EVERTON 0, Wanderers 0: The clamour for Everton teen starlet Wayne Rooney to be given an call-up for the next full England squad has grown after a virtuoso performance against Wanderers at Goodison Park.

Rooney was simply stunning, although he failed to get his name on the scoresheet, probably because of the equal brilliance of Wanderers keeper Jussi Jaaskaleinen.

In other results West Ham gained a surprise point at Blackburn, West Brom lost at Charlton while Sunderland had the heartbreak of a last kick defeat at Southampton.

Rooney, red-carded after coming on as sub against Birmingham on Boxing Day, was the outstanding individual in a hard-fought game on Merseyside.

Only Jaaskaleinen and desperate defence stood in the way of the youngster from giving fourth-placed Everton the lead on several occasions.

But Jay Jay Okocha hit the bar with a free kick late on as the Everton pressure eased which would have given Wanderers three points they probably would not have deserved. Still five points from the first three festive games is beginning to make manager Sam Alardyce a happy man.

Wanderers reportedly had three players yellow-carded: Per Frandsen, Michael Ricketts and Simon Charlton were all on a disciplinary knife edge.

For Wanderers, Ivan Campo and Merseyside-born Kevin Nolan returned to the first 11 for the injured Youri Djorkaeff and Mike Whitlow.

Everton: Wright , Yobo , Weir , Stubbs , Pistone , Carsley , Li , Gravesen , Naysmith , Campbell , Rooney. Subs: Watson , Radzinski , Pembridge , Gemmill , Baardsen

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen , Barness , Bergsson , Campo , Charlton , Nolan , Frandsen , Okocha , Gardner , Pedersen , Ricketts. Subs: Walters , Facey , Livesey , Tofting , Poole

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)

Attendance: 39,480