Lowly Rovers defeated at Everton

Leon Osman
12 April 2012

Second-half goals from Leon Osman and Leighton Baines plunged Blackburn further into Barclays Premier League relegation trouble as Everton claimed a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

Steve Kean's lacklustre Rovers side, now without a win in nine games, struggled to contain the Toffees and were punished when a deflected Osman shot went in after 54 minutes.

The visitors hardly tested home goalkeeper Tim Howard and Baines put the game beyond them with a 75th-minute penalty after Phil Jones fouled Seamus Coleman.

Jermaine Jones' error let in Everton's Jermaine Beckford early on but the former Leeds forward blasted over.

Christopher Samba deflected a shot from Phil Jagielka behind but Everton's positive start was undermined after 15 minutes when John Heitinga was forced off with a hamstring injury, Jack Rodwell taking his place.

Everton skipper Phil Neville shot over from 18 yards and his side continued to dominate possession but Osman's shot in first-half injury time lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Paul Robinson.

Magaye Gueye blasted narrowly over and Baines' powerful low effort from 30 yards almost shaved the post before the opener came when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov skipped past Gael Givet and had a shot deflected behind. Gueye took the corner short to Osman, who sidestepped Ruben Rochina and fired in a shot which flew in after a deflection off Samba.

Rochina was booked for a rash challenge on Tony Hibbert and another bad tackle, this time by Jones on Coleman in the box, put the game beyond Blackburn as Baines stepped up to fire the penalty into the roof of the net.

Jagielka and Baines collided trying to head clear a bouncing ball but Rovers substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen somehow shot wide from six yards.

Everton continued to finish strongly and Robinson tipped over a header from Bilyaletdinov in the closing moments.

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