EVERTON Under-21s began the second half of their season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Conor McAleny’s first half goal was added to after the break by Francisco Junior and John Lundstram before Jan Mucha saved a late penalty from Edinho Junior to preserve a clean sheet.

A fourth-place finish during the first half of the season meant that the develop-ment squad will com-pete in qualif-ication Group One in the second stage of the campaign, and they were on top form against Rovers at Leigh Sports Village.

After a five-week break from competitive match action Stubbs was eagerly anticipating yesterday’s meeting, and his side did not disappoint.

The Blues led 1-0 at the break following McAleny’s 26th minute strike, with Costa Rican international Bryan Oviedo impressing at left-back, supplying several crosses which led to decent openings for his team-mates. Magaye Gueye also shone in central midfield, and Portu-guese midfiel-der Junior and John Lundstram made sure of the points during a mainly one-sided second half, the only scare when Mucha was called into action, diving at full stretch to save Edinho Junior’s spot kick.