Everton v Blackburn 01/01/97 5.45Everton (0) 0 Blackburn (2) 2 FT Sherwood 18 Sutton 32 Blackburn chalked up their first away victory of the season in the Premiership today and moved out of the bottom three in the process. Goals in the first half from Tim Sherwood and Chris Sutton condemned Everton to their second home defeat in quick succession. And manager Joe Royle must be concerned at the club's loss of form with only one victory in the past seven games. Blackburn won at a canter and there is no doubt they have improved considerably under the stewardship of caretaker-boss Tony Parkes. He is due to make way for Sven Goran Eriksson in the summer and the Swede's name was on the official team sheet today. But, if Blackburn do maintain their Premiership status, it will be due in no small measure to the contribution made by Parkes, who has helped restore the players' confidence. Blackburn could not have wished for a better start to the New Year and made the breakthrough after just 18 minutes. Everton boss Royle gave a debut to Terry Phelan bought for £850,000 from Chelsea on Monday to replace long-term injury victim Andy Hinchcliffe. But Blackburn, locked in a battle to beat the drop, went ahead with a fine goal. Graeme Le Saux, a candidate to replace Hinchcliffe in the England squad started the move on the left. Kevin Gallacher won the knock down and Sutton touched the ball on to Tim Sherwood and he steered the ball beyond stranded keeper Neville Southall. The signs had been ominous for Everton before the goal with Gallacher heading marginally over the top after Le Saux and Wilcox had linked. Blackburn added a second goal in the 32nd minute with Sutton scoring his eighth of the season. Sherwood's cross deceived the Everton defence and found Gallacher. He picked out Sutton, who steadied himself before finding the net via the post. Royle decided to shake things up at the beginning of the second half by replacing the ineffective Barmby with Michael Branch. But Blackburn continued to dictate the pace and keeper Neville Southall had to look lively to turn away a shot from Lars Bohinen after he had been released by Gallacher. Then Le Saux, back to full fitness, saw his effort go inches wide of the post after he had cut inside to latch onto a ball from Jason Wilcox. Royle brought on Anders Limpar for Andrei Kanchelskis with 20 minutes to go as a last throw of the dice. But Blackburn finished the match comfortably in charge, leaving Everton with a blank holiday. Royle's side failed to win any of their three festive games and today's match was watched by their lowest league crowd of the season, 30,427. 
Everton: Southall, Barrett, Phelan, Hottiger, Watson, Ebbrell, Stuart, Speed, Barmby (Branch, 45), Kanchelskis (Limpar, 71), Ferguson. Subs not used: Gerrard, Rideout, Dunne. Booked: Ebbrell. Blackburn: Flowers, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Le Saux, Gallacher, Sutton, Bohinen, Wilcox, McKinlay, Berg. Subs not used: Marker, Given, Fenton, Donis, Warhurst. Booked: Bohinen. Attendance: 30,427. Referee: G P Barber (Warwick). |
