Live: Everton 2 Blackburn 3

By Laura Slatcher   Last updated: 16th August 2008

dunn david

Dunn: Opened Blackburn scoring

Full Time It's all over at Goodison Park and an injury time winner from Ooijer settles a lively game. Paul Ince records his first Premier League victory as manager while the Everton fans let their side know their views with a chorus of boos.

Goal90+3 GOAL! Ooijer grabs his first goal for Blackburn. A Nelsen header comes off the bar for a waiting Ooijer to power the rebound home. That surely is a defeat for Everton now.

Yellow Card90+2 Yakubu vents his frustration bringing down Ooijer and is put into the referee's book.

90+2 Both side's are still pushing forward but there's just one minute left for either side to grab a winner.

90 Three minutes of added time will be played. A goal now would surely seal victory for either side.

Substitution89 Dunn is replaced by Tudgay.

89 A late chance for Everton as Jagielka's cross finds Baxter at the far post, the youngster's header skimming the bar. That would have been a new youngest scorer record had his effort hit the back of the net.

88 Rodwell sends a searching ball over to the left but Baxter's lively run isn't enough to continue the attack. A draw between these side's would be their fourth in the last five meetings.

85 There's a queue of Blackburn players up at the back post but somehow the Everton defence fend them off and clear the danger.

85 Warnock has space down the left to run into Everton's half but Yobo does well to recover and send it away for a corner.

84 We're coming towards the last five minutes of the game and I still feel that either side could still nick it with one last goal. Everton are on top in the closing minutes, can they come from behind again to win?

Substitution83 McCarthy comes on for Roberts. An impressive display by the striker this afternoon.

81 Treacy barges into Arteta and the home side look to take a quick free kick. Arteta launches it forward towards Yakubu but the Yak can't latch onto it and Robinson can send it forward.

80 Everton are on top in this game but Dave in Sheffield is concerned that their squad is lacking in depth and players need to be bought in quickly.

Substitution78 16-year-old Baxter comes on for Valente.

Substitution76 Treacy comes on as a direct replacement for Pedersen. The youngster is making his debut for Rovers.

Yellow Card75 Yobo is booked after bringing down Roberts. The Everton defender obviously saw no choice but to bring down the Blackburn frontman as he raced off towards goal.

74 The ball is going from end to end. If either side can find that clinical last ball we may see the lead change hands once again.

Mark in Chicago is hoping Blackburn can pull something out the bag and take all three points this afternoon. John in Chester hopes Yakubu is the man to fire Everton closer to three points. Let me know your final score predictions at Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com.

71 Warnock dashes down the left and has his pick of attackers in the box but his cross goes wayward and out of play. Santa Cruz shows his frustration with both sides looking to get the next goal.

69 Arteta shows off some skill in the centre of the pitch tapping the ball around Ooijer. His efforts come to nothing as his pass ends up with Robinson who composes himself before launching a kick upfield.

Goal66 GOAL! Santa Cruz beats the offside trap to latch onto Warnock's hopeful long ball from the back, slotting it past Howard. Lescott had plenty of time to deal with the ball in the air but Santa Cruz gets their first. The player that Rovers most wanted to see remain at the club has sent in an equaliser. An immediate reply from Blackburn.

Goal65 GOAL! Would you believe it, Everton take the lead. Osman plays a neat ball through to Arteta on the left before his cross finds a rising Yakubu who powers his header home past a flailing Robinson.

63 Yakubu dodges around Samba before sending his shot past the post. Robinson looked to have that covered for Blackburn.

61 Jagielka wins the header from a corner but the angle is tight and the midfielder sends it over the bar. A promising corner from Arteta there.

58 Everton are beginning to step it up a gear, moving the ball around neatly and midfield and playing in Yakubu a lot more than we saw in the first half. Their defence has improved greatly, Blackburn battling to get a shot on target.

55 Roberts sends in a cross from the right but Santa Cruz wasn't expecting the ball to find him and Everton clear. Roberts is looking impressive this afternoon.

53 Ooijer and Valente enjoyed a tussle on the halfway line with the Everton man coming out on top forcing Ooijer to play it back to Robinson.

51 Pedersen sends a ball in from the left towards Reid but the midfielder can't get on top of the header and sends it over the bar.

49 Neville brings the ball out from defence for Everton and sets the home side on an attack. The ball finds Osman on the edge of the box but he is dispossessed by Mokoena who starts a Blackburn attack.

47 The first chance of the half goes to Everton. Baines gets the chance to cross and Everton nearly take the lead after Samba's slip lets in Yakubu. It takes the striker by surprise and he doesn't get a shot away.

45 The second half is underway at Goodison Park and there are no changes to report for either side at the break.

Villanueva to come on? Lambert in Great Harwood hopes so, saying he hopes Rovers' new signing can show what he is made of. Not long till we can find out.

Matthew in Wareham is not surprised that Everton have struggled this first half, he puts their performance down to a lack of experienced players and no money spent in the close season. I personally think Everton will be facing a relegation battle this season especially after the first half we've seen today. But there's time left yet and who knows what will happen in the second half.

There's plenty of Rovers support out there with Sam in Blackpool confident of a Blackburn win while John wishes to remind everyone that Steven Reid 'was the only player that could handle Ronaldo last season, he played him off the field.' I'd be interested to hear what you think will happen in the second half - will Blackburn continue their dominance or will Arteta's goal fill Everton with confidence? Send an email to Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com.

Half Time The half time whistle goes and Everton's last minute equaliser from Mikael Arteta makes it 1-1 after the first half.

