NO prizes for guessing who Brian Kidd would most like a 'one 2 one' with at this moment in time.

As the relegation clouds gather over Ewood Park, the Blackburn Rovers boss must be desperate to meet the midfielder of his dreams.

If such a person exists and has a couple of mates, notably one who can play at right back, maybe another at centre half, then contact Ewood without delay.

For, with transfer deadline day just two weeks away, some principles may have to be compromised.

Otherwise, Rovers fans are going to be consigned to a walk down the boulevard of broken dreams and Jack Walker's massive investment will fall in value faster than a Wall Street crash.

Kidd doesn't show it but he must be feeling as though he has walked into the middle of a nightmare, where everything is conspiring against his efforts to rid Ewood of the rot that set in under Roy Hodgson's command.

The significance of last night's defeat by Everton cannot be underestimated and, once again, it emphasised the crux of the problem.

Rovers, for a variety of reasons most of which are outside Kidd's control, are unable to field a team strong enough to gain them the required number of points to ensure Premiership survival.

And there was one particular worry underlined.

No-one could have any complaints about the effort put in by the players. They fought for everything.

But, when a manager is getting the maximum out of his team and it still isn't good enough, there is only one outcome.

The way things look right now, the sale of Tim Sherwood allied to the loss of Garry Flitcroft - expected back in February - and Billy McKinlay, who was not thought to need surgery before summer, has opened the trapdoor to Nationwide League football.

There are, of course, many other absentees but it is the loss of authority in midfield that is hurting most of all and how it showed again last night.

Rovers do not have an enforcer to sit in front of the back four, nor the creativity or craft in an attacking sense to make a difference.

I am not going to condemn the players for their efforts against Everton, because they gave their all and that is why there were no cynical jeers at the end from the Ewood faithful.

But it wasn't good enough and there is no reason to believe it will be over the last 10 games, unless re-inforcements are found.

That is where the compromise comes in.

The manager's reluctance to spend heavily on someone he might want to discard once others are fit again is admirable.

But there must be room for sensible short-term measures, because the loss of Premiership status will bring more than a major financial penalty.

Short of ringing the Samaritans, it could not have been clearer last night that Rovers' depleted ranks needed help.

Everton fielded a strange-looking side, packed with defensive players, and they looked to hit Rovers at set pieces and on the break through the pace of Ibrahima Bakayoko.

They did both to deepen the Ewood depression and, in fairness, deserved to win.

Yet Rovers had a flying start.

Despite the kick-off being delayed 15 minutes because of traffic congestion, they were straight out of the blocks to score in the second minute.

Damien Duff, Kevin Davies and Jason Wilcox, whose whole-hearted endeavour set the example, put together a lovely left-wing move.

Wilcox crossed low into the six-yard box and Ashley Ward, another who sweats blood, managed to toe-poke the ball over the line despite the attentions of a despairing defender.

But, instead of being intimidated, Everton were provoked and soon found a response.

In the 15th minute the goal they had threatened on three occasions arrived from a left-wing corner. Don Hutchison's cross got a flick-on at the near post and Bakayoko rose at the back post to head home.

The pace was frantic, decisions controversial as referee Paul Alcock seemed determined to let the gaame flow at all costs and Everton were the more dangerous side.

Rovers lost Gary Croft to force a reshuffle and then lost the crucial goal which the visitors had been threatening.

Hutchison pierced the defence with his pass, Bakayoko - marginally onside according to the linesman - raced through and produced a brilliant finish to match his somersault of celebration.

There were two claims for penalties, one for handling by Craig Short, another for a foul on Davies by Richard Dunne but you never felt the referee was going to give anything like a spot kick when he had ignored so many blatant fouls outside the area.

Rovers simply didn't have the quality to break down a rigid Everton side and were almost caught on the break again as the visitors proved more dangerous.

Kidd is not the kind of man to look for sympathy but he does deserve a level playing field.

In my opinion, there's only one chance to get it in the present circumstances and that is via the cheque book.

Otherwise, I fear the worst.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.