Stoke 1 Everton 1: Baines rescues Toffees with late penalty after Pennant fouls it all up for Hughes's hosts

Published: 11:53 EST, 1 January 2014 | Updated: 04:27 EST, 2 January 2014

By the time one winger with strong Liverpool connections had undone the good work of another, Everton more than deserved the point they took away a wet and windy Britannia Stadium.

Just when it looked as though a goal from Oussama Assaidi - sent out on loan to Stoke from Anfield this season - would condemn Roberto Martinez's side to only their third Barclays Premier League defeat of the season, former Liverpool man Jermaine Pennant's ill-judged challenge on substitute Leon Osman allowed Leighton Baines to convert an injury-time penalty.

Osman knows how Pennant will be feeling. It was his back-pass that gifted Sunderland a decisive spot-kick in Everton's surprise defeat at Goodison Park on Boxing Day which also led to the sending off of goalkeeper Tim Howard and Osman's immediate substitution.

VIDEO: Scroll down to hear post-match reactions of Mark Hughes and Roberto Martinez

From the spot: Everton's Leighton Baines slots home a late penalty - his third goal of the season - to draw the Toffees level against Stoke

Rescue: Baines and Seamus Coleman (left) acknowledge the travelling Everton faithful after equalising

With Stoke's resistance holding strong yesterday and the game into the first of five minutes of added time, Osman drew Pennant into one challenge in the box before a second sent him tumbling over.

There was little doubt about the decision by referee Andre Marriner or the outcome once Baines stepped up to face Stoke's third-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland, called on to make his Premier League debut as a half-time replacement for Thomas Sorensen 17 months after earning his only cap for England.

'We weren't at our best by any stretch of the imagination but what we showed was an incredible reaction,' said Martinez, who nevertheless saw his side nudged out of the top-four by Liverpool's win over Hull.

'I'm delighted for Leon and I'm pleased he showed those magic feet in the box at the right time. We need to remember that football is a game of risks and you're going to make mistakes, it's how you react towards that. The way he's coped with what happened in the Christmas period is magnificent.

'The penalty was our a good reward but even that left us with a feeling that we've dropped two points.'

Everton could have been in control of this game before half-time after Kevin Mirallas twice shook the Stoke woodwork, first after stepping inside Geoff Cameron to beat Sorensen with a right-foot shot that rattled the bar and then with a free-kick from the edge of the box that came back off the post.

Lead: Seamus Coleman is powerless from preventing wideman Oussama Assaidi from putting Stoke ahead

All smiles: Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool, celebrates putting Stoke into the lead against Everton

Team effort: Assaidi is congratulated by Jonathan Walters (right) and the rest of his Stoke team-mates

Oussama Assaidi fired Stoke into the lead - click here to see our brilliant Match Zone service

 

NEW YEAR'S WISHES

Stoke: The Potters need to take some of their home form with them away from the Britannia if they are to avoid being dragged into trouble.

Everton: Need to replicate their performance in the first half of the season. It would be a shame if they ended up with nothing to show for it now.

Having seen one goalbound effort headed away by Antolin Alcaraz in the first half, the impressive Assaidi opened the scoring five minutes after the restart.

Baines failed to close down Glenn Whelan as he swung over a cross from the right, teenager John Stones headed straight to the feet of Assaidi, and the Moroccan took one touch before lashing the ball low inside Howard's right-hand post. It was his fourth goal for Stoke, including a spectacular winner against Chelsea here last month.

This one was not enough to earn all three points, however. Unbeaten at the Britannia in the league for three months, Stoke were typically dogged in the defence of their lead and you almost lost count of the times Erik Pieters, in particular, blocked Everton's efforts on goal.

Looking up: Everton go into 2014 full of hope and expectation

Effort: Stoke midfielder Steven N'Zonzi firs an effort towards goal as Leighton Baines attempts to block it

Battle: Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam gets the better of young Everton defender John Stones

Stretching: Leighton Baines dispossesses Stoke's American defender Geoff Cameron

 

SPORTSMAIL'S SUPER STAT

Everton's defenders have scored 10 goals this season, six more than Stoke's strikers.

But the substitutions in the 72nd minute that saw Osman replace James McCarthy and Jon Walters make way for Pennant proved crucial in providing that final twist.

'Jermaine's an attack-minded player, it's not one of his strengths trying to stop opposing attackers,' said Stoke boss Mark Hughes. 'He's there to try and make a nuisance of himself but he made a mistake which is unfortunate for him.

'In those situations you want full backs and defensive-minded players to be in those positions. He miscalculated and it was a stonewall penalty unfortunately.'

Mid-table: But Stoke are looking over their shoulder

So close: Everton frontman Kevin Mirallas struck the post after bending his free-kick over the Stoke wall

Bombing forward: Ross Barkley holds off the challenge from Stoke's Dutch defender Erik Pieters

Flaring up: Smoke from a flare envelopes the pitch shortly after Everton's late equaliser