Goal45+1 GOAL! Arteta grabs an undeserved equaliser for Everton as he squeezes in a free kick from the edge of the box. Robinson will be disappointed with his position before that free kick. That came completely out of nowhere for Everton and Blackburn will be crushed to go in all square at the break.

45 A half chance for Everton as Yakubu's ball into the box is rebounded to Rodwell who fires a shot straight at Robinson.

44 We're coming up to the end of the first half and the fourth referee signals two minutes of added time.

Yellow Card42 Warnock trips Arteta and is handed the first yellow card of the game.

41 Everton are getting a little more time on the ball but are lacking any quality in their midfield play, being forced back at every opportunity.

Osman has barely seen any of the ball since the opening ten minutes of play.

39 Blackburn have a free kick in the centre of the park as Samba is brought down by Yakubu. The Toffee's striker is getting a talking to from the referee as Warnock prepares to take the free kick for Blackburn.

38 Arteta takes a free kick from 20-yards, his right-footed effort missing the bar by a couple of feet. That was Everton's closest effort on goal this game.

36 Yakubu tries to get the better of Samba and succeeds but Nelsen is there to clear the danger. If Yakubu gets some more service this afternoon he may well be on the scoresheet, he's proving a handful when Everton do get the ball into the box.

Rob in Manchester has emailed in saying he is worried about the Blackburn midfield despite their dominance so far in this game. He also says he's still not convinced that Paul Ince is the man to take them forward. Get in touch at Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com.

32 Jagielka clears a Warnock pass out to the halfway line for a throw in. Blackburn take the throw and look to put together some passes to take further control of the midfield.

30 Blackburn are maintaining their momentum as we pass the half way stage in the first half. Everton are struggling to contain the Rovers attacks, half time can't come soon enough for Moyes' men. Moyes doesn't have any attacking options on the bench either, it may be a long afternoon for the home fans.

27 Dunn and Pedersen are standing over a free kick from 30-yards. Pedersen fires it at the wall and it's a disappointing free kick for Blackburn. Everton have the break on but everyone is back defending and Blackburn can gather it to start from the back.

24 Reid is down for Blackburn after a seemingly harmless challenge from Rodwell. I'll use this break to tell you that Ian has emailed in to say he thinks Blackburn will struggle this afternoon with Reid and Mokoena in midfield. They've certainly not struggled so far, Rovers are controlling every area of the field. Get in touch with your thoughts at Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com.

21 The away fans have found their voice after Dunn's goal as Blackburn continue to play havoc with the Everton defence. Samba and Nelson are in the box for a Rovers corner. Dunn's delivery of the corner is poor as Valente struggles to connect and Yobo clears the line.

Goal20 GOAL! Blackburn have the lead after Pedersen lays the ball off to David Dunn for the midfielder to fire it home with a precise shot into the bottom left hand corner. That goal has been coming for Blackburn and Paul Ince looks delighted with his side's efforts.

17 Blackburn push forward and Valente picks up the ball from 25-yards but all he can muster is a shot that goes right over Howard's goal and into the stands.

15 Osman tests Robinson with a cross in from the left forcing the new Blackburn keeper into a tricky save. The former Spurs stopper sends it wide and looks comfortable so far in his first Premier League game for his new club.

14 Dunn is the latest to take a shot at Howard weaving around Jagielka on the edge of the box before seeing his shot saved by the Everton keeper. Everton are really taking a battering from Rovers at the back.

12 Blackburn are starting to put the pressure on Everton with the home side looking shaky at the back. Reid takes a 20-yard shot that Howard fails to collect comfortably on his first attempt nearly letting Rovers take the lead.

11 Santa Cruz has the chance to open the scoring for the visitors but his header goes over the bar. Reid's header to the Blackburn star was perfectly timed, and it's a surprise that he didn't do better with that one. We've seen him put away much more difficult chances.

9 Ooijer picks out Roberts but the striker can't control it and his shot goes wayward. Luckily for Blackburn, Everton keeper Howard fumbles his clearance and sends it away for a corner.

7 The game has settled now with both side's looking to control the midfield. Osman has started particularly well playing just off Yakubu, making some good diagonal runs across the last quarter of the pitch.

4 Roberts flicks a ball over the Everton defence and Santa Cruz is in pursuit but Lescott is as solid as ever at the back and sends it out for a throw in. Lescott just left it too late to knock it back to the keeper.

3 A backpass from Yobo looks to be going astray but Howard comes out to collect for the home side. Straight down the other end and Rodwell takes a shot from 20 yards that forces Robinson into a low save.

1 We're underway at Goodison Park as Everton and Blackburn both look to get a win under their belts.

Jamie in Wiltshire has emailed in to say he thinks Everton will do the business today with Arteta, Osman, Lescott and Yakubu proving the difference. Any Blackburn fans got a response to that? Email me at Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com

You can send in your thoughts and predictions on today's game by sending an email to Laura.Slatcher@bskyb.com. There's not long to go now with both side's looking eager to get started as they warm up in front of a loud Goodison crowd.

Everton team: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Rodwell, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Yakubu.

Subs: Turner, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Agard, Kissock, Baxter, Wallace.

Blackburn team: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Reid, Dunn, Mokoena, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts.

Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, McCarthy, Villanueva, Simpson, Treacy, Derbyshire.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W. Midlands)

Team news: Blackburn are without Brett Emerton who we had expected to challenge for a place in the side after recovering from a bruised foot picked up in pre-season. But Paul Ince has included one of his four new signings, goalkeeper Paul Robinson. David Moyes is without James Vaughan and is forced to play Yakubu as a lone striker with no other strikers available.

Welcome to minute-by-minute coverage of Everton's opening Premier League clash of the season against Blackburn. We'll bring you all of the team news shortly.