Blackburn draw a blank in scrap to break the Everton jinx

The first half presented perfect ammunition for those old timers who contend the game these days is all about athleticism, with craft and guile sacrificed for lung capacity and endeavour.

It promised much for all of two minutes as Roque Santa Cruz, having already achieved his season's target of 15 goals, rammed a header into the side netting. It was to be another 41 minutes before Blackburn threatened again, David Bentley setting his sights and firing a couple of feet too high from 25 yards.

Rovers needed the three points a fraction more to push their own claims for a top-six spot to guarantee another crack at Europe, but Everton, currently lording it over all bar Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, looked sufficiently organised to withstand the challenge.

They fashioned the best chance of the opening 30 minutes, with Mikel Arteta orchestrating the move. He started and finished with a rasping low shot that Brad Friedel, celebrating his 300th appearance in English football, did well to turn aside.

From the corner, the ball broke to Leon Osman, whose 20-yard effort fizzed a foot outside the upright with Friedel clearly unsighted.

It is almost six years since Rovers last beat Everton and the sequence looked like continuing, although David Dunn's presence on the goal-line prevented Phil Jagielka's header, from an Arteta corner, creeping inside the post he was guarding.

With both managers Mark Hughes and David Moyes opting to play with lone strikers, a goal seemed a remote possibility, though the second half started more promisingly.

Bentley's low shot in the first 30 seconds brought a fine stop from the scrambling Tim Howard, then, almost immediately at the other end, Friedel had to be alert to keep out a Manuel Fernandes shot with his legs.

At least there was an edge to the contest now, and Brett Emerton scurried 40 yards to scythe down Arteta right under Hughes's nose on the halfway line, earning Rovers' third booking of the afternoon following Dunn and Zurab Khizanishvili.

It is a remarkable statistic that not one Everton player has been cautioned for dissent all season and their commendable disciplinary record was typified by Andrew Johnson, who was hacked down repeatedly with no more than a shrug of the shoulders in response.