BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes praised his players' fighting spirit after Rovers emerged from Goodison Park with a magnificent 1-0 victory yesterday.

Even withoutRobbie Savage and Brett Emerton, Rovers managed to stun Champions League-chasing Everton thanks to Jon Stead's first goal of the season.

"I felt before the match we were capable of getting a result," said Hughes.

"We'd lost a number of key players through injury but I sensed a real resolve in the dressing room beforehand and the players turned in a magnificent performance.

"We had to stand up to the physical challenges that Everton will always present you but we did that and I thought we looked like scoring more goals at the end when we were breaking off them.

"We didn't allow them time and space to get quality balls into the box, which they're very good at, and they've got weapons up there who can finish chances.

"We also coped with the midfield runners into the box very, very well."

Rovers' victory was all the more important given that Southampton, West Brom and Crystal Palace had all picked up points below them before they took to the field at Goodison yesterday.

In the meantime, Savage and Emerton face a fight to be fit for Sunday's FA Cup quarter final with Leicester at Ewood.

Savage has a tear in his groin which will need a week's rest, while Emerton failed a fitness test yesterday morning due to a calf injury picked up in the midweek win against Burnley.