Richards strikes late to deny Everton

Micah Richards lashed home another injury-time equaliser to earn Manchester City a priceless point as they drew 1-1 with Everton at Goodison Park.

The Toffeemen appeared to be heading for second spot in the Premiership thanks to Andrew Johnson's 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 Richards' 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 Dunne's superb goalline clearance.

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

Johnson opened the scoring after the interval when Phil Neville delivered his cross from the right touchline. The striker made his finish look easy, swivelling round before crashing a volley towards the visitors goal which flicked off Sylvain Distin and flew in.

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 Arteta's shot into his path. But Richard Dunne, diving goalkeeper style across his own line, somehow managed to keep the ball out with his chest.

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 Barton's reaction to the leveller is bound to attract more negative publicity.