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England - Marouane Fellaini rescued Everton as the Belgian midfielder's late equaliser snatched a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday.
David Moyes' team trailed to Darren Bent's early goal at the Stadium of Light, but Fellaini levelled with five minutes left to hand the Toffees their fourth successive Premier League draw.
Everton remain only two points above the relegation zone, but Moyes can take heart from the way his players battled to the end.
Sunderland stay marooned in mid-table after failing to win for the sixth successive match.
Steve Bruce's side started brightly and could have been ahead with six minutes gone when Bent met Andy Reid's free-kick with a firm header but guided the ball wide of the target.
Moyes' side responded and, whem John Mensah blocked Louis Saha's run, the ball fell to Leon Osman, whose side-footed effort from 20 yards clipped the outside of a post.
Just as Everton were beginning to take control Kenwyne Jones combined with strike-partner Bent to put Sunderland ahead in the 17th minute.
Jones's cross from the right was perfectly weighted for England striker Bent to direct a downward header past Tim Howard for his 11th goal of the season.
Bent might have doubled his tally four minutes later when Jordan Henderson pulled the ball back to him at the near post but his strike was blocked by John Heitinga.
South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar's shot was deflected just over the bar off Paulo Da Silva as Everton looked for an equaliser.
It took a smart piece of defending from Everton's Lucas Neill to deny Reid a goal before the break as the Australian dropped back to head his curling effort off the line.
Fellaini appealed in vain for a penalty after Mensah's clumsy challenge for a high ball and the visitors were almost able to turn their pressure into a goal moments later.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov flicked on a Leighton Baines corner and Saha volleyed inches wide from the edge of the penalty area.
But Sunderland's Da Silva was even closer as he met Reid's free-kick with a firm header which Howard turned over the bar.
It was Everton who finished stronger though. Pienaar went agonisingly close to equalising with a powerful long-range shot which skimmed just wide.
The pressure on Sunderland's defence was beginning to mount and Fellaini had an 82nd-minute effort blocked at point-blank range.
Moyes' men finally levelled in the 85th minute when Tony Hibbert crossed from the right and Fellaini controlled before lashing home.
