Gabriel Agbonlahor rescued a precious point for Aston Villa and dealt a blow to Everton's European hopes with a late equaliser against David Moyes' side.

The England Under-21 international scored from close range in the 83rd minute to cancel out Joleon Lescott's first goal for the Toffees after 15 minutes.

Everton dominated the opening half but Villa were transformed after the break with John Carew twice missing good chances before Agbonlahor struck.

The visitors were the better side in all departments in the first half with Mikel Arteta impressive, although seldom has a Villa side looked so devoid of inspiration and belief.

Villa also struggled to cope with the threat of Andrew Johnson and James Vaughan but it was a different story in the second period.

Martin O'Neill's substitutes Patrik Berger and Shaun Maloney made a big difference and it was Everton who were on the back foot for long periods with captain Gareth Barry inspiring the home side's comeback.

But Everton looked set to hold on until Agbonlahor's goal pushed Villa five points ahead of third-from-bottom Charlton.

Everton, beaten only once in their last eight matches, enjoyed the majority of the early possession from the first whistle.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen comfortably dealt with a dipping volley from Leon Osman and Wilfred Bouma blocked Vaughan's drive after the ball had been turned into his path by Johnson.

Arteta was looking impressive on the left flank and he won the free-kick which led to Everton going ahead through Lescott's first goal for the club.

He was chopped down by Gavin McCann and then got up to float a teasing ball into the Villa box. It took a deflection off Gary Cahill before finding its way to Lescott and the former Wolves player made no mistake with a far-post header.

Stiliyan Petrov produced Villa's first decent attempt at goal, although Tim Howard was perfectly positioned to hold onto his 25-yard volley.

Ashley Young came with inches of forcing an equaliser against the run of play when he poked his first-time shot just wide after Carew had flicked on Bouma's free-kick.

But Everton were soon back on the offensive and Joseph Yobo headed wide after Alan Stubbs had turned a corner from Arteta back across goal.

Vaughan was only just off target with a fizzing 25-yard drive and Johnson appealed in vain for a penalty after being challenged from behind by Petrov.

It was Phil Neville's turn to be only just off target with a long range attempt as Everton continued to boss the game.

Villa were forced into a substitution after 38 minutes when Young limped off to be replaced by Maloney - his first taste of action at Villa Park since his January move from Celtic.

McCann became the first player to be booked after hauling back Arteta and his 10th yellow card of the campaign will mean a two-game ban.

Leon Osman had a shot deflected past the post in injury-time before Villa left the pitch to boos from the Holte End.

O'Neill made a tactical half-time substitution, taking off McCann and replacing him with the more attack-minded Patrik Berger.

Villa looked a transformed side as Carew took a cross from Phil Bardsley in his stride and saw Howard make a fine save to keep out his angled shot.

The Norway international was first to react to the rebound and this time Stubbs made the vital block.

Howard then denied Carew at point-blank range after Agbonlahor had headed a cross from Berger back across goal.

Carew had another opportunity from Bouma's ball into the box but he failed to make full contact with his volley.

Arteta drilled a low drive just wide as Everton appeared to have weathered the storm and Sorensen was unable to cling on to Johnson's fiercely-struck shot from 20 yards.

But with seven minutes left Agbonlahor levelled from close range after Carew's initial attempt was blocked by Howard.

Teams:

Aston Villa (0) 1 Everton (1) 1

Aston Villa Sorensen, Bardsley, Mellberg, Cahill, Bouma,Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann (Berger 46), Barry, Carew,Young (Maloney 41).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Davis, Hughes.

Booked: McCann, Mellberg, Agbonlahor.

Goals: Agbonlahor 83.

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Osman,Carsley, Neville, Arteta, Johnson, Vaughan.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Naysmith, Beattie, Nuno Valente,

Anichebe.

Booked: Vaughan, Arteta, Lescott.

Goals: Lescott 15.

Att: 36,407

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).