By Ian Hughes
**Jack Rodwell and Luis Saha scored two goals apiece to put Everton in a strong position after their Europa League first leg tie with Sigma Olomouc.**Tim Howard was lucky not to concede a penalty when he brought down Jakub Petr before Saha volleyed in Marouane Fellaini’s cross to open the scoring.
Jack Rodwell then lashed in from 20 yards before marking his European debut with a superb drive for his second.
Saha sealed a fine win with a low, angled shot from just outside the box.
The result virtually takes Everton past their Czech opponents and into the Europa League group stages.
But it was a victory that looked in doubt in the early stages as Everton started in the kind of form that had seen them hammered 6-1 by Arsenal at the weekend.
And had Olomouc been awarded any of three solid shouts for a penalty, the complexion of the tie might have been very different.
There was a change in personnel from the weekend - centre-back Joleon Lescott watching his team-mates from the stands after being publicly criticised by manager David Moyes - but their defence looked just as porous early on.
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Olomouc sensed their opponents’ hesitancy and were quickly into their stride, making inroads with some slick passing moves.
One such attack could have brought the Czech side a penalty when it looked as though Howard had upended Petr.
Shortly after Howard raced out of his goal to thwart Michal Hubnik, who also went to ground but this time there appeared to be little contact and he was booked by the referee.
Howard was then called into action a third time when he did brilliantly to tip over a fierce long-range drive from Michael Ordos.
Short of confidence and possession, Everton needed to shake themselves down and start to assert themselves.
Leon Osman took up the mantle - he went close with a deflected shot that was tipped over - and as his influence grew, so did Everton’s threat.
Not long after the midfielder had another shot just over the bar, Everton were on the offensive again and this time the move bore fruit.
Fellaini turned superbly and delivered a low cross for Saha to convert and settle his side and the anxious home crowd.
Osman was then involved again as he won a free-kick 25 yards out.
From that set-piece, Leighton Baines’ effort crashed back off the Olomouc wall, falling to Rodwell to smash home with a crisp left-foot effort.
Midfielder Rodwell had only returned to the starting line-up as a result of Phil Neville’s move to centre-back to fill in for Lescott.
And even better was to come for Rodwell when he crashed home his second goal of the evening, arrowing in a venomous shot from 25 yards after another Baines free-kick came his way.
Now in the driving seat, Everton looked far more relaxed.
But again they were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Felliani tangled with Hubnick.
However, that proved to be the last bit of slack defending for the home side, who had clearly been given a stern talking-to by Moyes at half-time.
And as they looked more solid at the back, they also looked more menacing coming forward.
When a counter-attack provided Saha with a chance, the Frenchman duly took it with a fine swivel and shot from the edge of the box.
Saha had been called into the starting XI in place of Jo, and on thsio performance he may well keep it.
It was a satisfying evening for Everton and Moyes will be delighted with his side’s fight after a shaky start.
He will also be encouraged that his side can cope without Lescott, who remains a key target for Manchester City.