Everton 2 Newcastle Utd 2:EVERTON were denied victory over Newcastle United at Goodison Park courtesy of a Demba Ba brace and, crucially, referee Mike Jones' failure to award a goal when Victor Anichebe's header crossed the line following a fine save from Steve Harper.

With Marouane Fellaini also having a goal disallowed for offside, though he was level, this was a night of torment for David Moyes. For Alan Pardew, sat in the stands, this was ample reward for a spirited fightback from a makeshift Newcastle team. Anichebe appeared to have given Everton victory in the 88th minute when he avenged Jones’ error with a fine finish into the far corner. But Ba, dropped to the bench by Pardew, scrambled home his second of the night in the final minute.

Everton got in right from the start in every respect. For the first game on Merseyside since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s findings, the teams were led onto the pitch by one mascot in royal blue with ‘9’ on the back and one in Liverpool red with ‘6’. Side by side they stood, fittingly, as the names of the 96 rolled across the giant screens.

After such a poignant beginning it was always going to be a struggle for the crowd to rouse themselves and so it proved.

Nikica Jelavic had the ball in Steve Harper’s net in the second minute, following a fine save by the visiting keeper from Marouane Fellaini’s instinctive volley, only to be adjudged offside and damage his knee in the process. The Croatian, so crucial to Everton’s prospects this season, suffered two further knocks before hobbling off late in the first half.

Steven Pienaar sliced badly wide when teed-up by Baines’ invitation from the by-line but the next combination from Everton’s left flank was far more effective. A patient approach burst into life when Baines received the ball from Fellaini, played a devastating one-two with Pienaar and, collecting the South African’s back-heeled flick on the left of the penalty area, drove hard and low under Harper. It had been coming.

Everton dominance and Newcastle passivity had vanished by the interval and the introduction of Ba for the anonymous Sylvain Marveaux gave the visitors the impetus required to turn the game in the second half.

Within four minutes he had delivered Newcastle’s 1,000th Premier League goal. Yohan Cabaye pounced on a moment of carelessness from Leon Osman and spread a fine pass for Ba, peeling away from Jagielka, to beat Howard easily with a low finish. Fellaini thought he had restored Everton’s lead from Pienaar’s diagonal pass but was ruled offside.

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Mirallas (Naismith 83), Jelavic (Anichebe 44). Subs not used: Mucha, Heitinga, Gueye, Coleman, Duffy. Booked: Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Perch, Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Cabaye (Bigirimana 90), Anita, Gutierrez, Marveaux (Ba 46), Cisse (Shola Ameobi 80), Ben Arfa. Subs not used: Elliot, Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier. Booked: Anita, Perch, Shola Ameobi.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).