James Beattie made the difference as 10-man Everton stretched their unbeaten run to six league games.

Young goalkeeper Iain Turner’s league debut was ruined when he was sent off after just nine minutes for handling the ball outside his box - allowing fourth-choice John Ruddy to make his debut.

Everton fought in the manner that manager of the month David Moyes demanded and went in at the break ahead thanks to a fine Beattie header.

The second period saw Blackburn despetely searching for an equaliser but they were confronted by defiance from Everton, who defended Ruddy with wonderful character.

Referee Peter Walton suffered constant abuse from the Goodison Park crowd, but it was hard to see how else he could have reacted to Turner’s rush of blood.

Everton brought back defender Alan Stubbs for Matteo Ferrari and had James McFadden as striking support for Beattie, who had shrugged off a calf injury.

Turner was in again after his first-team baptism at Chelsea in the midweek FA Cup defeat, which came about due to Richard Wright’s ankle injury in the warm-up.

It was cruel that Turner should become the latest casualty of Everton’s goalkeeping jinx.

They were already without Nigel Martyn, recovering from an ankle injury, and with Wright out for several weeks after falling over a "keep out of the goalmouth" sign and damaging ankle ligaments, Moyes had little option but to pick Turner.

So when the 22-year-old had a crazy moment, handling the ball outside his area, referee Walton had little option but to send him off.

Blackburn’s decision to use pace against Everton’s backline almost paid off early on when Florent Sinama-Pongolle skipped away from David Weir and got to the line before laying the ball back for Steven Reid, but the midfielder’s shot sailed over.

Then Everton thought they had scored when Beattie evaded the offside trap and touched the ball on for Tim Cahill, who netted only to see a linesman’s flag raised, because he had been fractionally ahead of his colleague.

Everton were ahead on 33 minutes. Mikel Arteta got a warning from his own skipper Weir for too much trickery on the ball as he sat on the ground after being fouled by Robbie Savage. And as the free-kick was curled in by Arteta, Beattie soared to power a fine header into the top corner.

Blackburn, despite their man advantage, had made precious little in the way of chances and when the ball dropped for Lucas Neill, he lashed high over from 15 yards.