Scharner double gives Everton the blues

Everton 2 Wigan 2: A week after a historic victory over Liverpool, Everton found themselves hanging onto their unbeaten record as Paul Scharner's double gave Wigan a point.

The Austrian had the defiance needed to twice haul Wigan back into the game. It looked a formality as Andrew Johnson grabbed his fifth of the season just after the break, Everton at that point looking to run riot.

But Everton old boy Kevin Kilbane, on his Wigan debut, twice provided crosses for Scharner to score in a dramatic second period, with James Beattie's penalty coming between the two efforts.

Watching that 3-0 victory over Liverpool from the directors' box last week - and celebrating with ex-team mates - was Irish winger Kilbane, who had just completed a deadline move to Wigan. This time he was on the pitch making his debut for his new club, and was soon having a telling influence on the game.

Wigan started well, and Joseph Yobo's push on Emile Heskey after seven minutes resulted in a 20-yard curling free-kick from Denny Landzaat that cleared the bar by inches.

But an effort from Johnson, star of the win over Liverpool, underlined his fine form. He held off former Crystal Palace team-mate Fitz Hall to force Chris Kirkland into an alert save to his left.

A minute later it was Lee Carsley going close when he connected with a diving header from Tony Hibbert's cross, that flashed inches wide.

Then the game erupted when Kirkland reacted with fury to a challenge from Tim Cahill, clearly telling referee Alan Wiley he felt an elbow had been used.

Kirkland's reaction, to push Cahill, with players milling around, could have been punished with more than a yellow card while Arjan De Zeeuw was also booked before order was restored.

The atmosphere and pace of the game changed dramatically after that incident, with tackles flying in from both sides.

Phil Neville was booked for a foul on Scharner while Antonio Valencia was cautioned for what had been a succession of poor challenges on Mikel Arteta.

But it was Wigan who created the best chance of the first half when Heskey's control on the edge of the box ended with a clever pass into Valencia's stride, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Four minutes into the second half, Everton forced their way into the lead, and again it was Johnson who made the breakthrough.

Cahill got away on the left and drilled in a near post cross that Carsley contested, but the ball broke from a half clearance by Kirkland right into Johnson's path, who finished calmly from six yards.

Kirkland was suddenly under siege. Neville had an effort charged down, Kirkland saved well from Cahill and Leon Osman then forced the on-loan Liverpool keeper into a fine save from 15 yards.

Osman then set up Johnson for a snapshot from 18 yards that flashed wide of the far post. Everton were turning the screw but not finishing the job off.

With that in mind they sent on James Beattie for Carsley on the hour, Wigan replacing Valencia with Teale.

But on 62 minutes it was Wigan who were celebrating. A fortunate deflection from a clearance fell for Kilbane to cross from the left for Scharner to head well wide of Tim Howard.

Four minutes later and Everton were back ahead when Teale's tackle on Osman from behind gave the referee little option but to award a penalty, cracked home by Beattie.

But Wigan hit back almost immediately when on 68 minutes Kilbane again got the ball in from the left and Scharner coolly side-footed home his second.

Everton sent on Nuno Valente for Naysmith, with Heskey being booked a minute later for a foul on Lescott.