Yakubu rescues point for Everton against Boro

Ayegbeni Yakubu rescued Everton as the Nigerian striker's second half equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

David Moyes' side looked to be heading for their first defeat in five matches when Gary O'Neil fired Middlesbrough into an early lead at Goodison Park.

But former Middlesbrough hitman Yakubu pounced for his first goal since September to extend Everton's unbeaten run.

Despite that impressive record, there were still muted boos from the Goodison faithful as Everton failed to win in front of their own fans for the seventh time in eight attempts this season.

It could have been worse as O'Neil had given Middlesbrough the perfect start when he finished a sweeping move in the eighth minute.

Stewart Downing played the killer pass down the right flank and caught Joleon Lescott out of position. That gave O'Neil the time and space to run into the box and fire low past Tim Howard.

Tuncay Sanli was close to extending Middlesbrough's lead from another Downing pass.

But Everton almost levelled through Yakubu. The Nigerian forward powered past Emanuel Pogatetz on the edge of the box before drawing a brave save from Ross Turnbull

Lescott's swirling cross from the left after 23 minutes caused confusion in the Middlesbrough defence and the ball dropped for Marouane Fellaini. The Everton midfielder's hooked effort was heading in until Pogatetz blocked on the line.

That sparked Everton into life and Phil Jagielka and Tim Cahill both had near-post headers that went close, before Joseph Yobo rose to meet a Phil Neville cross and headed just over the bar.

Cahill should have equalised just before half-time but the Australia midfielder's header from Mikel Arteta's corner bounced wide from close-range.

Boro lost defender Chris Riggott with an injured ankle after 51 minutes, but they almost caught Everton on the break when Afonso Alves and Tuncay combined to set up Julio Arca, who drove his shot over the bar.

Everton forward Louis Saha threatened when he met Arteta's cross with a fierce header that just cleared the cross.

Middlesbrough had been warned about Arteta's set-piece prowess and he made them pay in the 65th minute when Yakubu deflected home his free-kick.

Southgate's team could have regained the lead immediately but Howard pushed Didier Digard's shot onto a post.

Moyes sent on South Africa winger Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe in the closing stages but the Toffees couldn't carve out another clear chance to steal the win.