Toffees battle back for point

Turner: Scored opener

Man of Match: Louis Saha. Came on as a second-half substitute for Everton and showed why Man Utd signed him. He made a big difference to the Toffees and will prove a massive hit if he can stay fit.

Moment of the match: Cahill's goal which got the Toffees back into the game. Everton were pressing at the time but still needed to score and it gave them a timely boost to push on.

Attempt of the match: Yakubu's left footed volley from the edge of the box in the first-half after Fellaini had headed down a cross in his path.

Save of the match: Myhill was really brave to dive in and claim the ball from Yakubu's boot following an Arteta corner.

Talking point: Did Cahill's goal cross the line? I think it did!

Goal of the game: Osman's leveller for the Toffees because of the great build-up play. The goal came from a great one-two by Yakubu and Saha down the left before the Nigerian put in a dangerous cross for Osman to score from close range.

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Everton came from two goals behind to earn a point against Hull at the KC Stadium.

Michael Turner put the hosts ahead on 18 minutes when out-jumping Marouane Fellaini at the far post to head in from a Dean Marney from the left.

The Tigers then doubled their lead - again from a corner - on 50 minutes, with Phil Neville adjudged to have conceded an own goal after a mix-up in the Everton defence.

But the Toffees showed great determination and Tim Cahill got one back off the bar on 73 minutes, although there was some uncertainty at first whether it had crossed the line.

Then five minutes later, Leon Osman got the equaliser after Yakubu played a great one-two with Louis Saha down the left and then crossed for him to slot home.

Huge relief

The draw was a huge relief for Everton, who had again had problems at the back. It was the exposure of those defensive frailties in Thursday's Uefa Cup clash against Standard Liege that led to David Moyes' decision to relegate England international Joleon Lescott to the bench.

Leighton Baines took his place, while record signing Marouane Fellaini also came into the side.

Hull, who would have been two points off the top with a win, handed a debut to striker Daniel Cousin and a first start to on-loan defender Kamil Zayatte.

The game got off to a lively start with Hull winger Peter Halmosi creating a fine chance for Bernard Mendy in the second minute.

Halmosi broke away from two defenders and then skipped past Neville to deliver an inviting cross, but Mendy headed straight at goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Everton hit back with Fellaini trying his luck from distance but a deflection took the sting out of the shot, and Boaz Myhill saved comfortably.

Mikel Arteta also worked a good opportunity for the visitors, cutting inside to shoot from the edge of the box - but his effort sailed well over the bar.

Osman spurned a good chance after 11 minutes when Neville pulled the ball back to him unmarked in the box - only for the shot to be scuffed wide. Osman made better contact next time he had a shooting chance, but team-mate Cahill got in the way.

At the other end, Dean Marney slipped Mendy in with a fine pass - but the Frenchman took too long and shot wide.

Hull took encouragement, though, and grabbed the lead when Turner rose highest at the far post to meet Marney's cross and send a header back over Howard that Osman on the line could not keep out.

Everton produced an immediate response, Yakubu meeting Fellaini's knock-down with a fierce volley but Myhill parried and Hull cleared.

Marlon King, two-goal hero at Newcastle last week, went close to doubling Hull's lead after 26 minutes when he curled a free-kick just wide after Neville fouled Halmosi on the edge of the box.

Cousin had his first chance soon afterwards when he turned in the area, but Phil Jagielka deflected for a corner.

Moyes decided to bring Lescott back at half-time - sending him on for Baines at left-back, while adding firepower by replacing Segundo Castillo with Saha.

An Arteta corner caused concern in the Hull box a minute after the restart but Myhill gathered bravely at the feet of Yakubu, taking a knock in the process.

Hull's corners, however, created even more problems and led to a second goal for the hosts after 50 minutes.

Own goal

Marney again delivered into the box, and this time Neville headed past his own goalkeeper and into the net before King could get the final touch.

Everton were frustrated in their efforts to reply, Cahill slicing a volley wide, Saha having a low drive saved by Myhill and Lescott blasting over.

Persistence paid off when Everton pulled one back after 73 minutes through Cahill, although it took a brave decision from the officials.

Zayatte could only stab his clearance from an Osman shot at Cahill and the Australian blasted a shot against the bar which bounced down, according to the referee's assistant, over the line.

That gave Everton the momentum, and Saha appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty after a challenge from Zayatte.

Everton claimed their equaliser with 12 minutes remaining when Yakubu played a one-two with Saha and crossed for Osman, who got ahead of Myhill and volleyed in from close range.

Hull almost fell behind with six minutes remaining when Myhill failed to gather but Saha could only shoot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Hull introduced George Boateng to stem the tide and held on to claim a creditable draw and make it eight points now from five games.