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FULL-TIME: EVERTON 2-3 BLACKBURN
GOAL: Everton 2-3 Blackburn: (90mins) Andre Ooijer snatches all three points at the death as he reacts first to stab home a rebound after Ryan Nelsen's header had hit the post.
Yakubu picks up a very late yellow card for a foul born more out of frustration than anything else.
There will be three minutes of added time.
Blackburn are making their final change as Tugay replaces David Dunn for the final moments.
Almost a dream debut for Jose Baxter as Phil Jagielka bends the ball in and the young striker rises to meet it but is unable to keep the header down - that would have sent the home fans into raptures.
Both sides are still all out for the three points but the frustration levels are greater on the Everton side as Blackburn are looking the more likely to find the decisive winner.
Benedict McCarthy is now on in place of Jason Roberts who was a real handful today.
As we enter the final ten minutes it will be interesting to see whether both teams continue to go for the jugular or if they decide to try and hold onto what they have.
Everton are however going to make a change as young Jose Baxter - labelled by enthusiasts as the new Rooney - replaces Nuno Valente.
Blackburn are making a change now as the dangerous Morten Gamst Pedersen is replaced by young winger Keith Treacy.
This game could still go either way but Blackburn arguably have a huge advantage thanks to the comparative strength of the two benches where Everton are left with inexperience everywhere while Blackburn have the likes of McCarthy to throw on.
Joseph Yobo picks up a yellow card for a blatant tug on Jason Roberts who was evading the Nigerian again.
More woeful defending from the hosts and Roberts is almost the beneficiary as he outmuscles Yobo far too easily and only another superb stop from Howard keeps the scores level.
Blackburn suddenly look lively again having been incredibly flat since the interval and Pedersen, Reid and Dunn are beginning to have an impact once more.
David Moyes will be furious that his side, having worked so hard to come back from behind to take the lead, gifted Blackburn an equaliser with some sloppy defending - an area in which they were so strong last term.
GOAL:Everton 2-2 Blackburn: (66mins) Straight from the kick-off Santa Cruz latches onto a mistake by Lescott to round Howard and get Rovers back on level terms.
GOAL:Everton 2-1 Blackburn: (64mins) More superb play from Arteta who stands a cross up on a plate for Yakubu to head past Robinson.
The man affectionately known as 'The Yak' has had little impact so far but he twists and turns away from Samba and bends a shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the box - this is infinitely better from the hosts.
For the time being Everton are the dominant force and look by far the most likely to add a second with the visitors starting to get a little frustrated.
A yellow card for Andre Ooijer for a late challenge from behind on Yakubu who has been very quiet.
Absolutely top drawer from Jason Roberts who tricks and powers his way past the entire Everton defence only to be denied a contender for goal of the season by an equally good save from Tim Howard - great football all round.
The crowd are starting to get involved in the game now which they have been unable to do so far and the Everton players are visibly busier and sharper since the break.
Good pressing from the home side who are - for the first time - not allowing Blackburn to settle on the ball and Baines is beginning to become involved on the left of midfield.
Much better from Everton at the start of the half as Leighton Baines gets himself to the byline and whips a devilish cross into the box that somehow Osman and Yakubu fail to convert.
The second half is underway at Goodison Park with Everton looking to capitalise on the goal at the end of the half while Blackburn will attempt to re-assert their authority.
HT:Everton 1-1 Blackburn: Ince's Blackburn have been by far the better side but Arteta's injury time free-kick means Everton go into the break on level terms.
GOAL:Everton 1-1 Blackburn: (45mins) Mikel Arteta tries his luck again from a tight angle and this time bends a stunning free-kick into the near post where Robinson is unable to keep it out - he will have to take the blame for that.
The fourth official appears holding up his board and indicates three minutes of added time.
The first booking of the game is handed out to Stephen Warnock for a challenge on Mikel Arteta.
Blackburn Rovers are making a mistake here you feel as they are failing to push home the advantage that they have held over the Toffees so far and are allowing Moyes' men into the game.
Mikel Arteta has been stifled by the Rovers midfield men so far but he almost manages to bend a free-kick into the top corner as he leaves Paul Robinson left standing as it whips off the top of the bar.
