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 Johnsonés 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.

And, just as controversy erupted after the final whistle at Villa Park with Richardsé four-letter TV interview, so it did at Goodison, with Joey Barton, once on schoolboy terms with the Merseyside outfit, appearing to deliberately show his backside to the Everton fans, who had jeered him throughout.

With such a chequered past, Barton may find himself in trouble should the Football Association decide to review the video.

The aftermath may overshadow a result which was tough luck on Everton, who had enjoyed most of the decent chances in game which erupted into life after a miserable start, with Johnson denied a second by Richard Dunneés superb goalline clearance.

However, City could justifiably claim they deserved a point given Georgios Samaras had struck a post seconds before Richardsé strike.

Dross

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

In fairness, Cityés dire record of 10 defeats in 11 away games gave City boss Stuart Pearce plenty of reasons not to make it an open, expansive affair and his five-man midfield largely succeeded in quelling Everton.

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.

Having seen those efforts go to waste, Johnson was in no mood to let City off the hook the next time Everton attacked.

The former Crystal Palace star still 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.

Contrast

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 Artetaés 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 Bartonés reaction to the leveller is bound to attract more negative publicity.

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