Everton 1 Blackburn 1

Everton has stolen a point from Blackburn in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park that was dominated by a physical Rovers outfit.

In a full-blooded contest, Rovers, labeled the most violent side in the Premiership by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during the week, received a slap in the face themselves when they conceded an equaliser with just 12 minutes left.

Rovers dominated the first period, and led through Roque Santa Cruz's third goal of the season, but opted to try to contain Everton in the second half.

But Everton has a reputation for late recoveries even when it is not playing well, and it was James McFadden - starting his first game of the season - who stabbed home the equaliser from Mikel Arteta's cross.

Ex-Wigan man Leighton Baines made his Everton debut, Andrew Johnson passed a fitness test on a knee problem but Joleon Lescott was surprisingly on the bench, while, for Blackburn, suspended New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen was replaced with Andre Ooijer as Rovers called in Benny McCarthy for Matt Derbyshire.

In keeping with the competitive image of both teams, the players set about each other at great pace in the early stages. Ooijer set the tone on six minutes, booked for a foul on Arteta and Rovers conceded a string of free-kicks as Everton pressed.

Brad Friedel saved well from a Johnson hook and then blocked a fierce Alan Stubbs free-kick, from 25 yards out.

Then on 15 minutes, Rovers broke out and took the lead. A foul by Lee Carsley on Robbie Savage produced a free-kick that Joseph Yobo headed out.

Savage lifted the ball back into the box, Morten Gamst Pedersen hooked a shot on to the bar and Santa Cruz fired the rebound home.

Christopher Samba almost made it two when he reached a Santa Cruz corner on the far post and sent in a header that Baines cleared off the line. Then Tim Howard turned over a 20-yard effort from David Dunn.

Moyes introduced Lescott for the second half, taking off Stubbs in a clear attempt to match Blackburn for pace, particularly against the impressive Santa Cruz.

Everton started to improve. Phil Jagielka headed just wide from a Johnson chip and the hosts were not being as out-muscled as the first period.

But still much of their attacking was high balls aimed at Johnson, who was dwarfed by the giant Samba. That was at least addressed when Everton eventually sent on an extra forward in Victor Anichebe, withdrawing full-back Tony Hibbert.

But, although Everton had more of the ball, it was still not creating anything significant, especially as Arteta, the Toffees' main creative influence, was getting little change out of Stephen Warnock on the right flank.

On 74 minutes, Blackburn sent on Matt Derbyshire for McCarthy up front, but the hounding and pressing of the opponent in possession was still Rovers' best weapon.

But Everton are nothing if not persistent and on 78 minutes the hosts dragged themselves level.

Arteta found space at last on the right and drilled in a low cross that McFadden reached first a split second ahead of Warnock and Samba challenges and struck just inside Friedel's near post.

Blackburn were finally on the back foot but it still took a fine Howard save from a deflected Bentley free-kick to keep Blackburn from grabbing the points in injury time.

English Premiership League

Everton 1 (McFadden 78)
Blackburn 1 (Santa Cruz 15)