Smash and Grabbi

Their knives gleamed as they mulled over the evidence -- five Premiership starts, no goals... and no chance of cutting it in the top-flight was the jury's unanimous decision.

Four days later, however, and Graeme Souness's new £6.75 million signing was suddenly the man in demand after he outshone one of the greatest showmen in English football with a virtuoso performance all of his own.

For those of a Blackburn persuasion in a crowd of 27,732, Grabbi's match-winning strike was an emotional moment.

Dubbed a big-money flop in some quarters, the 26-year-old striker has worn the look of a man with the weight of the world on his drooping shoulders after lurching from one missed chance to the next.

But 37 minutes into his sixth Premiership start, and the moment all Rovers fans have been waiting for duly arrived.

The former Juventus man picked up a pass from Tugay on the left-hand side of the box and expertly side-stepped Abel Xavier before stroking the coolest of right-foot finishes beyond Paul Gerrard.

Ewood erupted -- as much in relief as celebration -- to hail their hero.

And the proudest man in the stadium was Grabbi's father, Luigi, who had jetted in from Italy to offer his son some moral support in his hour of need.

"For me, this has been a great day not only because I scored but because the team won as well," said the man of the moment.

"When I hit the crossbar with my free-kick I thought 'Oh no, it's going to be another one of those days again.

"But I continued to work hard for the team and eventually the goal came and I was absolutely delighted.

"So I'm very happy, especially as my father was here to see it. This was for my family, Graeme Souness, the physio, the players and, most of all, the fans.

"They've been unbelievable towards me since I came here -- I think they must love me.

"It's very difficult settling in at a new club in a foreign country so when I heard the fans chanting my name all around the stadium before kick-off that gave me a tremendous lift.

"I just hope I can keep it going now."

The way Rovers fans have steadfastly stood by their man has been truly remarkable.

By his own admission, the former Ternana ace has taken time to adapt to the pace of life in the Premiership following his high-profile move from Italy's Serie B.

But, far from getting on his back, he's received the kind of backing which would turn the likes of Jimmy Quinn green with envy.

Who can blame them, though, because Souness's judgement in the transfer market has been flawless so far.

Of course it was always going to take him a while to adjust, especially when you consider how his life was turned upside down by the birth of his new son, Eduardo, barely a fortnight into his Blackburn career.

But, now he's deservedly off the mark, the pressure has eased for the time being at least -- much to the delight of his new boss.

"As much as we all talk about it, at the end of the season all strikers look at how many goals they've scored so I'm delighted he's finally broken his duck," said Souness.

"No matter how much we've been trying to tell him it doesn't matter, it will have been preying on his mind.

"In every game he has played for us, though, he has always looked threatening so I'm pleased for him that he's off the mark."

When the fixtures came out back in June, Souness and his backroom staff would have marked this down as a must-win game.

But just how he managed to emerge victorious from this battle of the former Rangers bosses was a minor miracle.

Everton -- for whom the returning Paul Gascoigne was outstanding -- called virtually all the shots against a Rovers side held together with Elastoplast.

But a combination of shocking finishing and inspired goal-keeping conspired to keep the visitors at bay as Souness's patched-up defence somehow chalked up their first Premiership clean-sheet of the new season.

It was mighty close, though, as the brilliant Brad Friedel saved a first half penalty from the lumbering Duncan Ferguson.

And he eclipsed even that with a late stop from fellow American Joe Max-Moore of which the legendary Gordon Banks would have been proud.

It was in midfield, however, where the most intriguing battle was contested between two masters of their craft.

For Rovers, Turkish ace Tugay was again a delight, probing and prompting with his vision and movement but in Gazza, he was up against a formidable adversary.

At 34, the former England man may now be well passed his best but he still pinged passes around Ewood with radar-like accuracy only to be let down by the men in front of him.

Gary Naysmith should have profited from such silver-service as early as the fourth minute but somehow shot wide with only Friedel to beat.

And that became a recurring theme as the afternoon wore on.

Friedel saved brilliantly from Ferguson before the Everton striker then found the side-netting in a storming start but Grabbi fired an early warning with a thunderous 25 yard free kick which crashed against the angle of post and bar. Here we go again.

Referee Graham Barber then waved away strong penalty appeals at both ends as Ferguson and Grabbi were both sent sprawling in the box.

But the Hertfordshire official had no option but to point to the spot on 28 minutes when Stig Bjornebye flattened Niclas Alexandersson only for Friedel to comfortably gather Ferguson's tame attempt -- a real powder-puff effort from such a big man.

Rovers grew in stature after that as Paul Gerrard saved from Matt Jansen but he was cruelly exposed seven minutes before the break when Grabbi confidently dispatched his first of the season.

Jansen and the recalled Jason McAteer both missed chances to double the advantage in an entertaining second half.

But, after Tony Hibbert had a shot blocked by Bjornebye and Ferguson somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy, Friedel saved his best for last, diving full-length to tip a shot from Max-Moore onto his post.

There was no doubt who deserved to grab the headlines, though. All hail the man affectionately known as Ciccio.

RESULT: ROVERS 1 EVERTON 0

Grabbi 37