Everton’s longest unbeaten run for 24 years was unpicked by a goalkeeping blunder from Tim Howard as Blackburn avenged defeat in this fixture four months ago.

The Croatian Nikola Kalinic will not score an easier goal all season than the 14th-minute effort gift-wrapped to him when Howard dropped the ball under no pressure. It terminated Everton’s 11-game sequence without defeat, their best since 1986.

Lacking the slickness of their 3-2 win on the same turf, David Moyes’s visitors – back in rude health following an injury-blighted 2009-10 campaign – could not muster an equaliser to preserve their dominance over Rovers.

Blackburn even had to overcome the early loss of their pivotal midfielder David Dunn, who lasted nine minutes before succumbing to what appeared to be discomfort in his left groin.

Martin Olsson, operating in an advanced role down the left, had already gone close by that stage. Wandering off the flank within seconds of kick-off to beat the offside trap, he nicked the ball over the advancing Howard, but his chip from the edge of the penalty area lacked the dip to creep under the crossbar.

Despite the loss of Dunn, their most obvious source of creativity, Blackburn secured victory with the first goal of the Premier League season. There was no apparent danger when El-Hadji Diouf’s innocuous header forward was collected chest-high on the edge of the area by Howard. But the ball somehow squirmed from the American’s grasp as he planted his feet and the alert Kalinic swivelled to guide the ball inside the far post.

Everton struggled to replicate their sublime April performance when they consigned Blackburn to their only home league defeat of 2010. Only twice did they force Paul Robinson into action in the first half but shots from Tim Cahill and Stephen Pienaar lacked venom.

There was no lack of it in Morten Gamst Pedersen’s late challenge on Mikel Arteta, however, which merited the first caution of the afternoon. Significant previous between the pair – Arteta poked the Norwegian in the eye in April’s victory – spiced things up whenever their paths crossed and the referee, Phil Dowd, took exception to a tread on the standing boot.

Blackburn’s first clean sheet on the opening day for eight years was confirmed when Robinson fisted out Phil Jagielka’s late drive.

Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversEvertonRichard Gibsonguardian.co.uk

Everton manager David Moyes has urged his team to maintain their fight for European football to the death and they could not plump for more pugnacious opponents than Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn, beaten once at Ewood Park since the opening day of the season. Rovers do a fine line in spoiling, as Manchester United found to their cost last Sunday, and have kept three consecutive clean sheets. But Everton have good history in this fixture (unbeaten in five) and recent form (two losses in 20) as they attempt to erode the four-point deficit to Aston Villa, occupants of the final Europa League place. Richard Gibson

Venue Ewood Park, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £28-38 (0871 222 1444)

Last season Blackburn 0 Everton 0

Referee A Marriner

This season’s matches 24 Y90, R9, 4.12 cards per game

Odds Blackburn 7-4 Everton 17-10 Draw 23-10

Blackburn

Subs from Brown, Bunn, Andrews, Diouf, Olsson, Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Basturk, Hoilett, Roberts, Di Santo

Doubtful Basturk (groin), Emerton (hamstring), Olsson (dead leg), Samba (groin)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide DDWWDL

Disciplinary record Y52 R2

Leading scorer Dunn 8

Everton

Subs from Nash, Senderos, Yobo, Rodwell, Yakubu, Hibbert, Anichebe, Duffy, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Mustafi

Doubtful Heitinga (ankle)

Injured Arteta (groin, 24 Apr), Fellaini (ankle, Aug), Gosling (knee, Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide DDDWWD

Disciplinary record Y56 R2

Leading scorer Saha 13

Match pointers

• Blackburn have scored one goal in their last five home league meetings with Everton and have not beaten them at Ewood Park since November 2003

• Tim Cahill’s last 11 league goals for Everton have been scored with his head

• 60% of Blackburn’s league goals this season have come from set pieces, the highest proportion in the division

• Steven Pienaar has won more free-kicks (82) than any other player in the top flight

• Blackburn have lost one of their last 16 games at home in the Premier League

Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversEvertonguardian.co.uk

Action from Aston Villa v Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic, Chelsea v Birmingham City and Everton v Sunderland

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