ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton 3 Blackburn 0: IT IS unknown what harm Blackburn Rovers caused Louis Saha in a previous life, only that he has repaid them with endless misery in this.
The France international scored his ninth and 10th career goals against Rovers yesterday, his highest tally against any club, lifting both Everton’s season and his attempts at rehabilitating an injury-prone reputation in the process. “In terms of ability he is up there with the top players I’ve ever worked or played with,” swooned his manager, David Moyes.
Saha’s goals and tireless endeavour against Sam Allardyce’s sorry side were an appropriate reaction to his foolish dismissal against AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday.
It was a display that shook Everton out of the lethargy that had blighted the start to their domestic campaign although, in truth, they were up against a Blackburn team that failed to show.
This was a far more vibrant, inventive and confident display from a side that finished fifth last season, with their first clean sheet in the league as important to the Everton manager as the predatory prowess of the former Manchester United striker.
“He has incredible ability, that is why a lot of managers have signed him, and Louis is enjoying himself too,” continued Moyes. “We have worked Louis as hard as he’s ever been worked and we play him as often as we can but only when we think his body is in top condition. Everyone says he is injury-prone but he is determined to show he is over that now.”
Moyes will hope this victory marks a turning point. Confidence is returning to Goodison Park and Everton’s squad has been enhanced despite the sale of Joleon Lescott. Having cited card-happy Spanish referees as one of the major reasons for swapping Atletico Madrid for Everton, Johnny Heitinga swiftly discovered that the problem might well be him. It required only 18 minutes of the Dutch international’s full league debut for him to collect a first yellow card in English football, for a lunge at David Dunn, and his combative instincts were compromised thereafter.
Everton remain frail defensively and should have been punished several times, with El Hadji Diouf heading against the bar from Christopher Samba’s sliced shot and Tim Howard making a vital block from Keith Andrews.
Offensively, however, Everton displayed a marked improvement on recent form and Saha thrived on the continued excellence of Steven Pienaar. The South African midfielder has been Everton’s outstanding performer for months.
Leighton Baines whipped a free-kick into the near post for Saha to convert unmarked for the opening goal.
The French forward's second came from a towering header from Marouane Fellaini's right-wing cross. Four minutes later Joseph Yobo added a third when Baines' corner fell kindly into the path of the Nigerian defender. Guardian Service
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