Saha stars in Everton thriller

Louis Saha was the star as he hit four goals in an eight-goal thriller as Everton beat Blackpool 5-3 at Goodison Park.

Striker bags four goals in unbelievable spectacle

Louis Saha was the star of the show as he hit four goals in an eight-goal thriller as Everton defeated Blackpool 5-3 at Goodison Park. In an unbelievable spectacle the Toffees claimed only their fourth win at home this season while Pool suffered their fifth successive defeat. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov picked out Saha for the opening goal of the game but the Seasiders hit back thanks to a large slice of luck as Ian Evatt's near post effort struck the woodwork before rolling across the line to Seamus Coleman whose attempted clearance was deflected home by Alex Baptiste. Everton should have restored their lead just before the break when Saha's goal was ruled out as referee Kevin Friend blew his whistle early for David Carney's challenge on Seamus Coleman, much to the disgust of David Moyes. However, Everton came out firing in the second half and just 93 seconds in, the hosts restored their advantage when Leighton Baines' low cross was buried by the Frenchman. But Pool showed their resilience as they struck back with two goals in a matter of minutes. Jason Puncheon, on-loan from Southampton, restored parity and then he picked out DJ Campbell, whose effort struck the crossbar only for Charlie Adam to head the ball into the empty net to stun the home supporters. However, just as the visitors looked to have control on the game, Everton drew level through Saha's close-range header to complete his hat-trick. And two minutes later substitute Jermaine Beckford restored Everton's lead, volleying home Baines' delightful chip. The three points were secured six minutes from time as Saha bagged his fourth goal of the match as he latched onto Marouane Fellaini's neat pass to slide the ball under the advancing Paul Rachubka for his eighth goal in his last six games.

Changes

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway rang the changes as he tried to prevent a run of six defeats in seven league outings worsening. Goalkeeper Richard Kingson was the biggest casualty of Wednesday's loss to West Ham as Rachubka came in for his first league start of the season. New signings James Beattie and Puncheon made their full debuts, while Evatt and Elliot Grandin returned. But it was an unchanged Everton, with Tim Cahill available again but on the bench, who made the early running as the rain set in from the start. The hosts won a free-kick in the first minute but the wall blocked Leighton Baines' shot and Mikel Arteta's follow-up attempt. John Heitinga tested Rachubka when he robbed Grandin and tried his luck from distance, but the American saved comfortably. Everton deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov weaved his way into the area and picked out Saha, who confidently swept home from seven yards. It was over half an hour before Blackpool got a serious sight at goal but Adam shot well wide from 30 yards. Adam got another chance after Sylvain Distin was caught out by an awkward bounce and handled on the edge of the area. Adam's free-kick was blocked but the ball ran out for the corner which led to the 37th-minute equaliser. Adam picked out Evatt at the near post and his shot may have crossed the line after striking the woodwork before Baptiste followed up to make certain. Everton thought they had reclaimed the lead two minutes later when Saha touched the ball past Rachubka from a Coleman pass. However, referee Friend had already blown his whistle for a foul on Coleman just outside the area. Everton and Saha removed that sense of injustice within two minutes of the restart as the former Manchester United striker finished off a slick move to restore the lead. Jack Rodwell fed Baines down the left and the full-back found Saha with a perfect ball into the area which was turned in at the near post with a first-time shot. Baines almost added another soon after with a low drive from the edge of the area which he just dragged wide. Rodwell looked certain to score after a brilliant touch took him past Baptiste in the area but he flicked his shot across goal.

Compelling

Everton paid for those misses as Blackpool turned the game on its head with two goals in the space of three minutes. The second equaliser came in the 61st minute after Heitinga lost the ball to Grandin 30 yards out, who quickly fed former Everton striker Beattie down the left and he cut inside to cross for the inrushing Puncheon to sidefoot home. Before Everton had time to recover, Blackpool broke from deep to set up DJ Campbell on the edge of the area. Campbell's shot was tipped onto the bar by Howard but Adam followed up to dive forward and head home the rebound. A compelling game almost took another twist when Rodwell caught Rachubka off his line, but Evatt got back to make a brilliant acrobatic clearance. Everton got themselves back level 14 minutes from time when Saha completed his hat-trick from a corner when he headed home from close range after a Distin flick-on. The crowd called out for another and substitute Beckford obliged in the 80th minute when he raced onto another superb Baines cross and hit a fine left-foot volley past Rachubka. Given what had gone before, Everton did not want to take any chances and surged forward to put the game beyond doubt with a fifth. Saha showed some of the determination of old as he beat Adam on a race to goal and slid in his fourth.

Everton	Team Statistics	Blackpool
5	Goals	3
1	1st Half Goals	1
10	Shots on Target	3
7	Shots off Target	3
7	Blocked Shots	6
9	Corners	5
12	Fouls	18
2	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
77.4	Passing Success	71.4
13	Tackles	19
76.9	Tackles Success	89.5
55.5	Possession	44.5
54.2	Territorial Advantage	45.8