Everton Edged Out At Blackburn In Second Pre-Season Test

Everton continued their pre-season campaign on Saturday – but were narrowly beaten by Blackburn Rovers, losing 1-0 in the second game of their summer schedule. Dion De Neve’s early strike was enough to separate the sides on an overcast afternoon at Ewood Park. For the Toffees, the friendly fixture was their second in a week following Tuesday’s draw at Accrington Stanley, with David Moyes’ men earning valuable match minutes as they look to build fitness levels ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Reporting late to Finch Farm due to their international involvements with Senegal, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye returned to the Everton starting 11 – named as part of a strong Toffees line-up. Mark Travers – the Blues most-recent signing – was also among the starters, the 26-year-old shot-stopper recording his first-ever Everton appearance. It was a slow start from the travelling Toffees, who found themselves a goal down after just seven minutes. A quick Blackburn move down the right side freed full-back Callum Brittain to burst down the flank. He reached the penalty area, before producing a low pulled-back cross into the box, where new addition Dion De Neve finished calmly. Everton’s first significant chance to respond arrived six minutes later, when Dwight McNeil’s lay-off on the edge of the penalty area found Gana in space. He drilled a powerful low effort wide of the far post. Further possession brought chances for the visiting Blues, edging their way back into the contest. They came close on 28 minutes after putting together a brilliant passage of play down the centre of the midfield. Charly Alcaraz played the ball to James Garner, who rocketed a pass into McNeil. Then, it was back to Alcaraz, stroking the ball to Nathan Patterson on the right flank, who crossed low and almost picked out Beto. Goalkeeper Balasz Toth was quick to make sure he made the first contact. The hosts, however, managed well against a promising spell for the Blues. Yuki Ohashi almost doubled the lead 10 minutes before the interval, flashing a header over the crossbar from a corner-kick. Five minutes later, Gana – booked for a late challenge on an unhappy Blackburn skipper Lewis Travis – almost slid Beto through on goal, but again, keeper Toth nicked in ahead of the Blues No.14. Down at half-time, Moyes sent out an unchanged 11 for the restart, but was quick to call on reinforcements, confirming a triple change just 10 minutes in. Michael Keane, Harrison Armstrong and Isaac Heath were all on, taking the places of Ndiaye, Gana and Patterson. Still pushing for a leveller, Everton dominated much of the second period. Mid-way through the half, McNeil was unlucky to see his curling effort blocked, before Jake O’Brien – roaming forward from defence – powered an effort from the right side of the 18-yard box into the side netting. Looking to build on their momentum, Moyes decided to introduce Youssef Chermiti and Justin Clarke. For teenager Clarke, the minutes mark his second involvement the Men’s Senior Team following his impressive showing during the midweek draw with Accrington Stanley. The pair replaced Beto and Alcaraz. Again, the home side found a way to threaten despite Everton’s dominance. This time, Harry Pickering almost found the back of the net with a curling left-footed free-kick from the edge of the penalty area. Travers did brilliantly to make the diving save to his left. Another Blues youngster was introduced, with midfielder Jenson Metcalfe coming on for McNeil with 10 minutes to go, but Everton couldn’t manage to notch an equaliser in the final moments, while Travers at the other end was forced into making another impressive stop. A summer tour of the U.S. is up next for the Toffees, who face Bournemouth in New Jersey in a week’s time, before taking on West Ham United in Chicago. A clash with Manchester United in Atlanta concludes the trip.