Everton 2 - 3 Blackburn Rovers

Aug 16 2008 By David Prentice at Goodison Park

EVERTON suffered a devastating opening day defeat at Goodison Park - Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer smashing a 93rd minute winner, just as the Blues patched up side looked like they had salvaged a point.

The fertile feet and inventive imagination of Mikel Arteta had actually put the Blues ahead early in the second half.

The little Spaniard equalised David Dunn’s 22nd minute opener with a cunningly disguised free-kick which flashed past Paul Robinson, then flighted a left-footed cross for Yakubu to open his goals account for the season.

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But Everton were ahead for barely 60 seconds before Santa Cruz equalised.

Then, in time added on, Yakubu was penalised for a foul, Nelsen rose to head the ball against the inside of Howard's post and Ooijer reacted quickest.

It was a crushing disappointment, on a day when David Moyes named the most inexperienced substitutes bench in the club’s history, goalkeeper Iain Turner the only one of the seven youngsters selected who could boast a first team start.

And with 15 minutes remaining Jose Baxter became the youngest player in the club’s history – eclipsing James Vaughan’s mantle when he replaced Valente aged just 16-years 196 days.