IF recent history suggests long-suffering Evertonians shouldn't have been surprised by their team's opening-day efforts last week, then the manner of defeat at Ewood Park would certainly have raised a few eyebrows.

After all, a Tim Howard mistake is almost as rare to the Goodison faithful as a Tony Hibbert goal.

Yet it was the American goalkeeper's uncharacteristic blunder that gifted Nikola Kalinic the winner for Blackburn Rovers and ensured the encouragement of Everton's pre-season was swiftly pierced.

As Robert Green is discovering, a high-profile blunder can prey on the mind of a keeper for some time to come, no matter how seasoned the professional.

David Moyes, though, has seen enough at Finch Farm this week to suggest Howard will be back to the kind of form that marked him out as one of Everton's players of the season last campaign when Wolverhampton Wanderers become the first visitors to Goodison of the new Premier League term this afternoon.

“You get affected when you make a mistake but I could see a lot of other people on the pitch making mistakes that didn't lead directly to goals,” says Moyes.

“Goalkeepers have to make it look as if it hasn't bothered them and get on with the rest of the game.

“I think Tim did that, he got on with the game and now we have all moved on from it. He has been fine and trained really well.

“It wasn't just him. He made a glaring mistake which everyone picks up on but he has been very good for us over the years and I hope he continues to be very good.”