Yorke on target for Blackburn

BLACKBURN: Markus Babbel and Trinidad and Tobago’s Dwight Yorke scored early in the first half as Blackburn beat Everton 2-1 yesterday to snap a five-match losing streak in Premier League football.

With the win, the Rovers moved from second to last to 16th. “I’m mighty relieved,” manager Graeme Souness told Sky Sports. Tomasz Radzinski scored for Everton, which slid into the bottom three. Everton has two losses and three draws in their last five matches. Arsenal lead the standings with 30 points, one more than Chelsea and two better than Manchester United. Blackburn, without a home win since opening day in August, pushed forward from the start. Babbel, on loan from Everton’s archrivals, Liverpool, made it 1-0 on a header in the sixth minute. “I still have a contract with Liverpool, and it’s always a great moment for me to score against Everton,” Babbel said. The German defender, unmarked again, was denied by a good Nigel Martyn save in the 12th minute. Yorke doubled the lead one minute later, though, putting in another header for his second goal of the season.

Everton, seventh last season, controlled play in the second half. Radzinski, in the 49th minute, converted a James McFadden cross that ‘keeper Brad Friedel could only palm away. The Toffees had two more good chances. In the 75th, Tobias Linderoth was inches wide on a free header. Then in the 87th, David Unsworth got to a loose ball following a corner but shot over the crossbar from only two yards (metres) away.  “We came out after halftime, they scored a goal, and it became a hard match,” Babbel said. Souness said taking the team to Scotland for a few days helped chemistry. “They only spend a couple of hours a day together,” he said. “It’s important to see each other outside of those working hours.” Everton played without England striker Wayne Rooney, who had the flu. He’s questionable for England’s friendly against Denmark in Manchester on Sunday.