Man City v Everton

A stoppage time goal by Tim Cahill gave Everton a 1-0 win at Manchester City.

It was an outcome that The Toffees just about deserved from a committed and entertaining encounter.

Everton began with Cahill deployed as an emergency centre-forward after Victor Anichebe failed a late fitness test and David Moyes offered Segundo Castillo a rare start in midfield.

The first-half was a lively affair during which both sides had opportunities to score.

Inside the opening five minutes, Shaun Wright-Philips lashed a shot that cannoned into Joleon Lescott and at the other end Leon Osman wriggled into space but his low shot just missed the target.

Leon Osman and Marouane Fellaini mount a dual challenge for the header

Mikel Arteta's brilliant free-kick shortly after had Joe Hart beaten all ends up but the ball smashed off the crossbar and there was further misfortune when Marouane Fellaini's subsequent follow-up header landed on the roof of the net.

For City, Stephen Ireland skied what should have been a routine finish when he found himself through on goal after some nice approach play from the home side.  Then just 60 seconds later Tim Howard made a terrific stop to palm away a close-range effort by Robinho.

Everton felt they should have had a penalty on 20 minutes when Leon Osman was sent tumbling inside the box by Michael Ball.

Osman certainly had a reasonable case but Mark Halsey was having none of it - although his assistant on the near side, who had a perfect view, gave the referee no help whatsoever.

Arteta was next to test Hart with a ferocious drive from the edge of the area. The young keeper blocked it but it's fair to say that he didn't know a great deal about it!

David Moyes urges on his troops with opposite number Mark Hughes watching on

Nor did Tim Howard five minutes before the interval when a Wright-Philips piledriver fizzed past him and clipped the bar.

Hart made a great save though in first-half stoppage time. Tim Cahill did tremendously well to win possession on the right and when Osman squared the ball to Fellaini, the big Belgian's shot was turned around the post by the City stopper.

Pablo Zabaleta was the next City player to rescue his side when he got the faintest of touches to deny Cahill a simple nod in from a beautiful cross by Phil Neville ten minutes after the restart.

There was no question that Everton were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this stage but Mark Hughes' men proved a resilient opponent and Hart was generally well protected.

Tim Cahill fends off Vincent Kompany

The chief tormentor in a sky blue shirt was Wright-Philips - a player who always looks highly dangerous whenever he lines up against Everton.  He nipped past Lescott and into the box on the hour but thankfully Neville was well-placed to hack the eventual cross to safety.

By contrast, the much heralded Robinho was largely anonymous and he was eventually withdrawn ten minutes from time.

Howard showed his agility again for Everton in the 72^nd minute when he dived low to prevent a side foot shot by Ireland from finding the bottom corner as City began to impress themselves on the contest.

It was a nervy finish at both ends of the pitch. Jo, a second half substitute for City, headed a Wright-Philips corner wide in the 85^th minute and then Howard grabbed a loose ball right on the Everton goal-line as Darius Vassell challenged.

Deep into added time, Everton won a corner on the right, Osman floated the ball into the box and the ever reliable Tim Cahill did the rest!

After the heartache of last week, this was a perfect tonic - although there was a heart-stopping moment when City attacked from the kick-off and reached the Toffees penalty area.

Thankfully there was no Ashley Young moment and Everton's fantastic away form continues.