Aston Villa v Everton
Everton and Aston Villa shared the spoils from a fine match at Villa Park.
Joleon Lescott gave The Blues a first-half lead but Gabriel Agbonlahor levelled for the home side in the second period.
Everton made a great start and took the lead in the 14th minute.
Joleon Lescott and James Vaughan celebrate
Mikel Arteta’s free-kick from the left reached Joleon Lescott and the big defender gratefully nodded the ball past Thomas Sorensen to register his first goal for the club.
James Vaughan, once again partnering Andy Johnson in attack for Everton, was really lively and caused plenty of early problems for the Villa rearguard both in the air and on the ground.
Villa had their moments too.
Stiliyan Petrov forced Tim Howard into a smart save and then Ashley Young scrambled a close-range effort wide of the target.
Doubtless inspired by Lescott’s heroics, Joseph Yobo got forward and headed wide before the break and both Phil Neville and Leon Osman also came close.
Joleon Lescott celebrates with team-mates after his goal
At the start of the second period though, only some desperate defending preserved the advantage.
Alan Stubbs lost John Carew inside the 6-yard box and was grateful to see Howard make an excellent save. Stubbs then redeemed himself fully with a tremendous block as Carew tried to smash home the loose ball.
Villa were pouring forward at every opportunity and Carew should have scored when he was clean through but Howard again made a brave block.
Everton finally threatened again when Vaughan’s half volley cleared Sorensen’s bar and Arteta drilled a low shot wide after a horrendous sliced clearance by Wilfred Bouma.
Lee Carsley again excelled in the middle of the park and he tried his luck from outside the box in the 63rd minute but Sorensen was right behind it.
Andy Johnson in action at Villa Park
The Villa keeper also stopped a ferocious drive from Johnson but he couldn’t hold it and needed Gary Cahill to thump the ball clear.
The pendulum then swung Villa’s way again when Gareth Barry’s deflected shot earned them a corner and Stubbs needed all his experience to head an effort away from under his own bar.
The Everton resistance was finally broken with just seven minutes remaining.
Howard saved yet again from Carew but Gabriel Agbonlahor was following up and steered the rebound into the net.
Both sides pushed hard for a late winner but in the end a single point is enough to keep the Blues in seventh place.
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