Everton 1-1 Manchester City

Everton ended a run of four consecutive Premier
League defeats with a battling 1-1 draw against
title-chasing Manchester City.
Manuel Pellegrini's defending champions entered
the match level with Chelsea at the Premier
League summit and Fernandinho's 74th-minute
header appeared set to preserve that state of
affairs.
Yet Joe Hart, who had earlier made a pair of fine
saves from Romelu Lukaku, came needlessly from
his line and allowed Steven Naismith to convert
Leighton Baines' free-kick four minutes later.
City's slick passing game clicked instantly into
gear as they dominated for long periods of the
first half, although wasteful finishing from Stevan
Jovetic and Jesus Navas threatened to undermine
them before Everton full-back Seamus Coleman
clattered the crossbar from distance.
A more even second half followed and a buoyant
Goodison Park crowd was delighted to see
Naismith end a worrying slump for manager
Roberto Martinez.
John Stones made his first Everton start since
Boxing Day at centre-back with Antolin Alcaraz
(suspension) and Sylvain Distin (groin)
unavailable, while Aiden McGeady was preferred
to Kevin Mirallas.
Captain Vincent Kompany and top scorer Sergio
Aguero returned to the City bench following injury
lay-offs as Yaya Toure's Africa Cup of Nations
absence meant Fernando partnered Fernandinho
in midfield.
David Silva posed early problems in front of the
Everton defence and City's Spain playmaker
threaded a pass for Jovetic to blast over in the
ninth minute.
An error from Phil Jagielka gave Silva the chance
to craft a clearer opening but Navas side-footed
wastefully wide.
Everton spurned promising free-kick opportunities
as Lukaku and Baines drove into defensive walls,
but City remained on top in open play – Jovetic
twice off target from the edge of the area having
linked smoothly with Silva.
Pellegrini's team arguably over-played when
pinning Everton back under sustained pressure
and they almost paid two minutes before the
break.
Hart stood firm to deny Lukaku and Coleman
crashed a swerving left-footed strike against the
crossbar to conclude the attack.
Those near-misses spurred Everton on during the
opening exchanges of the second half, with
Lukaku's powerful forward play to the fore.
The Belgium international stormed beyond
Eliaquim Mangala in the 57th minute to draw a
second excellent stop from Hart.
With City lacking a similar presence in attack,
Pellegrini turned towards Aguero in favour of
Jovetic with 24 minutes remaining.
Jagielka had the ball in the net in the 69th minute
but Naismith was penalised for a foul on Hart,
while Aguero teed himself up to volley goalwards
at the other end.
Silva was predictably involved when City broke
the deadlock – Fernandinho heading past
Coleman on the line when his team-mate's
deflected shot looped in his direction –
yet their advantage was short-lived.
Baines arched in a fine free-kick from the left but
Hart's decision to come for the cross was rash
and Naismith nodded home, leaving City to
ponder a two-point deficit at the summit as they
prepare to host Arsenal next weekend.