Back From The Dead

Everton showed again their remarkable powers of recovery by coming back from the dead to snatch a 3-3 draw against struggling Aston Villa. The Toffees have stretched their astonishing record of having lost just one of the twelve matches they have conceded first this season. It is not easy to beat this team. Only Manchester United have taken more points from losing positions this campaign.

 

Villa's performance in this game belied their lowly league position just one off the bottom. In only the second minute, Christian Benteke showed why he is an outstanding prospect by searing past a rather leaden-footed Johnny Heitinga to poach the opening goal for the visitors. Goodison was nervy but then came a superb equaliser from Victor Anichebe. Displaying his forte of back-to-goal prowess, the Nigerian striker backed Ciaran Clarke into submission before spinning and striking a textbook left-foot shot past Bradley Guzan in the Villa goal.

 

'Normalcy' seemed to be restored but Villa didn't read the script. Ashley Westwood's inviting right-wing cross was headed in brilliantly by a soaring Gabriel Agbonlahor, who showed his game is more than just pace. Things got even more dire for the home side on the hour mark when Benteke dived to head in a brilliant goal from Matthew Lowton's centre. Moyes's side was now on the ropes, but the Goodison crowd never gave up, continuing to rouse their heroes with spirited chanting.

 

In the 69th minute, Everton's sustained pressure paid off when their talisman, Marouane Fellaini shot home via a minor deflection after receiving a pass from Anichebe. It was Game On again. Try as they might, Villa withheld the Everton onslaught until the 94th minute, when Fellaini headed in direct from a right-wing corner. Villa were deflated: their chance of a vital, unlikely win at Goodison, was gone. Everton, though, maintain their search for a European place.