SIR Alex Ferguson was in the Goodison Park directors' box to see Paul Ince make it a winning start to his Premier League managerial career on Saturday as Blackburn won a thriller 3-2 at Everton.

Ferguson no doubt taught Ince a few things about true grit when he played under the Scot at Old Trafford - and the protege seems to have implanted that spirit into a Blackburn side who were supposedly at odds with their new manager.

Rovers won with a goal from defender Andre Ooijer four minutes into injury time.

They had led through David Dunn, before Mikel Arteta equalised for Everton with a fine free-kick in first-half injury-time.

When Ayegbeni Yakubu put Everton ahead, it looked as if the hosts were going to grab the points. But Roque Santa Cruz and then Dutchman Ooijer had different ideas.

Everton gave a first-team debut to 17-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell, a glut of injuries and a failure to sign a single new player this summer narrowing manager David Moyes' options. He also had six youngsters on the bench.

Ince left striker Benni McCarthy on the bench and gave a club debut to former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Santa Cruz, a possible departure before the transfer window closes, played up front.

Everton had defenders Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka in midfield roles - while Ince, having already sold David Bentley, named Steven Reid on the right flank.

Rovers who had three good early chances.

Morten Gamst Pedersen surged through the middle to force Tim Howard into a finger-tip save.

Then two excellent crosses from Reid were both met by Santa Cruz and headed just wide.

Everton's response was a 25-yarder from Rodwell that was held low by Robinson.

Dunn, from 35 yards, almost embarrassed out-of-position Howard.

But Rodwell was settling nicely into Premier League football and dished out one powerful challenge on Santa Cruz that drew appreciative applause.

Dunn, cutting in from the left, forced Howard into a smart save. But the next time Dunn was in a shooting position, he bagged an excellent goal on 22 minutes.

Pedersen and Santa Cruz were involved in the build-up, but Dunn did much of the hard work himself by sending Jagielka skidding away on his backside - having shifted the ball from right to left foot before firing wide of Howard.

Dunn's excellent goal gave Rovers the lift they needed, and they were finding too much room in the centre of midfield. Rodwell was doing his best, but the makeshift partnership with Jagielka was a worry.

Moyes attempted to solve the problem by moving Baines to left-back and shifting Nuno Valente into midfield.

But there was pace about Blackburn's play.

Stephen Warnock was booked in the 44th minute for a foul from behind on Arteta.

But two minutes into first-half injury-time, Arteta was on the score sheet with a curling free-kick - for a harsh hand-ball against Reid - that left Robinson standing.

Everton could have been ahead two minutes into the second period.

Rodwell put Baines away on the left - and when the cross flashed in front of goal both Yakubu and Leon Osman failed by inches to connect with the cross.

Jason Robert's fine run into the box past three defenders was finally halted by a combination of Howard and Joleon Lescott - when it looked as if the Rovers man would score.

Ooijer was booked after 59 minutes for a foul on Yakubu. Jagielka then saw a header from Arteta's corner flash just wide.

After 64 minutes, Everton surged into the lead.

Yakubu's neat ball out to the left sent Arteta racing away - and when the far-post cross arrived, Yakubu was towering above everyone to head home.

The lead lasted two minutes.

Warnock's angled ball in from the left saw Santa Cruz get goal side of Lescott to ease the ball past Howard.

Roberts forced a fine save from Howard, with Lescott's block stopping Roberts' second attempt. Joseph Yobo was booked for a foul on Roberts, before Ince sent on Keith Treacy in place of Pedersen.

With 11 minutes left, Everton sent on Jose Baxter for his debut in place of Valente - making him the Toffees' youngest ever senior player at 16 years and 196 days old.

Rovers sent on McCarthy for Roberts with seven minutes left, and then Tugay replaced Dunn.

In the last minute of normal time, Baxter out-jumped Robinson at the far post to head over from a Phil Neville cross.

But Blackburn stole the points in the 94th minute when Warnock's free-kick was headed against the post by Ryan Nelsen, with Ooijer tapping home the rebound.