Everton drop points at Rovers

Blackburn 0 Everton 0

Blackburn had better hope Father Christmas arrives with a sackload of goals and points next weekend otherwise their new year is unlikely to be a happy one.

For the sixth time from their last eight matches, manager Mark Hughes’ side were held to a draw, but perhaps more alarmingly, this was Rovers’ third successive match without finding the net.

When you are scrapping for your lives in and around the relegation zone, any point is welcome, but it is wins Blackburn need if they are to remain in the Premiership come May,

As for Everton, they remain in wonderland after a run of six games unbeaten, even if this was by far one of their least effective performances.

But who in their right mind, following the turbulent summer endured at Goodison Park, would have forecast the Toffees would be in a position of such superiority come Christmas.

For any neutral observer watching these two teams for the first time this season, though, they would have had difficulty differentiating between the club one place off top spot coming into this game, and the side two places off the bottom.

For the opening 20 minutes in particular, Blackburn employed the tactics that have so far this campaign stood Everton in good stead as they pressed, harried and hustled their high-flying opponents off the ball.

Everton were thrown out of their stride from the off, especially following a crunching challenge from Blackburn centre-back Craig Short on one of Everton’s midfield lynchpins in Thomas Gravesen, leading to the Dane requiring treatment on the sidelines.

David Moyes’ side had previously been forced to deal with two Brett Emerton right-wing free kicks following poor tackles from Alan Stubbs and Alessandro Pistone, effectively piling the pressure on themselves.

They were comfortably dealt with, though, on both occasions, although soon after it required a brave point-blank block from Tony Hibbert to prevent Paul Dickov from hooking home the opener from 12 yards as Everton were almost caught napping at the back.

They were certainly asleep at the resultant Emerton corner, however, with what unfolded perhaps epitomising the difference between the two sides this season.

Garry Flitcroft was allowed a free shot on goal from 15 yards, only for Hibbert to again come to his side’s rescue, albeit with a sliced clearance off the line that nearly left him red faced.

It could have gone anywhere, but Everton escaped and Rovers were left cursing their luck, with the chances then drying up following the early impetus.

Emerton continued to prove a thorn in Everton’s left flank, twice embarking on a surging runs down the right, with the initial effort culminating in a lay off for Flitcroft, only for his shot from just outside the area to sail high over the bar on this occasion.

Five minutes later and after receiving a long Brad Friedel throw, Emerton’s pace took him to the edge of the area again, with Andy Todd eventually receiving the pass.

But he spurned the shot and went for a short ball inside the area that was broken up, suggesting a lack of confidence within the side, and ultimately to the frustration of all in the Rovers camp.

After Short had been replaced by Nils-Eric Johansson midway through the half due to injury, Nigel Martyn then made his one save of the opening 45 minutes, albeit an easy one to a Barry Ferguson free-kick from 25 yards.

Opposite number Brad Friedel was never tested before the break such was Everton’s failure to breach a resilient Blackburn backline, with a Kevin Kilbane far-post header to a Gravesen right-wing cross their only clear-cut opportunity.

The second half was at least punctuated by three bookings in 12 minutes from referee Mark Halsey, with Todd, Carsley and Hibbert all cautioned for a variety of offences.

Such were the attacking failings of both sides, the first chance did not arise until the 72nd minute, and then a glancing header from Flitcroft to another Emerton corner that was a few yards wide of the right-hand post.

Friedel was finally called upon in the 76th minute, producing a reaction save to an acutely-angled shot on the turn from Marcus Bent.

Rovers then thought they had won it five minutes from time when Paul Gallagher - a substitute two minutes earlier for Jay Bothroyd – tapped home after Martyn had parried a Reid drive, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside, stifling the Blackburn cheers.

Then in the final minute of the three played for injury time, Emerton clipped the outside of Martyn’s right-hand post with a 20-yard drive, to the agony of the Rovers fans again who were denied some much-needed pre-Christmas cheer.