Rovers back in the drop zone

Everton failed to close the gap on Arsenal after a goalless draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Gunners breathe easy as Toffees are held

Everton failed to close the gap on Arsenal significantly while Blackburn have dropped back into the drop zone following a goalless draw between the two sides at Ewood Park. The Toffees finished the first half in the ascendency and would have secured a lead at the break had Jason Brown not kept out Steven Pienaar's first-time drive. Rovers had chances after the interval, but Jason Roberts could not beat Tim Howard from close range while Stephen Warnock saw his free-kick strike the crossbar. Five minutes of injury time were added following Gael Givet's clash of heads with Leon Osman, but neither side were unable to muster a late winner. The point sees Everton trail fifth placed Arsenal by four points, while Stoke's win over Bolton sees Blackburn drop back into the bottom three. It had all started so promisingly at Ewood Park. Latecomers missed Jo shaking the home side into life after just 10 seconds with a powerful shot that might have troubled stand-in keeper Brown only for a deflection to divert it for a corner. Rovers hit back with a passage of play where there were three strikes at goal, the most promising by Warnock, but all were blocked by Everton defenders. Those incidents apart, the opening half had little going for it.

Flutter of excitement

El Hadji Diouf raised a flutter of excitement in home fans' hearts when he took Andre Ooijer's cross on the chest but Joleon Lescott stepped in with a powerful clearance, then Roque Santa Cruz broke down the left and produced an exquisite cross that allowed Keith Andrews to take deliberate aim - but a touch too long as his left-footed strike was also blocked out. It took 38 minutes for either keeper to make a save worthy of note but when it came, courtesy of Brown, it was certainly noteworthy. Blackburn struggled to clear their lines after Phil Neville had fired in a cross from the left, and the ball came to Steven Pienaar 15 yards out who looked odds on to hand Everton the lead. The ball was firmly struck and heading into the top corner only for Brown to come to his side's rescue with an excellent diving save. Jo was on target as the visitors ended the half on top but his shot was feeble after he had done well to earn himself space. Rovers boss Sam Allardyce made a positive change at half-time, sending on Tugay in place of Vince Grella, and soon after Santa Cruz nearly grabbed the lead. Warnock jinked past a challenge into the box and Santa Cruz took over with a first-time shot that drifted to the left of the post.

Heated exchange

Santa Cruz sent a header from Diouf's cross over the bar before the two managers had a heated exchange of words after Givet's aerial challenge on Osman left both players on the floor needing attention. As it was Givet came off worst having to leave the field with Aaron Mokoena coming on. Suddenly the match burst into life. Twice in a minute Blackburn came within an inch but were denied. First Warnock, deliberately going for goal with a free-kick from deep on the right, struck the crossbar then Roberts burst through to be one on one with Tim Howard. Roberts attempted to poke the ball under the Everton keeper but Howard read it easily and saved with his foot before clasping the ball to his chest. David Moyes played his ace, in the form of Louis Saha, to try to steal victory and the French striker so nearly had an immediate impact on the result when he put Pienaar through only for Warnock to come in with a last-ditch block. Tim Cahill lashed a half-volley from 25 yards but straight down Brown's throat. In the dying minutes Lescott could have had a barely-deserved winner for Everton but volleyed a yard over.

Blackburn	Team Statistics	Everton
0	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
1	Shots on Target	4
6	Shots off Target	3
3	Blocked Shots	2
2	Corners	4
12	Fouls	15
3	Offsides	5
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
65.9	Passing Success	70.8
26	Tackles	11
80.8	Tackles Success	54.5
49.7	Possession	50.3
54.9	Territorial Advantage	45.1