Tim Cahill stepped off the bench and rescued a point for Everton with a dramatic late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park. The Australian reacted quickly with seven minutes remaining to score from close range after a wayward clearance by Blackburn's Zurab Khizanishvili. Blackburn were stunned as they had looked in control until then and had taken the lead in the 50th minute through Benni McCarthy on his home debut.

New recruit Andre Ooijer watched the game from the stand and saw Blackburn fail to build on the amount of possession they had. Ooijer, 32, was given a warm welcome when he was introduced to the crowd before kick-off. The Dutch international's arrival from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of about #2.1million is another indication of the healthy competition there is for places at Blackburn.

The home side almost took the lead in the second minute following a quick break. Jason Roberts advanced on goal but Tim Howard reacted quickly to clear the ball to safety. Everton responded in the seventh minute when James Beattie laid the ball off to Kevin Kilbane but his effort was way off target.

Play switched back down the other end and David Bentley whipped in a cross that was turned away by veteran central defender Alan Stubbs.

Blackburn were beginning to dictate the pace of the game and twice in quick succession McCarthy and Roberts squandered good chances.

Then Bentley cracked in a shot from the edge of the area but Joseph Yobo made the block.

Blackburn looked threatening going forward and McCarthy rattled in a shot from 25 yards in the 26th minute which Howard did well to get his body behind.

Johnson had marked his debut for Everton at the weekend by finding the target and he was again looking lively.

He picked out Beattie with a chip from the right but his strike partner could not get enough power on his effort.

There was another moment of danger for Everton in the 35th minute when Bentley released McCarthy, only for Yobo to make a timely interception.

Yobo was holding firm at the back while Kilbane continued to try to drive forward.

Blackburn began the second half brightly and Bentley whipped in a shot from 25 yards but Howard saved comfortably.

Everton boss Moyes was forced to make a change in the 49th minute when Stubbs limped off and was replaced by Joleon Lescott.

The former Wolves star was still getting his bearings when Blackburn made the breakthrough a minute later.

It was a sweet finish by the #2.5million South African McCarthy after a shot from the impressive Bentley came back off Yobo.

Everton hit back but Leon Osman saw his effort find the wrong side of the post in the 57th minute.

Moyes made a double substitution in the 64th minute, bringing on Cahill and James McFadden for Kilbane and Beattie.

Johnson should have pulled Everton level in the 73rd minute but the #8.6million striker's effort was parried by the alert Friedel.

He was then muscled out of it in the penalty area by Andy Todd in the 82nd minute and referee Uriah Rennie incensed the travelling fans by refusing to award a spot-kick.

Everton secured a point a minute later when substitute Cahill scored from close range after a wayward clearance from Khizanishvili came back off the post.

The result was another sign that Moyes has put together a side with a hard edge to it.