Late equaliser saves City

FA Premiership/Everton 1 Manchester City 1:Micah Richards lashed home another injury-time equaliser to earn Manchester City a priceless point from their trip to Everton.

The Toffeemen appeared to be heading for second spot in the Premiership thanks to Andrew Johnson's sixth goal of the season but, just as he did in the FA Cup as Aston Villa last year, Richards found the target in the fourth minute of stoppage time to deny the hosts a deserved win.

Those who claim the Premiership is 'the best league in the world' should take a long, hard look at the dross served up in the opening 43 minutes.

When Everton did force their way through, they found Sylvain Distin and Richard Dunne in imperious form.

Dunne in particular, returning to the club where he started his professional career, caught the eye with a series of thunderous clearances that initially suggested Johnson was going to have a rare quiet afternoon.

But all that changed in a flurry of action just before half-time.

Johnson played provider first of all, barging Distin off the ball, then cutting a cross back for strike partner James Beattie.

On his first Premiership start since August 23, Beattie was eager to make an impression, perhaps too eager, and he scuffed his shot straight into the ground.

Johnson had plenty of work to do when Phil Neville delivered his cross from the right touchline. But the striker made it look so easy, swivelling round before crashing a volley towards the visitors goal which flicked off Distin and flew in.

It was tough luck on Distin, although Pearce was probably not impressed with the way the Frenchman turned his back on the shot.

If nothing else, the goal triggered a livelier start to the second period, certainly in contrast to what had gone on before.

Leon Osman had a 10-yard effort saved by Nicky Weaver, with City venturing forward long enough for Liverpool old-boy Dietmar Hamann, predictably jeered on his return to Merseyside, curling a snap-shot just wide.

There was more excitement to come too, with Dunne producing an outstanding goalline block to deny Johnson.

The Everton man seemed certain to double his tally when he seized onto the loose ball after Weaver had turned Mikel Arteta's shot into his path.

But Dunne, diving goalkeeper style across his own line, somehow managed to keep the ball out with his chest.

The Irishman might have been rewarded too, only for Samaras to snatch at a half-volley after Tim Howard had punched a Joey Barton cross weakly into his path.

As City pressed forward, so the chances increased for Everton. A trio of headers from Osman, Joleon Lescott and Tim Cahill came close to wrapping up the win.

The failure to convert any of them ultimately proved costly, although Barton's reaction to the leveller is bound to attract more negative publicity.