AFTER all the talk of Everton chellenging for a Champions League place after an excellent pre-season, we came crashing down to earth with a bump at Ewood Park.

Blackburn were decidedly average and didn’t show anything to suggest they will be more than a mid-table side this season, which in itself would be a real achievement.

However, the reason Everton lost was not because Blackburn did anything special.

There’s no getting away from the fact the team was disappointing when great things were expected.

Most of us would have selected eight or nine of the players David Moyes went with, plus the same 4-5-1 formation that has served him so well at places like Ewood Park.

But Everton lost because too many of those players had an off day and simply didn’t perform.

Alan Ball always used to say that having one or two players off colour can make life difficult, but three or more and you almost certainly won’t win.

Last week it was probably easier to count the few that didn’t perform badly than those who did.

Saying that, Tim Howard’s clanger came at a point when Everton were looking to get a foothold in the game.