Two goals in a frantic last 12 minutes and a stoppage-time penalty save by Tim Howard gave Everton a barely deserved but desperately needed 2-2 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

Spurs were cruising after goals by Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson, but Everton hit back through Louis Saha and Tim Cahill before Defoe's penalty was saved by Howard's legs.

The result meant that Spurs remain fourth in the standings.

Chelsea, beaten 2-1 by Man. City, still lead the way on 36 points, two ahead of Man. United.

Spurs were much the better team from the off at Goodison Park but had to wait until the second minute of the second half to find the breakthrough when Defoe turned in a low Aaron Lennon cross.

They doubled the lead on the hour with a diving header by centre-back Dawson from a corner.

Injury-hit Everton were without any recognised central defenders after an early injury to Joseph Yobo and Tottenham striker Peter Crouch twice went close to further goals.

Everton had barely threatened but good work by young substitute fullback Seamus Coleman set up fellow sub Saha to pull one back 12 minutes from time and Cahill sent the home fans wild when he stabbed in an 86th-minute equaliser.

Wilson Palacios was then brought down by Tony Hibbert only for Howard to block Defoe's weak spot kick to put the brakes on Everton's slide towards the relegation zone.

In the other game Fulham beat Sunderland 1-0 with an early goal by Bobby Zamora.