Everton defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-0 to move out of the Premier League's bottom three, with two goals from Louis Saha helping to continue the striker's one-sided love affair with Sunday's opponents.

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Saha, who claimed his fifth and sixth goals of a fine start to the season, took to 10 the number of career goals scored against Rovers with a well-taken double either side of the break.

First converting a Leighton Baines free-kick at the near post, the striker then headed home in the 54th minute.

A defensive mix-up from Rovers two minutes later saw captain Joseph Yobo plunder the game's third goal and put the seal on another disappointing away day for Sam Allardyce's side.

The Toffees had the first chance of a game they would win with ease in the fourth minute when Leon Osman's shot was deflected wide of the goal by the heel of Chris Samba.

However Everton had the frame of the goal to thank for not falling a goal behind in the 19th minute. From Samba's shot at goal, El Hadji Diouf headed goalwards from six yards but the face of the crossbar came to the home side's rescue.

That moment proved crucial as three minutes later, Everton had the lead when Saha did what he normally does against Rovers and scored a goal.

From Baines's inswinging free-kick, Saha snuck in at the near post to divert his shot between Paul Robinson and the keeper's right-hand post.

Rovers responded positively to going a goal behind, but Tim Howard was not unduly tested, unlike the American's opposite number, Robinson, who reacted well to push aside a Steven Pienaar shot.

Blackburn's set pieces and in particular the aerial prowess of Samba caused problems for Everton during the remainder of the first half but the Toffees went into the break with a lead they just about deserved.

Rovers began the second half encouragingly and could have achieved parity had Howard not saved point-blank from Keith Andrews.

However two goals in four minutes shortly afterwards ended any doubt as to where the points would be headed.

Saha doubled his tally and Everton's lead with a textbook header from six yards out after Marouane Fellaini's cross from the left

Robinson tipped wide a shot by Osman as Everton cranked up the pressure but the respite was only brief. From the subsequent corner, a miskick by Ryan Nelsen allowed Yobo to finish from close range.

Allardyce threw on striker Nikola Kalinic for the final 30 minutes but, despite no lack of attacking intent, the visitors were already consigned to their third defeat in five games and their seventh in a row away from home - an unwanted first for the Lancashire side in the Premier League.

The defeat might have been even more emphatic too had Robinson not readjusted brilliantly to deny Pienaar a fourth goal for Everton in the final minute.