Resilient Everton hit late equaliser against Hull

Everton came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Premier League strugglers Hull Tigers at the KCOM Stadium.

Ross Barkley has come under scrutiny recently after poor performances from the midfielder, and the 23-year-old marked his return to the first-team and answered his critics with a late equaliser after he headed into the bottom corner from a Leighton Baines cross in the 86th minute.

Everton were handed a life-line just before the half-time whistle after David Marshall, punched into his own net which is now the Scotsman’s 15^th failed attempt at a clean-sheet.

Michael Dawson gave his side a deserved lead in the 6^th minute when the 33-year-old tapped in at the back-post from a Curtis Davies flick-on, before the ever-present Robert Snodgrass found the top-corner with a wonderful free-kick in the 65^th minute.

Despite displaying great character and heart, Hull clearly lacked quality at times, and although moving off the bottom of the Premier League, remain clear favourites to be relegated this season.

Ronald Koeman’s side responded well after conceding early on and came within centimetres of pulling level when Kevin Mirallas’ shot from just inside the area was narrowly pushed away by Marshall.

The visitors started to gain a foot-hold in the game and hit the woodwork in the 24^th minute when Gareth Barry’s cross found Irish International Seamus Coleman at the back-post, but the 28-year-old’s header came back off the post before trickling out for a goal-kick.

Barry, and Everton were unlucky not to have scored a deserved equaliser in the 27^th minute, after the former Aston Villa player’s long-range effort sailed just wide of the host’s goal.

Everton struck the woodwork for the second time in the game just after the interval, after the influential Romelu Lukaku’s shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Marshall after taking a wicked deflection off Dawson.

Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a golden chance to win the game for Everton with seconds remaining after the youngster headed wide, despite no pressure from the Hull defence.

Despite conceding late on, Hull will take confidence in their performance and will hope to go one further next time when they travel to West Brom on the 2^nd of January, while Koeman welcomes former club Southampton on the same date.

Image/GettyImages/ChrisBrunskill

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