Blackburn Rovers Res 1 Everton Res 2: ACADEMY defender Eddie Nolan got sent off last night as Blackburn Rovers reserves slumped to a disappointing defeat in the fog at Christie Park.

Glyn Hodges' young side had made the best possible start, Joe Garner firing them into an early lead.

But Nolan's dismissal, for deliberate handball, just before the break proved the turning point as the Merseysiders made the most of their numerical advantage in the second half.

Garner showed impressive composure to fire past former England goalkeeper Richard Wright in the early stages, and the young striker might have had a second shortly afterwards had he shown a little more precision with an effort that flew just wide of the post.

But the game then turned on its head a minute before the interval when Nolan saw red for stopping Lawrence Wilson's shot on the line with his hands.

Peter Enckelman did superbly to save the resulting spot-kick from Christian Seargeant and then sprung to his feet to block a follow-up effort from Paul Hopkins.

However, the visitors deservedly got back on level terms in the 56th minute, Bjarni Vidarsson turning quickly in the area to fire past Enckelman.

As the weather worsened, Hopkins then snatched a winner for the Toffees, scoring with a neat finish from just inside the area.

ROVERS: Enckelman, Kane, Barr, Nolan, Taylor, Welch, Woods, Hodge, Peter, Garner (sub Treacy 62 mins), Barker. Subs not used: Drench, De Vita, King, Pezzoni.