ROVERS reserves suffered at the hands of Duncan Ferguson last night as the injury-plagued striker marked his latest comeback with a goal in this Everton victory.

Ferguson converted a first half penalty to add to an earlier strike from Leon Osman as the Toffees ran out convincing winners.

And Rovers boss Alan Murray later refused to make any excuses for his side's below-par performance.

"We were poor," said Murray.

"It was a game between two poor teams and we gifted them two goals.

"When you concede an early goal like we did then you're always on the backfoot after that."

With most of the senior squad currently away in Spain, Murray named a youthful team made up largely of Academy players.

And as they took time to settle, the visitors took maximum advantage by surging ahead inside the opening six minutes courtesy of a speculative effort from the ever-dangerous Osman.

Jerome Watt nearly pulled one back when he got in on the right but his rasping drive was pushed aside by Toffees keeper Ian Turner.

It was the visitors, however, who then extended their advantage on 29 minutes as Ferguson marked his return to action with a goal.

A long ball out of defence was flicked on by the Scot for Osman who raced into the box where he was upended by Jonathan Douglas and it was left to Ferguson to beat Ryan Robinson from the spot.

Rovers had chances to reduce the deficit as Douglas went close to atoning for his error with a glancing header from a Watt cross then Jemal Johnson blazed over from an inviting position shortly after the break.

Rovers refused to go down without a fight, however, and twice went close to pulling one back in the closing stages.

Watt made a yard of space for himself courtesy of some clever footwork on the edge of the box but his left-foot curler was comfortably saved by Turner.

Then the visiting keeper did well to palm aside a downward header from Douglas which looked destined for the bottom corner.

BLACKBURN ROVERS RES... 0

EVERTON RESERVES... 2

ROVERS: Robinson, Douglas, Pelzer, Greer, Bruce, Danns, Donnelly, Watt, Gallagher, Johnson, Morgan. Subs: M Cole (for Pelzer, 64), Harkins (for Johnson, 64) Not used: Black, Fitzgerald, Renton

EVERTON: Turner, Moogan B, Moogan A, O'Hanlon, Southern, Linderoth, Said, Schumacher, Ferguson, Osman, Carney. Subs: Symes (for Ferguson, 46) Not used: Cole, Colbeck, Crowder, Beck