Lancastria.net Yea Blackburn!

BLACKBURN Rovers crashed to a seventh successive league defeat on the road as they were comfortably beaten at Everton this afternoon.

Louis Saha put Everton 2-0 up with goals in the 22nd and 54th minutes before Joseph Yobo added a third in the 58th minute.

Rovers handed a first start to Michel Salgado in the absence of Lars Jacobsen, who was set to return to his old club for the first time since leaving in the summer but was forced to withdraw from the game after his wife gave birth this morning.

Rovers had their fair share of play in an even first half and could have gone ahead when El-Hadji Diouf headed against the bar.

But Everton took the lead as French striker Saha evaded his marker from a free kick to find the net unchallenged.

Double scorer Louis Saha of Everton

Keith Andrews saw a shot saved by Everton keeper Tim Howard just after half time but Saha made it 2-0 with a header from Marouane Fellaini’s right-wing cross.

A third goal arrived soon afterwards as Yobo scored from another cross, while Paul Robinson had to deny Steven Pienaar a fourth.

Andrews then headed off the line to keep out Sylvain Distin’s effort before Howard kept out Diouf’s attempt to bag a Rovers consolation.

Rovers: Paul Robinson, Michel Salgado (Nikola Kalinic 62), Chris Samba, Gael Givet (Ryan Nelsen 46), Pascal Chimbonda, El-Hadji Diouf, Keith Andrews, Vince Grella, Morten Gamst Pedersen (Junior Hoilett 50), David Dunn, Jason Roberts.

Subs not used: Jason Brown, Steven Nzonzi, Brett Emerton, Benni McCarthy.

Everton: Tim Howard, Johnny Heitinga, Joseph Yobo, Sylvain Distin, Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman (Dan Gosling 82), Tim Cahill (Tony Hibbert 77), Louis Saha (Jo 73).

Subs not used: Carlo Nash, Kieran Agard, James Wallace, Yakubu.

Referee: Lee Mason (Bolton).

Attendance: 35,546.