EVERTON 2-2 WIGAN

Everton have been held at home by Wigan Athletic.

Despite twice leading, through Andy Johnson and a James Beattie penalty, the Blues were twice pegged back.

Paul Scharner was the two goal saviour for the visiting Latics.

Wigan threatened first on seven minutes when Denny Landzaat curled a free-kick onto the roof of the net.

Moments later Mikel Arteta was fouled on the Everton left. His free-kick caused mayhem in the Wigan six-yard box, but the ball was cleared with Evertonians claiming handball.

It was 15 minutes before Johnson had his first sight of goal. The in-form stiker pressured Fitz Hall before collecting the ball and having a left-foot effort saved by Chris Kirkland.

The lads form a defensive wall

Then Lee Carsley surged into the box and planted a diving header wide following a great cross by Tim Cahill.

Another Everton ball into the box saw Cahill challenge Chris Kirkland in the air. This incensed Kirkland and his skipper Arjan de Zeeuw who were both cautioned for their reaction to the incident.

Arteta fired another set piece over the bar on 30 minutes before a teasing delivery caused more mayhem for the visiting defenders.

Wigan had asserted themselves well at this stage, and Emile Heskey combined with Antonio Valencia to carve out an opportunity for the Ecuadorian in the box - but his effort was screwed wide of the target.

Lee Carsley had a left foot volley well over the bar and Johnson lashed a cross right through the Wigan area before Arteta brought a fingertip save from Kirkland from yet another free kick.

James Beattie scores from the penalty spot

Moments after the break, Everton took the lead. Cahill robbed Emmerson Boyce and delivered the ball into the box from the byline.

Carsley missed it, but the ball reached Johnson who calmy netted for his fifth in five games.

Buoyed, Everton pushed on and a deflected Leon Osman effort again had Kirkland at full stretch in the 53rd minute. An Osman volley then got the same treatment from the Wigan stopper.

Johnson was then in again with a shot just wide of the post.

Joseph Yobo beats Emile Heskey

James Beattie was then introduced in place of Lee Carsley on the hour mark.

But Wigan were desperate to get back into the game and did so, thanks to a perfectly placed header from Austrian Paul Scharner in the 63rd minute.

Moments later Landzaat felled Osman in the box, and James Beattie stepped up. He made no mistake to restore the Blues' lead.

But the scores were level again just two minutes later. Scharner again arrived late in the box and made no mistake with a low finish to Tim Howard's left.

The American custodian was called-upon again with ten minutes left to touch an Andreas Johanssen shot wide.

Bothe sides were looking for a winner but the best chance fell to Osman in injury time.

Sadly for Everton, his snapshot went over the bar and the points were shared.