ANDRE Ooijer was the unlikely hero as he grabbed a dramatic last minute winner to give Rovers an opening day victory.

The Dutch international lashed home a rebound after Ryan Nelsen had headed against the post, to give Paul Ince his first win as Blackburn Rovers boss.

Rovers started impressively with David Dunn's fine 22nd minute strike, but Arteta curled in a free-kick right on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts an undeserved leveller.

Yakubu put the home side in front just past the hour mark but two minutes later a sublime piece of skill from Roque Santa Cruz drew Rovers level.

Both sides would probably have settled for a point, that was until Andre Ooijer head other ideas and gave Rovers all three.

There may have been changes a-plenty over the summer but Paul Ince named a very familiar starting eleven for the first game of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League. The only new face on the pitch for Rovers at kick-off being the £3.5m summer signing from Tottenham Paul Robinson. The bench included other new signings Danny Simpson and Carlos Villanueva.

Brett Emerton had failed to be fit in time for the season opener, his place on the right taken by Steven Reid with Aaron Mokoena getting the nod to partner David Dunn in the centre of midfield.

It was the home side who had the first effort at goal, midfielder Jack Rodwell with a low drive that was comfortable for Robinson, but less than sixty seconds later Rodwell turned villain when his wayward pass was intercepted by Morten Gamst Pedersen. The Norwegian drove at goal but Tim Howard tipped his shot around the post.

That early chance for Rovers set the tone for the rest of the half as Paul Ince's side dominated proceedings. On seven minutes last season's top scorer Roque Santa Cruz went close to opening his account for the new campaign, but he headed Reid's centre a foot side of the post.

Five minutes later and Reid and Roque combined once again, a curling cross from the right was met powerfully by the Paraguayan, the ball flashing just over the crossbar.

Then on 17 minutes a long ball upfield by Robinson was pin-point for Santa Cruz as he nodded down for Pedersen, Dunn took control of the ball to charge into the area but Howard smothered his near post shot.

Dunn, the Rovers' vice-captain was starting to dominate the centre of the area, and he got his reward with a superb strike at the midway point of the half. Santa Cruz and Pedersen combined on the edge of the area before Dunn got involved, he took a touch to put the ball on his left before curling a 20-yard effort that gave Howard no chance.

It was a tremendous way for Rovers to open their campaign, and was fully deserved after an impressive first half display.

Rovers continued to dominate proceedings, Morten Gamst Pedersen put a header just wide from an Aaron Mokoena centre, but right on the stroke of half-time the home side drew level.

A dubious free-kick was awarded for handball by referee Andre Marriner when a cross struck Steven Reid. Everton's talisman Mikel Arteta whipped in a wonderful right-footed effort that beat Robinson at his near post. The new Rovers number one will not have been happy to concede a goal of that nature.

After conceding so late in the first half Rovers came out a little shellshocked in the opening period in the second half, Everton forcing the pace early on, a Leighton Baines centre just eluding both Yakubu and Leon Osman just a minute after the restart.

But it didn't take long for Rovers to start to impose their game on Everton once again. A flowing move down the left saw Warnock send a deep cross which was headed over by a rampaging Steven Reid.

Jason Roberts worked tirelessly for the cause up front alongside Santa Cruz, a neat piece of skill from the big striker almost saw him through, quick feet saw him take the ball past Valente and then Lescott, but his route to goal was just blocked as he prepared to pull the trigger. The perfect way to celebrate your birthday.

But Everton started to cause Rovers more and more problems defensively. Phil Jagielka put a header over, whilst Yakubu curled a low strike just wide of the far post.

But the Nigerian didn't have long to get on the scoresheet when on 64 minutes a cross from Mikel Arteta found the former Middlesbrough striker arriving at the back post to leap above Warnock to head Everton into an unlikely lead.

But as unlikely that lead was, it lasted barely 90 seconds. A wonderful cross-field pass from Stephen Warnock was controlled on a sixpence by Roque Santa Cruz and with his second touch he drove the ball under the advancing Howard and into the back of the net.

The game ebbed and flowed in the final fifteen minutes, the ever impressive Roberts saw an effort saved by Howard, Yobo just getting to the rebound ahead of Morten Gamst Pedersen.

However a minute from time it was the Rovers who had their hearts in their mouths when a cross on the right from Jagielka saw Robinson caught in no-mans-land allowing 16-year-old substitute Jose Baxter free at the back post, thankfully for Robinson and Rovers the young debutant put his free header over the bar.

And as with the first half, there was to be some last minute dramatics in the second. A Rovers free-kick was sent over by Warnock into the danger zone, Ryan Nelsen powered a header against the foot of the post, but for once a Rovers man was first to react and that man was the unlikely figure of Andre Ooijer as he lashed the ball high into the roof of the net.

The winner sparked jubilant celebrations both from the vociferous travelling support who were superb throughout and on the touchline where the players mobbed manager Paul Ince.