Santa Cruz the hero-turned-villain as Everton pull off late escape

The £4million Paraguayan underlined his reputation as one of the bargains of the summer with a poacher's effort in the 16th minute.

But he undid his good work when he tracked back to help out his defenders late on. Instead of clearing the ball into Row Z, he cushioned a soft header straight to Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard crossed for James McFadden to equalise.

The raw emotion of the prematch tributes paid to murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones, an Everton seasonticket holder, had an effect on the home side.

After an adrenaline-filled start in which Rovers keeper Brad Friedel denied Andy Johnson and Alan Stubbs, the energy seemed to be sucked out of Everton.

David Moyes reshaped his defence, with debutant Leighton Baines and Joseph Yobo in for Joleon Lescott and Nuno Valente. But Blackburn took advantage of Everton's awkward start.

Robbie Savage was the architect, spotting a great run by Morten Gamst Pedersen and playing him in behind the Everton back line.

Pedersen controlled on his chest, fired against the bar and the rebound fell to Santa Cruz, who gratefully jabbed home his third goal in four games since arriving from Bayern Munich.

Overworked Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard tipped a David Bentley free-kick over the top and dived full length to deny David Dunn, while Baines knocked a towering Christopher Samba header off the line.

Everton will not be able to use latest signings Yakubu and Manuel Fernandes until next weekend and Johnson, in particular, will look forward to their arrival.

After 33 minutes, McFadden set him up for what should have been AJ's first goal of the season but he misdirected his header. Then, when Arteta cut the ball back, Johnson hesitated and Andre Ooijer charged down his shot.

Moyes withdrew Lee Carsley, struggling with a groin strain, four minutes before half-time, giving Phil Jagielka his home debut.

Lescott came on for Stubbs at half-time and there was instant improvement and Jagielka was inches away from equalising when he headed Johnson's cross wide at the far post.

McFadden equalised in the 78th minute but Rovers almost snatched victory in injury time when Howard tipped a Bentley free-kick on to the crossbar.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes believed his side deserved more. He said: "We certainly felt the way we played in the first half, when we were excellent, that performance merited a win.

"We had several chances and if we'd got a second, it would have been hard for Everton to come back."