Bread and butter win sh hhows Everton's appetite.

Byline: IAN DOYLE S

Everton 3 Blackburn Rovers 0 AFTER devouring dessert, a welcome helping of bread and butter. They may not be getting their menu in the right order, but Everton are at least regaining their Premier League appetite this season.

While David Moyes's side have acquired a taste for Europe, previous evidence had shown a worrying aversion to more domestic matters, last week's second-half capitulation at Fulham causing supporters to reach for the worry beads.

But after responding with the comprehensive dismantling of AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday, Everton inflicted the same punishment on Blackburn Rovers to further ease concerns of a season of toil and trouble.

Slowly but surely, Moyes and his new-look squad are beginning to gel, beginning to appear more like a team capable of a top-five finish and FA Cup final place.

Villain one game, hero the next.

Thursday's win had been soured by the injury-time dismissal of Louis Saha for foolishly reacting to a cynical boot from AEK's Juanfran.

As if to make amends, the Frenchman netted twice to take his total to six for the campaign and help overcome a Blackburn side that, on this evidence, are relegation fodder.

Saha loves the sight of the Ewood Park outfit; this brace has taken him to 10 goals against the Lancastrians, his highest tally against any English side. Moyes has always insisted the Frenchmen will be a major asset if he remains fit.

Of course, that's a big if - Saha missed the defeat at Craven Cottage with a hamstring problem - but the rewards are clearly worth the extra time and effort required to nurse the striker through the campaign.

Joseph Yobo, revelling in his role as skipper, scored his second goal in four days and despite moments of threat from the visitors, the sight of centre-back Sylvain Distin charging in behind the Blackburn defence during the second half indicated the comfort with which Everton ultimately secured the points.

Certainly, there can be no complaints about the level of entertainment at Goodison: they may not have all gone in the desired net, but there have been 21 goals in five games here this season.

As on Thursday, Steven Pienaar was at the creative hub for Everton, delivering another effervescent, irresistible display.

Only some acrobatic goalkeeping from the overworked Paul Robinson prevented the South African from yielding tangible reward from his endeavours, Pienaar revelling in the additional responsibility that has been imposed on him this season.

Lucas Neill believes signing in at Goodison had been worth the wait after being without a club since June, but the Australian's lack of match fitness meant remaining patient a little longer for his Everton debut.

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Such route-one tactics did lead to some periods of frantic defending from Everton, with the home side forced into a succession of hurried clearances, particularly in the 19th minute when only the width of a post prevented Moyes's men from falling behind.

A free-kick from goalkeeper Paul Robinson on the halfway line was launched into the six-yard box and turned across goal by Christopher Samba for El Hadji Diouf to head against Tim Howard's crossbar before Everton hacked clear.

Moyes's side, though, are similarly effective proponents of the dead ball, and their greater concentration on accuracy rather than the scattergun approach deployed by the visitors saw them forge ahead midway through the half.

A trademark sweeping low delivery from Baines from the left flank was met by Saha at the near post, who had ghosted in between his markers to sidefoot expertly beyond Robinson.

Pienaar's run and shot solicited a decent parry from the Blackburn goalkeeper, but the visitors' pressing game meant Everton were slowly pushed on to the defensive, a wellpositioned Distin ushering behind a dangerous low cross from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Diouf has achieved the rare feat of being disliked on both halves of Merseyside following his controversial spell at Liverpool, and he once again raised the ire of the home fans by taking umbrage at one ball boy during the first half.

Blackburn retained a threat after the break, a flying Howard clawing clear Diouf 's cross as Jason Roberts waited to pounce and, from the ensuing melee, in the right place to block from Keith Andrews.

But Saha struck again on 54 minutes, looping a towering header past Robinson after a fine left-footed Maroune Fellaini cross from the right flank.

That was that, the visitors wilting under increasing Everton pressure. Five minutes later Yobo reacted quickly to hammer home from close range after Blackburn substitute Ryan Nelsen had made a pig's ear of attempting to clear a Baines corner.

It was then a matter of whether Everton could add to their total.

The home players lined up for potshots at the increasingly exposed Robinson and, when Distin managed to beat the goalkeeper, Andrews was required to head off the line.

If there had been any doubt beforehand, it's now official. Everton's season is up and running.

CAPTION(S):

Louis Saha celebrates after heading Everton into a 2-0 lead with his second goal Captain Joseph Yobo completes the e rout Dutchman John Heitinga tries a sho oot on his Goodison Park debut Marouane Fellaini is tackled by Blackburn's Christopher Samba