This is the beginning of a run of three games at Goodison for the Mighty Blues which could play a decisive role in the direction of our season. Most Evertonians would probably take four league points and cup progress as an excellent outcome, with a point against City seen as a decent return. From a league point of view three points from Blackburn is imperative. Goodison hasn’t been a happy home for the Blues this season with only three league wins. The last time we hosted an old-fashioned Lancashire derby, against Bolton a couple of weeks back, we turned in one of our worst performances in many a year.

Moyesy has asked for Goodison to get behind the players and drive them on during this run. Probably a polite way of saying it’s been like a morgue on occasions this season. The gloom surrounding the off-field issues has dampened supporters’ expectations and led to an over-riding frustration watching games at the Old Lady. This match brings along the one Premier League club whose supporters have been more angry and despairing than ours. They’ve had more demos than us – last week’s 24-hour protest outside Ewood Park being the latest. They’ve also been more vociferous inside the ground too. Most of that has been directed at owners Venky’s and the living embodiment of all things bad about the Rovers’ situation – Steve Kean

Moyesy does get some stick – he can frustrate with his conservatism at times – but the vast majority of Goodison is with him and recognises the constraints he’s working under. It tends to be on the internet and message boards he gets some Steve Kean treatment. Neither manager has had the proper backing of their boards, for different reasons. From a distance – don’t claim any expertise on Blackburn’s inner workings – it seems that Kean is the lonely figurehead who is bearing the brunt of all the anger. The Venky’s have dismantled the boardroom at Ewood and gutted the management structure of a well-regarded and previously well-run club. The workings of agent Jerome Anderson with the club are also unclear. The local press in Blackburn have highlighted a letter sent to Venky’s last January outlining the concerns of the then board members. Very prescient as it turns out. It looks like Kean reports directly to Mrs Desai in India and is alleged to travel there once a month to do so. Probably could do with investing in a video conference facility if they’re having money problems…Whatever they thought they were doing when they bought the club – raising their profile? – it’s not working out and they seem out of their depth. They might be ace at selling chickens but Steve Kean is often left looking like a freshly-plucked piece of fowl on the touchline as he gets stick from all corners.

His record isn’t very good and some clubs would’ve had him out by now – QPR spring to mind. Whilst we mention them, see Joey Barton is sticking the knife into Neil Warnock big time. “If I talked about Neil, he’d do well to get another job”, among other megalomaniacal quotes. Warnock is only the one who bought him and made him club captain earlier this season…Neither are pleasant characters – the best thing about Barton is his commitment to good spelling and grammar on twitter – so balls to both of them. Neither Everton or Blackburn seem to have any plumbs like Joey disrupting things.

Meanwhile, the Everton Chief Exec, Robert Elstone, released a candid blog on the club’s finances last week. It was a good response to the ‘where’s all the money gone?’ questions. He gave an assessment of the last five seasons and how new contracts to players, matchday income, etc all combine to mean we’re skint. Yes Bob, but why did you have to ruin it when talking about dropping gate revenues this season with “…rumours of the sabotage of ticket sales, programmes and other matchday income”. It’s clear neither he, nor Bill Kenwright, have any truck with the Blue Union, especially after the taping incident earlier this season. They seem to have a bunker mentality to any criticism. Well, times are hard, the team isn’t doing that well, we’re not exactly seeing sexy football at Goodison, so it’s not a big surprise gates are down. All Evertonians are concerned with what’s going on – if we can’t replace aging players, what does the future hold? Elstone and Kenwright should take the blinkers off and engage with all Evertonians – they can’t afford not to – as the search for new investment, or a new way of running things at Goodison continues. Kenwright is the boardroom figurehead at all the games which Rovers don’t have.

Rovers have had a slight upturn in recent weeks and last week’s win against Fulham with 10 men – interesting that the fans got behind the team on the back of a referee’s decision and they responded with a great win – means they’ll roll up with some confidence. Everton too, on the back of a more encouraging performance at Villa last week, can have a bit of optimism. We’ve not got any of our recently injured players back but the chance to see what Darron Gibson can offer the Goodison gallery intrigues. Landon Donovan, who had an excellent game at Villa – more through balls please lid – can hopefully inspire a much-needed home win.

Moyesy’s comments about nursing Big Vic back suggest he may start on the bench again. If nursing back means he’s a goalscoring super sub then we can live with that. Vellios boosted himself with a hat-trick against Rovers in the Reserves 4-2 win on Monday. An interesting comment from Alan Stubbs in the Echo after that when he said Vellios played for the team rather than himself – maybe explaining a bit why he’s gone off Moyesy’s radar recently. Joes Baxter slotted one and played well too, so expect Jose to be on the bench against Rovers. In the unlikely event of Denis starting, it looks like Saha up front again. Come on Louis, give us a goal.

At least the Yak won’t be proving the immutable law of the ex…but there weren’t many Evertonians who didn’t want rid of him in the summer. Not fit, not scoring goals and the chance to get some money for him meant his move was welcomed in most quarters. Well, the big lad has done great for Rovers since he’s been there. It’s the other end where they’ve had big problems. It’s uncertain whether big Chris Samba will play against us – transfer request and all. As long as he doesn’t do a Gary Cahill and slot on his last appearance.

Here’s hoping the Toffees can notch one early – remember those first half goals? – and ease ourselves to a comfortable win. If not, we may need Moyesy’s substitutions to work their wonders again. In all the despair this season, Moyey’s subs have been the one bright spot. There’s always someone with the ‘Change it Moyes’ but he has handled that bit well and we’ve scored more goals by subs than anyone.

So then, up the Toffees.