Blackburn 0-0 Everton: David Moyes will be very upset after Johnson has a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside when he was clearly on and Blacburn escaped

90

Roque Santa Cruz almost wins the game for Rovers with a superb volley from inside the box that flashes a fraction over the bar.

89
Yellow Card
 

Tim Howard is booked for dissent rather strangely.

88
Yellow Card
 

Although both Pedersen and Arteta are booked for their role.

87

Things have suddenly got very heated as Arteta and Pedersen square up to one another but are separated before anything too much happens.

84

It appears from the replay that the referee has had a nightmare on that decision because although Johnson was beyond Friedel there were two defenders closer to the goal than the Toffees striker. What a let off for the home side.

83

There is all sorts going on here! Everton think they have scored through Johnson and has been celebrating for a while but it has been disallowed for offside.

81

Manuel Fernandes with another good strike from range but yet again it seems to be magnetised to Brad Fridel who makes the save look easy.

80

It is hard to believe that nobody has managed to find a goal so far in this half because both sides have had some chances but the ball is just not falling right for them.

78

Blackburn have a free-kick outside the box now and Bentley can be deadly from here but this time he can only strike it into the wall.

75
Substitution
 

And Everton have responded to the Blackburn change by throwing on another striker as James Vaughan replaces Leon Osman.

74

Benni McCarthy is outraged that he does not have a penalty kick here now but it appears that he actually just slipped and was covering his tracks by complaining to the referee.

73
Substitution
 

Matt Derbyshire has been very quiet today and he is replaced by Tugay as Blackburn shore up the midfield.

70

Everton certainly appear to be the favourites to break the deadlock here and Mikel Arteta is probably the player most likely to create or score it.

68

Ewood is rocking at the moment now the pace has picked up and you get the feeling that a goal is on the horizon for someone.

65

Arteta curls in a very dangerous corner right in under Friedel's cross bar and it gives the American a few problems as he elects to punch it clear.

62

And now Everton are really piling on the pressure as Fernandes hits a free-kick from all of 35 yards that leaves Friedel standing as it flashes back off the post.

61

Everton launch a long, hopeful ball into the box and Johnson goes down under challenge from Zurab Khizanishvili and it looks like a sure-fire penalty but the referee is not interested.

58

What a chance for Osman! The energetic midfield man finds himself free in the six yard box but he somehow manages to head it past the post when he really should have scored.

55
Substitution
 

The perenially injured David Dunn has picked up a knock and he can't continue so he is replaced by Benni McCarthy. This is an attacking change so it will be interesting to see what happens now.

53
Yellow Card
 

Brett Emerton is the latest Rovers man to go into the referee's notebook as he brings down Arteta who still looks the most dangerous player on the pitch.

51

First half service appears to have been resumed after that flurry of activity as both sides passing lets them down regularly.

48

But Everton break straight away an Arteta turns cleverly inside the full back and Fernandes arrives on the scene and forces a superb diving stop from Friedel. This is more like it!

47

David Bentley has been by far Blackburn's biggest threat and he chances his arm again from range and Howard parries away.

Second half
 

The second half is underway at Ewood Park and everyone inside the ground is hoping for more from both sides.

Half time
 

HT:Blackburn 0-0 Everton: This game has offered little in the way of chances with Everton probably enjoying the better of the play, Arteta has been lively all game and has provided good delivery from set plays.

44
Yellow Card
 

Zurab Khizanishvili is the second player to go into the book after sliing down Andrew Johnson as Everton attacked.

44

A goal bound header from Jagielka after an Artera corner is cleared off the line by David Dunn who really should have been sent off earlier - Everton are fuming with Alan Wiley.

41

Another good effort from Bentley as he fires another long range shot over the bar. He has been the major threat so far for Blackburn.

39

Dunn is lucky to still be on the park as he is penalised for deliberate handball. Wiley could easily have reached into his pocket once more and shown a second yellow sending Dunn for an early bath.

38

As we near half time here at Ewood Park, both managers must be considering making some changes in order to attempt to break this stalemate.

35

Everton win another corner, but once again Arteta's delivery is not converted by the visitors.

32

Bentley hits a fantastic strike from long range but it just rises over Howard's goal. This has got the home fans more excited.

32

Everton are definitely getting the better of the hosts today but as of yet there has not been an end product. Blackburn need to get in the game.

30

Blackburn are usualyy criticised for being perhaps over physical and they live up to this reputation today committing lots of fouls in order to break up Everton's forward flow.

28

Arteta showing promise drilling a left footed shot from the edge of the area forcing a good save from Friedel. The resulting corner broke for Osman who shot well but missed flashed it past the post.

26

Everton corner again taken by Arteta this time to back post, Fernandes then turned it back into the danger area but Santa Cruz was on hand to clear.

26

Arteta starting to get his foot on the ball, playing crosses and passes into the Blackburn third, however none have hit the mark yet.

24

Emerton hits a goal bound drive from the right channel from range and it needed a good block from Carsley to save Howard being called upon.

23

Blackburn free kick after Fernandes foul. Taken left footed by Gamst into the Everton area but Osman clears well for the visitors.

21
Yellow Card
 

David Dunn is cautioned by Alan Wiley after bringing down Arteta as he advanced towards the Blackburn goal.

20

Both sides are looking out of sorts in the opening 20 minutes as neither really get going.

16

Everton corner taken right footed by Arteta to the near post but no one is able to get the finishing touch and the danger is cleared.

14

Phil Neville crosses the ball from a wide position but it is too close to Brad Friedel who catches comfortably.

12

The midfield play has been sloppy from both sides and neither have been able to take charge of possession as of yet.

10

The Rovers has set out a quite defensive stall against Everton with forward Matt Derbyshire being played wide right in order to restrict the space for Cahill and Arteta to work from.

8

The early minutes have been riddled with petty free kicks given away, the majority by Blackburn.

5

Both sides starting brightly here, only Santa Cruz however has had a chance of note.

3

Friedel gets his first touch of his 300th game in the English League.

2

Blackburn win an early corner and Santa Cruz gets up at the near post to head fractionally wide of the goal.

Kickoff
 

Veteran referee Alan Wiley gets us underway here in Lancashire.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Carsley, Fernandes, Osman, Cahill, Johnson

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Reid, Derbyshire, Bentley, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz

Awaiting Kickoff
 

David Moyes has selected on loan Manuel Fernandes as a part of his five man midfield with the Valencia man adding further creativity and service for lone striker Andrew Johnson.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

The Blackburn starting eleven includes Matt Derbyshire despite his penalty miss last week, and Morten Gamst Pedersen who is still searching for his first elusive goal of the season.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Welcome to Ewood Park where Blackburn play hosts to an in form Everton side with both looking for points to boost their push for European qualification.