The Blues look to get back on track

By Chris Kirwan
December 13 2002

Everton will be looking to "do the double" on Blackburn on Saturday, and a similar scoreline to the game at Ewood wouldn't go amiss. The Blues are looking to bounce back from their recent defeats to Newcastle and Chelsea.

Talk of the Everton bubble bursting has been extremely premature. Of course the defeats to Newcastle and Chelsea were disappointing, but not many sides will get much change out of those sides this season. As long as the Blues continue to pick up points against the sides from the bottom and middle thirds they won't be far from a place in Europe.

The fact remains that apart from the game at Stamford Bridge the Blues have continued to perform well. They showed guts and determination when battling with 10 men at St. James (and were only beaten by what will be the goal of the season and an own goal), and were denied a point by the woodwork and a Le Saux clearance at home to Chelsea. Moyes stated,

"I don't think that for two of the defeats, Newcastle and Chelsea in the league, any Everton supporters left the stadium thinking we deserved to lose either of those games. From that point of view it keeps the confidence high amongst the players and the spectators as well."

So confidence remains high as the Blues head into the game with Blackburn, and Moyes will be picking his players from the same bunch who faced Chelsea. Tobias Linderoth, Steve Watson and Niclas Alexandersson are all continuing their recoveries from injury but none are ready for a return to first team action. Pembridge remains unfit.

Meanwhile Blackburn will be looking to avenge their loss to a solitary Kevin Campbell strike at Ewood. They pounded Everton like Everton pounded Chelsea, but also left without any points. Dunn, Suker, and Berg miss out, and Cole and Yorke will no doubt be looking to add to their sizeable tally against the Blues.

Match odds: Everton 10/11, Draw 9/4, Blackburn 5/2