foul on Arteta and earning himself a two match suspension.

Both sides traded shots with Howard saving from John Carew, Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov while Thomas Sorensen had to be at his best to save from Leon Osman.

However thankfully for the 36,000 fans the second-half was a far more entertaining with Villa having come out in lively manner.

Howard had to pull off an outstanding save from Norwegian international Carew in the 49th minute as the lanky former Lyon striker turned aqnd shot five metres out but the American international got his right hand to the ball to push itout.

Even then Carew had the chance to score from the rebound but Alan Stubbs courageously flung himself in front of the shot and the ball was cleared.

Villa, who appeared to be energised after the half-time introduction of Czech midfielder Patrik Berger for the ineffective McCann,

breached the Everton defence again in the 50th minute as Berger floated over a delightful chip which Carew seized on only for Howard to somehow block it.

Berger was causing constant problems down the left and the outstanding Stubbs saved Everton when in the 70th minute the Czech found Carew, but the goalbound shot was somehow blocked by Stubbs.

Stubbs was at it again a minute later as again Berger's teasing cross looked certain to cause havoc but the former Bolton and Celtic centreback chested it into Howard's grateful hands.

However Villa's second-half resurgence was eventually rewarded in the 83rd minute as Agbonlahor slid the ball into the box, Howard once again bravely blocked Carew's effort but the youngster was on hand to slot home the rebound for his seventh of the season.

Aston Villa grabbed a vital point in their bid to avoid relegation here on Monday as

Gabriel Agbonlahor socred a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Everton.

Agbonlahor's strike enabled Villa to move five points clear of third from bottom Charlton Athletic -though their winless streak in the Premiership stretched to five -while Everton's hopes of putting more pressure on Arsenal for the fourth and final Champions League spot were dealt a blow with the two dropped points.

They remain in seventh, eight points off the Gunners.

Everton's Joleon Lescott scored in the 15th minute - his first for the club - heading home a Mikel Arteta freekick after the wily Spaniard had been fouled by Gavin McCann, who was later to be booked for another