Harewood denied as Toffees earn point

06 November 2010 17:09
Marlon Harewood was denied a late winner as Blackpool fought out a 2-2 Premier League draw with Everton at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.[LNB] The Seasiders substitute put the ball in the net in the closing minutes at Bloomfield Road but was frustrated by a controversial offside flag.[LNB]Blackpool twice led an end-to-end encounter after goals from Wales pair Neal Eardley and David Vaughan but Everton hit back through Tim Cahill and former Blackpool loanee Seamus Coleman.[LNB]Everton created the better chances throughout but Blackpool may feel they could have prevented either of their goals and will bemoan the late offside decision.[LNB]The tone for an entertaining contest, the first meeting between the sides in the league since 1971, was set in the opening minutes.[LNB]Everton, confidence restored after five games unbeaten, made the initial running.[LNB]Ayegbeni Yakubu threatened to play in Mikel Arteta but the Spaniard failed to control and Cahill found space only to shoot well over.[LNB]Blackpool showed their attacking intentions for the first time when Vaughan whipped in a dangerous cross which Sylvain Distin headed clear.[LNB]The Seasiders went in front with 10 minutes gone after Charlie Adam was crudely brought down by Arteta 30 yards out.[LNB]Eardley stepped up and bent a superb free-kick around the Everton wall and past Tim Howard.[LNB]It was the perfect way to celebrate his 22nd birthday today but Everton produced the perfect response and equalised just three minutes later.[LNB]Distin led the charge, playing a one-two with Steven Pienaar and playing in Yakubu.[LNB]The Nigerian, buoyed after last week's winner against Stoke, turned and picked out Cahill on the six-yard box with a delicate cross. Matt Gilks got a hand to the Australian's powerful header but could not keep out his 50th Premier League goal.[LNB]Everton began to assert some control and Yakubu teed up Arteta, but Gilks this time gathered after the Spaniard shot from the edge of the area.[LNB]Pienaar then set Yakubu free but Eardley got back to make the tackle.[LNB]The danger was not yet over for the home side but Distin headed over from the resulting Leighton Baines corner.[LNB]Blackpool remained on the back foot and Ian Evatt slid in to block when another chance opened up in the box for Cahill.[LNB]Baines went down in the box under an Adam tackle on another attack but referee Andre Marriner deemed the challenge legal.[LNB]Everton skipper Phil Neville then worried the Tangerines with a run to the byline and his deflected cross fell nicely for Coleman but Gilks saved his well-struck volley.[LNB]Coleman, who impressed in a short spell at Bloomfield Road last season, then looked certain to score after weaving his way through the home defence but his shot curved just wide of the far post.[LNB]Blackpool made Everton pay for that profligacy by reclaiming the lead after a goalmouth scramble three minutes into the second half.[LNB]Everton appealed for handball against DJ Campbell as the striker shielded the ball from Distin.[LNB]Nothing was given and the ball was worked out for Vaughan to shoot from the edge of the area.[LNB]The midfielder slammed his first effort into the body of a defender but reacted quickly - while some of his team-mates claimed handball - to fire home at the second attempt.[LNB]But again, Blackpool could not hold their lead for long.[LNB]Coleman pounced on a poor header by Stephen Crainey barely two minutes later and raced into the area to unleash a fierce shot which squeezed under the body of Gilks.[LNB]Both sides continued to attack with Adam shooting wide after a menacing run by Campbell and Pienaar having a shot blocked by Eardley.[LNB]John Heitinga then picked out Gilks with a volley from the edge of the box and the goalkeeper did even better to deny Pienaar at point-blank range after a neat interchange with Cahill.[LNB]Substitute Louis Saha had a great chance midway through the second half after racing onto a fine ball from Pienaar.[LNB]The France striker took a touch on the edge of the area and admirably chose not to go down as Evatt grabbed his arm but he screwed his shot wide.[LNB]Everton threw on another striker in Jermaine Beckford and the former Leeds man twice had close-range efforts blocked within moments of leaving the bench.[LNB]Blackpool then finished the stronger with Adam forcing a fine save from Howard with a powerful drive.[LNB]Harewood then thought he had snatched victory in the last minute but the flag was raised.

Source: Team_Talk