The game has drifted into a lull for the moment with neither side able to start a meaningful move to cause their opponents any problems - and Goodison Park is deafly silent.
Everton's passing has been nothing short of appaling in this opening period and David Moyes will be looking to change that at the break - however a quick glance at his bench shows why he feels he needs to spend, there are no experienced options.
David Moyes is waving his arms furiously over on the touch line now as Arteta smashes an aimless ball up-field and his manager is desperate for them to keep possession.
The game is bypassing young Rodwell at the moment and he is forced to bring down David Dunn who is really bossing proceedings from midfield.
Everton need to stop Blackburn playing before they begin to completely dominate the game because at the moment they are unable to get Arteta into the game.
It is the voices of the Blackburn fans that you can hear reverberating around the stadium as Blackburn play the ball around with zip and pace and Gamst Pedersen is seeing a lot of the ball.
GOAL:Everton 0-1 Blackburn: New captain David Dunn bends an unstoppable effort into the top corner of the net giving Howard absolutely no chance - Paul Ince is delighted with that one.
However, in the very next move Jason Roberts is in behind the Everton defence but he fails to control it properly and Howard is able to smother.
It has been a really bright opening 20 minutes here with both sides having chances to open the scoring and not afraid to attack - typified by a superb run from Nuno Valente who lets fly from long range just over the bar.
Mikel Arteta showcases just why Blackburn cannot afford to give him time to get his head up and pick out a pass as he feeds a clever ball through for Yakubu who blazes over from close range - although the whistle had gone for offside beforehand.
Roque Santa Cruz is proving to be rather wasteful at the start of the campaign as Steven Reid floats another delightful cross onto his head only for the Peruvian to loop it over.
Blackburn have taken the initiative for the time being as Everton begin to look a little anxious at the back - goalkeeper Howard is the latest to slice a clearance out of play.
It is real end-to-end stuff in the opening stages at Goodison Park as Blackburn advance on the right flank through Steven Reid and his cross gives Roque Santa Cruz a great chance to give himself a birthday present - but he fails to convert.
However, it was almost the epitome of from hero to villain for Rodwell as he plays an aimless ball towards Neville but Morten Gamst Pedersen is onto it and only a good block from Yobo saves the youngster's blushes.
More good play from the home side as young debutant Jack Rodwell collects the ball in midfield and drives towards the area where he unleashes a rasping shot that flies a fraction wide of the post - that will do his confidence no end of good.
Everton are immediately on top and Mikel Arteta finds himself in acres of space on the edge of the box and looks to dink the ball towards Osman when he should have taken the shot on.
Andre Marriner is today's official and despite all the concerns over a lack of transfer activity the Goodison crowd are in raucous mood.
Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Reid, Dunn, Mokoena, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts
Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Rodwell, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Yakubu
Paul Ince has been frustrated too since his arrival at Ewood Park as he saw David Bentley immediately leave for Spurs and has not been able to spend the bulk of the £15million fee so far, however he has kept Roque Santa Cruz and he starts today.
It has been a summer of frustration so far for Toffees manager David Moyes who has been unable to bring anybody to Merseyside and with Tim Cahill still absent is forced into handing a start to young midfielder Jack Rodwell.
Welcome to Goodison Park for the opening day of the new Premier League season where Everton entertain Blackburn Rovers and their new boss Paul Ince.
