Reading Earn Everton Draw

Reading settled for a draw at Everton after leading the game from a Lescott own goal in the 28th minute. Andy Johnson continued his incredible goal scoring record against Reading equalling terms in the 81st minute and made for a tense finish.

Sly Stallone was at Goodison Park to see Reading facing a Rocky style underdog performance against a strong Everton side, and it was almost an “I did it, Adriane!` victory for the Royals, had heavyweight scorer, Andy Johnson, not come out swinging in the final round.

Reading fielded an unchanged to team to the one that hammered West Ham 6-0 except for Ulises De La Cruz who filled in for injured captain, Graeme Murty. Everton started in a 4-5-1 formation with Tim Cahill returning after his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Everton dominated the early stages of the game, and went about giving Sly a show to watch, Andy Johnson ran at the Reading goal but was forced wide, Tim Cahill could have finished the second attempt but Marcus Hahnemann was on hand to meet his effort.

Kevin Doyle won a free kick just outside of the penalty box after a glittery run through Everton defenders. Reading took advantage of the deep defending by the Toffee`s and crowded the penalty box.

The Nicky Shorey free kick floated in beautifully towards the jam-packed area and Tim Howard never had any chance of getting near it through all the bodies; instead a leaping Stephen Hunt was first too it.

The longhaired Irishman headed the ball at goal and would have scored had it not been for a block from Tim Howard`s leg. The blocked ball ricocheted out and hit an unfortunate Joleon Lescott and at slow motion speed went in the back of the net.

With just under 10minutes left to play, Kevin Doyle and Lescott chased a ball down the right channel, an overstretched Doyle tumbled in his attempt to be first to the ball and as he and Lescott went down it was clear one of them would not be continuing the game.

Physio Jon Fearn helped Doyle off the pitch and another Irish wiz, Shane Long, took his place.

Everton enjoyed lengthy spells of possession, and pressured the Royals, but the home side never created any clear-cut chances.

With the half almost over, Ibrahima Sonko found the illustrious Andy Johnson just a little too much to handle. The Senegalese defender brought Johnson down near the halfway line in a questionable challenge.

Sonko was lucky not to receive his marching orders when he took Johnson out again in a dubious challenge on the edge of the Reading box. Luckily for him he was not, and Everton`s chance of an equaliser before half time was squandered.

The second half saw Everton push hard for an equaliser, but Reading combated Everton advances with counter attacks of their own making for an open half of end-to-end football.

Victor Anichebe came into the line up at halftime for the ineffective McFadden. Anichebe shook things up immediately, getting to an Andy van der Meyde cross before Hahnemann, the youngster was only denied goal by the joint effort of Glen Little and Sonko on the goal line.

Everton were again turning the screw on Reading and frustrated their fans with the opportunities that went begging.

Johnson wasted a gift of a goal, when Cahill played him in on goal from the side. Hahnemann handed Johnson the true chance by delaying his decision to come out, fortunately for the American stopper, Johnson`s effort went wide.

Reading were not back on the ropes for the whole half however, the underdogs consistently threatened Everton on the counter attack and even had half of Merseyside holding their breathe on several occasions.

Sidwell spooned a shot over from the boxes edge while in another chance Hunt was crowded out as he ran from outside the box goalwards.

Reading were put under further pressure by the addition of James Beattie, making a very potent attack force of three for the Toffees. He had a chance well held by Hahnemann.

Not long after Everton finally broke their drought, a long ball over the top from Joseph Yobo and some slack defending on Reading`s part saw Andy Johnson nudge the equaliser past the out rushing Hahnemann.

Everton certainly made for a tense finish, pilng the pressure on the Royals in the final minutes of the game, but Reading held on for the point.

A free kick given away by Ulises De La Cruz in the dying seconds of the game gave Everton the chance to take all three points and Lee Carsley almost obliged with a kick that grazed the roof of the net.

But in the end a point apiece was a fair result, and means Everton remain just one point ahead of Reading in the standings. The Royals meanwhile are a point closer to guaranteed Premiership survival.

Everton boss, David Moyes on the game:
‘We had to chase the game after first goal and I can’t fault the players for doing that.

‘But I was disappointed we didn’t go on to win it in the end.’