Ten-man Toffees hold on for win

Everton 1 Blackburn 0

James Beattie made the difference as 10-man Everton stretched their unbeaten run to six league games.

Young goalkeeper Iain Turner’s league debut was ruined when he was sent off after just nine minutes for handling the ball outside his box – allowing fourth-choice John Ruddy to make his debut.

Everton fought in the manner that manager of the month David Moyes demands, and went in at the break ahead thanks to a fine Beattie header.

The second period saw Blackburn despetely searching for an equaliser but they were confronted by defiance from Everton, who defended Ruddy with wonderful character.

Referee Peter Walton suffered constant abuse from the Goodison Park crowd, but it was hard to see how else he could have reacted to Turner’s rush of blood.

Everton brought back defender Alan Stubbs for Matteo Ferrari and had James McFadden as striking support for Beattie, who had shrugged off a calf injury.

Turner was in again after his first-team baptism at Chelsea in the midweek FA Cup defeat, which came about due to Richard Wright’s ankle injury in the warm-up.

It was cruel that Turner should become the latest casualty of Everton’s goalkeeping jinx.

They were already without Nigel Martyn, recovering from an ankle injury, and with Wright out for several weeks after falling over a “keep out of the goalmouth” sign and damaging ankle ligaments, Moyes had little option but to pick Turner.

So when the 22-year-old had a crazy moment, handling the ball outside his area, referee Walton had little option but to send him off.

Blackburn’s decision to use pace against Everton’s backline almost paid off early on when Florent Sinama-Pongolle skipped away from David Weir and got to the line before laying the ball back for Steven Reid, but the midfielder’s shot sailed over.

Then Everton thought they had scored when Beattie evaded the offside trap and touched the ball on for Tim Cahill, who netted only to see a linesman’s flag raised, because he had been fractionally ahead of his colleague.

A minute later Brad Friedel and Michael Gray collided, but when confronted with an open goal, McFadden cracked the ball against the bar from 10 yards.

But worse was to follow for Everton with Turner sent trudging to the dressing room.

He lost his bearings as he bent down to collect a poor Stubbs header, an instinctive action but one referee Walton dare not have ignored.

The Northamptonshire official showed the stunned Stirling-born ’keeper the red card and Everton had to take off McFadden to allow 19-year-old Ruddy into the fray.

Sinama-Pongolle shot inches wide of the far post from Bellamy’s cross before Cahill had another effort ruled out for offside, a fine diving header, after Ryan Nelsen had been booked for a foul on Mikel Arteta.

Then amazingly Everton were ahead on 33 minutes. Mikel Arteta got a warning from his own skipper Weir for too much trickery on the ball as he sat on the ground after being fouled by Robbie Savage.

And as the free-kick was curled in by Arteta, Beattie soared to power a fine header into the top corner.

There were howls for a penalty when Savage tangled with Leon Osman as they both went for an Arteta cross early in the second half, and Everton had another effort ruled out when Stubbs climbed at the far post to head down and past Friedel on 56 minutes, only to be penalised for pushing.

Blackburn, despite their man advantage, had made precious little in the way of chances and when the ball dropped for Lucas Neill, he lashed high over from 15 yards.

Stubbs headed away from under the bar following a Michael Gray header, but Ruddy was being well protected by the massed ranks in front of him.

The final stages saw Blackburn apply almost constant pressure, with Sergio Peter on for Brett Emerton and Shefki Kuqi having replaced David Bentley.

Everton were wasting every second they could, Rovers boss Mark Hughes was fuming on the line at such tactics. Kevin Kilbane was finally booked with five minutes left for a long delay in taking a corner.

Friedel came up for a corner in injury time, stayed there for anoher and continued in the box as Rovers bombarded Everton’s goal.

The only relief was a booking for Andy Todd for a foul on Cahill as Everton broke out. But Everton held out for their most unlikely win of the season, and so their impressive run continues.