alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
Everton failed to cement a double after conquering Blackburn Rovers at Leigh Sports village 8 weeks ago.
Alan Stubbs added plenty of experience to his line up with Mucha, Distin, Hitzlsperger and Gueye with a fit again Luke Garbutt on the subs bench since his time out through injury.
Everton made a very bright start with Grant and Gueye going close for the blues.
Gethin Jones made a very important stop to deny Rovers going in front with Everton next to threaten as Hallam Hope and Grant tested Grzegorz Sandomierski the Polish keeper on loan from Jagiellonia Białystok in the Rovers goal.
It was the visitors that found the net on 24 minutes making the corner pay off as the ball was delivered swinging into to the area through a crowd of players and hit the knee of Hallam Hope and into the net.
Portuguese star Paolo Jorje was the next to go close for the visitors with a curling effort then from a free kick, Magueye Gueye goes close.
With half time looming Everton raised their tempo and finally got an equaliser, Junior found Grant with a precise ball and the youngster made no mistake with a left foot shot past the Polish stopper.
The second half was quite a dull affair until a Jones header gave the opposition a scare with the ball directing towards goal a Rovers defender made pace to recover from crossing the line.
Shane Duffy on three occasions had attempts for the toffees then had to be at his best to clear one away from the line as Rovers dug in for the lead.
With 15 minutes remaining they did just that with a fine turn in the box and strike from Brazillian Bruno Ribeiro with the ball coming off the post .
Next up at Finch Farm is the visit of Reading
FULL TIME EVERTON U21'S 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS U21'S 2
Everton U21s Mucha, Browning, Touray (Garbutt 61), Junior, Duffy, Distin, Grant(Forrester 8o), Hitzlsperger, Hope, Gueye, Jones. Unused subs: Taudul, , Kelly, Pennington
Blackburn Rovers U21's: Sandomierski, Anderson, Beesley, Jorge, Daly, Molina, O'Sullivan, Rosado, Evans, Cotton (Haley 80), Ribeiro. Unused Subs: Ware, Dilo, Hands, Laverty
Alan Stubbs added plenty of experience to his line up with Mucha, Distin, Hitzlsperger and Gueye with a fit again Luke Garbutt on the subs bench since his time out through injury.
Everton made a very bright start with Grant and Gueye going close for the blues.
Gethin Jones made a very important stop to deny Rovers going in front with Everton next to threaten as Hallam Hope and Grant tested Grzegorz Sandomierski the Polish keeper on loan from Jagiellonia Białystok in the Rovers goal.
It was the visitors that found the net on 24 minutes making the corner pay off as the ball was delivered swinging into to the area through a crowd of players and hit the knee of Hallam Hope and into the net.
Portuguese star Paolo Jorje was the next to go close for the visitors with a curling effort then from a free kick, Magueye Gueye goes close.
With half time looming Everton raised their tempo and finally got an equaliser, Junior found Grant with a precise ball and the youngster made no mistake with a left foot shot past the Polish stopper.
The second half was quite a dull affair until a Jones header gave the opposition a scare with the ball directing towards goal a Rovers defender made pace to recover from crossing the line.
Shane Duffy on three occasions had attempts for the toffees then had to be at his best to clear one away from the line as Rovers dug in for the lead.
With 15 minutes remaining they did just that with a fine turn in the box and strike from Brazillian Bruno Ribeiro with the ball coming off the post .
Next up at Finch Farm is the visit of Reading
FULL TIME EVERTON U21'S 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS U21'S 2
Everton U21s Mucha, Browning, Touray (Garbutt 61), Junior, Duffy, Distin, Grant(Forrester 8o), Hitzlsperger, Hope, Gueye, Jones. Unused subs: Taudul, , Kelly, Pennington
Blackburn Rovers U21's: Sandomierski, Anderson, Beesley, Jorge, Daly, Molina, O'Sullivan, Rosado, Evans, Cotton (Haley 80), Ribeiro. Unused Subs: Ware, Dilo, Hands, Laverty
