Everton 2 Blackburn Rovers 3: Ooijer's last-gasp strike lets Ince enjoy rollercoaster ride

Paul Ince could hardly be termed a Premier League novice, so nobody really need tell him about the frenetic nature of the elite division. Still, this must have been a sharp and rather joyous reminder of just how quickly things can change on the game's thrilling fields.

In his first match as the Blackburn manager, Ince saw his side dominate the first half but go in level; then instantly pull back a deficit when all the momentum had headed the other way; then survive the youngest player ever to appear for Everton coming within a hair's breadth of glory; then run up the other end to record a victory that was a breath or two beyond last gasp. As the Dutch full-back, Andre Ooijer, celebrated his winner in disbelief, Ince repeatedly punched the air. It is fair to say, he enjoys this Guv'nor lark.

It was certainly one in the eye for the critics who he perceived as ganging up on him before his reign had even started. So much for the much-mooted dressing-room unrest. Blackburn were a popular choice for the drop in the mass of prediction lists published yesterday morning. Time for a hasty rethink perhaps? "There was tremendous team spirit," said Ince. "It dispelled all that crap that's been said about us. The lads fought to the final whistle. When it was 2-2 I would have settled for the draw. It's funny how football works out."

His counterpart was not laughing. David Moyes was gracious enough to admit that Blackburn "were the better team" but claimed the winner was offside. Moyes, too, would have been satisfied with a point. Due to a miserable summer in which players left and players did not arrive, he was forced to field a nervy 17-year-old, Jack Rodwell, at the heart of midfield and many more out of position. He also agreed that his teen-filled bench must have been the most inexperienced in the history of the Premier League. Yes, Everton were unarguably there for the taking, but Goodison is still Goodison as Ince pointed out.

"Not many teams come here and win," he said. "Only top-four teams, I think." His Blackburn will never be that, but if David Dunn can keep this form and, more pertinently, Ince can keep Roque Santa Cruz they will not be featuring in any relegation fight. Yesterday, Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance, supposedly checking the Paraguayan out and the Manchester United manager would have been impressed with his opportunism.

It was Dunn who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, however, when he delivered a sumptuous curler into Tim Howard's right-hand corner. Such was Blackburn's dominance they might have been three-up, but then, on the brink of the break, something resembling a Paul Robinson howler stalled their charge. The debutant bafflingly left his near post exposed and so allowed Mikel Arteta to whip in a free-kick from a prohibitive angle and give Everton the impetus. It was another piece of brilliance from Arteta that gave them the lead, when his inch-perfect cross to the far post was turned in by Yakubu. The crowd sensed a huge momentum shift, yet as the cheers were still dying out, Blackburn equalised.

Straight from the restart Stephen Warnock sent a speculative ball downfield for Santa Cruz to capitalise on Joleon Lescott's hesitancy. Still, at least that was one blunder each. But then Jose Baxter, a highly-rated 16-year-old came on, almost put away the chance to make himself an instant legend and then Ooijer was on hand to turn in the rebound off the post effected by Ryan Nelsen's header and a daft Yakubu foul.

What a start for Ince.