Everton's frustrating summer break comes to a welcome end with the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Goodison Park in their season opener. Toffees boss David Moyes has failed to add to his squad since the end of last season despite being linked to a host of leading names from across Europe. The likes of Portugal international Joao Moutinho, CSKA Moscow's Brazilian striker Vagner Love and Alan Smith from Newcastle United have all been mentioned as potential targets but, with two weeks still to go before the transfer window closes, the number of new arrivals at Goodison Park stands at nil. England striker Andrew Johnson has been allowed to leave for around £9million to make room in the squad, but Moyes has seen his efforts in the transfer market so far bear no fruit. The result is a feeling of pessimism on Merseyside with supporters predicting the Toffees will struggle to match - never mind better - last season's fifth-placed finish. Chairman Bill Kenwright has openly admitted the club needs fresh investment if they are to break the top four's dominance of the Premier League, while reports of problems and delays continue to overshadow their proposed new stadium. The mood has not been helped by the delayed return of key midfielder Tim Cahill from his latest foot injury, while Steven Pienaar will miss the first six weeks of the season with a broken toe. Meanwhile, Paul Ince takes his much-changed Blackburn side on the short journey to Merseyside for his first taste of Premier League action. Ince was handed the managerial reins following Mark Hughes' decision to leave for Manchester City at the beginning of the summer and the rookie boss has allowed two of last season's key performers to leave Ewood Park. He has sanctioned the sales of England midfielder David Bentley to Spurs and veteran keeper Brad Friedel to Aston Villa, but has so far resisted the temptation to delve massively into the transfer market. The former MK Dons boss has paid just one transfer fee - £3.5million to Spurs - for England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, while the rest of his signings have been of the loan variety. Ince had bolstered his ranks with the likes of full-back Danny Simpson from Manchester United and the younger brother of their Paraguay international striker Roque Santa Cruz, Julio. Meanwhile after finishing seventh last season, Ince has called for patience from supporters concerned at a lack of big-name arrivals. "We are trying to build something here and it's not going to happen overnight," he warned.
Everton were left heartbroken after losing 3-2 with the last kick of the game in a hard-fought northern derby with Blackburn Rovers. Kick-starting his Premier League career with a win, Paul Ince's side looked the better team as David Moyes was forced to pick from a squad that had ten senior players missing. The first half was totally dominated by the visitors and the Toffees found themselves lucky to be going in at the break with a score of one goal a piece. But the half-time break turned things around for the home side in a match that could have gone either way. Having not brought any new faces to Goodison over the summer, the Blues boss was forced into playing 17-year-old Jack Rodwell in the middle of the park and only one striker in Yakubu up front. Making his first league start, Rodwell found a bit of space after four minutes on the edge of the box, but his low drive was easily smothered by Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal. That was the last shot on goal for the home team for over 30 minutes as Ince's men piled on the pressure. A high ball crossed into the box by right winger Steven Reid on seven minutes found the head of tall striker Roque Santa Cruz but, after holding off a challenge of Joseph Yobo, the Paraguay international could only put the ball wide of Tim Howard's goal. Another looping cross into a packed 18-yard box by Reid could only be headed over the bar once again by the powerful Santa Cruz. With an effort by David Dunn and a blocked shot by Morten Gamst Pedersen, it was only a matter of time before the visitors broke the deadlock and they did so on 22 minutes. A pass from Pedersen across the edge of the box to Dunn, who faked a right-foot shot sending Phil Jagielka sliding past, then shifting to his left, the midfielder curled the ball from 20 yards past the outstretched arm of Howard. Having been outplayed for nearly 45 minutes, Everton found themselves deep inside the opponents half with only stoppage time to play and an attempted cross from Mikel Arteta hit the hand of Reid resulting in free-kick wide left of the 18-yard box. Putting the ball down, Arteta caught Robinson napping and drilled home a shot inside the former England number one's near post. The Blues came out a different side in the second half and the game became an end-to-end contest that could have gone either way. A Leighton Baines cross in the first three minutes fizzed across the box and missed both Yakubu and an on rushing Leon Osman by a matter of inches. Everton took the lead on 64 minutes with a well worked goal from Yakubu, who started the move inside his own half. His pass released Arteta down the left and a deep cross to the back post found the Nigerian out jumping Stephen Warnock to nod home his first of the season. The lead lasted two minutes as Warnock made up for his slack defending by sending a 30-yard pass to an onside Santa Cruz, who brought the ball down, leaving Joleon Lescott screaming for offside, and slotted it easily past Howard. David Moyes brought on Everton's youngest ever first-team player in Jose Baxter - who is 16 years and 196 days old breaking James Vaughan's record by 75 days - and the youngster could have won the game in the final minute. A deep cross from Jagielka found the head of Baxter on the back post, but the England Under-17 star couldn't keep it down. With the last kick of the game, Blackburn gave their manager the perfect start to his Premier League career after a needless free-kick was given away by Yakubu which gave Warnock the chance to put the ball in the box. His cross found Ryan Nelsen who headed the ball against the post and rebounded straight to an on rushing Andre Ooijer, who easily slotted home to steal all three points.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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