Players congratulate Stead after he scores the winner against Everton

JONATHAN STEAD was once again the goalscoring hero as Rovers secured yet another three-point haul to edge them ever closer to safety.

But the young striker will have to thank his strike partner Andy Cole, as his skill and tenacity created the chance.

But young Stead still have a lot to do, placing his glancing header past the impressive Nigel Martyn and into the far corner for his fifth goal since signing for Rovers at the end of the January transfer window.

Before the game Graeme Souness made just one change from the side that defeated Leicester City seven days earlier, Michael Gray replacing Vratislav Gresko at the left back slot.

Both sides had a chance to score within the opening ten minutes, on six a Tugay corner was headed goalwards by Craig Short but Nigel Martyn was alert to push the ball around the post.

Moments later at the other end, it was Brad Friedel's turn to make an impressive save as he turned away a Steve Watson header.

The game then lapsed into a midfield battle, with little forward play, and it wasn't until the final moments of the first half that either goal was threatened.

And it was the visiting side in yellow who went the closest, Michael Gray played a great one-two with Jonathon Douglas down the left, Gray's centre was met perfectly by the boot of Stead, but Nigel Martyn managed to tip the ball over the bar.

From the resulting Tugay corner, Lorenzo Amoruso powered a header downwards, but Gary Naysmith was on the goal-line to hack the ball clear.

On the stroke of half-time Brad Friedel had to be alert to deny Thomas Radzinski who had broken free in the Rovers penalty area.

The second half was more of the same, with Rovers looking to take the game to the home side and creating more of the chances going forward.

Just past the hour mark Martin Andresen played a neat one-two with Jonathon Douglas on the edge of the penalty area before feeding Andy Cole into a great goalscoring position, but once again Rovers were thwarted by a fine Nigel Martyn save. The former England international dived full length to his left to tip the ball behind.

Everton had their best spell of play, mainly due to the enthusiasm and effort of full back Steve Watson, the former Newcastle player set up both Rooney and Radzinski who both failed to threaten Friedel's goal, before he tried his luck himself, but was way off target.

Rovers roared back, and with ten minutes to go, they got the goal that their endeavour merited.

Andy Cole raced into space in the area to collect the ball, he managed to control the ball, beat Pistone to the ball before curling in a pin-point cross which Jonathan Stead rose ahead of the Everton defenders to glance the ball into the far corner of the net past the otherwise impressive Nigel Martyn.

The goal stunned the home fans, and the players alike, and they did little to threaten the excellent Rovers rearguard.

Indeed,  substitute Brett Emerton could have doubled Rovers lead when put through by Cole, but the Australian blazed over the bar from the edge of the area.

So it's three wins on the trot for Rovers, the win moves them up to the dizzy heights of thirteenth place in the league table.

Everton: Martyn, Pistone, Yobo, Weir, Naysmith, Watson, Linderoth, Gravesen, Kilbane, Radzinski, Rooney. Subs: Wright, Unsworth, Jeffers, Nyarko, McFadden.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Amoruso, Short, Gray, Douglas, Flitcroft, Tugay, Andresen, Cole, Stead. Subs: Reid, Johansson, Gallagher, Emerton, Enckelman.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Rovers World will bring you all the post match reaction on Monday's Edition.