SAHA AT THE DOUBLE FOR TOFFEES

LOUIS SAHA may have been the villain on Thursday night when he was sent off in the Europa League but he promoted his claims to be Everton's No1 striker this season with a fine brace against poor Blackburn Rovers.

The French forward was dismissed against AEK Athens for violent conduct, much to David Moyes's chagrin with the many officials on the night, but used his head to better effect at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Leon Osman fired an early warning for the Merseysiders but they had to survive a couple of scares at the other end with David Dunn testing Tim Howard and Christopher Samba causing problems with his height.

With the tackles flying in, Leighton Baines supplied an inviting free kick and Saha volleyed past Paul Robinson to break the deadlock with 22 minutes on the clock.

The former Manchester United striker was on the scoresheet again, making it six for the season, when burying a header from Marouane Fellaini's cross.

Sam Allardyce's Rovers were down and out four minutes later as Saha turned provider to flick on for Joseph Yobo, a scorer in midweek in Europe, to find himself in the unlikely situation of celebrating two goals in two games as he prodded in.

The Toffees' early season blip looks behind them as they move to mid-table security in the Premier League table but Blackburn, on this evidence, could find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap as they carried little threat.

• MOYES SWEET ON ADAM JOHNSON

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