[Archived] News Article -> 2011/12 Full-Time: Everton 1 Rovers 1

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Everton took the lead in controversial circumstances when Fellaini appeared to use his arm to control the ball before it fell to Cahill to smash home from only a couple of yards out. It had been Rovers who had started the better, dominating possession and Everton struggled to get out of their own half. Dann went close with a looping header from a Pedersen corner, but the best chance fell to Dunn after good work from Hoilett on the left allowed the Canadian to roll the ball into the path of Dunn inside the Everton box, but the midfielder's shot failed to seriously test Howard.

Everton pressed forward after the goal, but Rovers gradually regained the ascendancy and went very close to an equaliser when Goodwillie's shot was deflected into the path of Dunn and his sweetly timed first-time volley flew past Howard only to hit the inside of the post and roll away to safety.

Little changed after the half-time whistle and the away side continued to pour men forward and dominate possession and Rovers equalised in somewhat comical fashion when Howard failed to claim Pedersen's free-kick from just inside the Everton half and Tim Cahill smacked his goal-line clearance against Goodwillie. New loan-signing Anthony Modeste replaced the goalscorer shortly after, but despite continued pressure it was Everton that nearly snatched the three points right at the end of the match. First Paul Robinson produced a good save to push away Fellaini's header and from the ensuing corner Rovers somehow managed to get in the way of three close-range attempts and clear the ball.

The point was a good one for Rovers, although they will feel as if they easily could have won and will undoubtedly be unhappy with the decision to allow Everton's goal to stand. Results in other matches mean that Rovers stay out of the relegation zone on goal difference, but QPR's win against Wigan moves them two points ahead of Rovers and up into 16th.

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