Everton's hopes of muscling into contention for a Champions League qualifying position look to be over after they twice let a two-goal lead slip in the 3-3 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.

The Toffees wasted little time in opening the scoring as Leighton Baines did well to work space for himself down the right, and the midfielder delivered a telling ball into the six-yard area for Marouane Fellaini to slot home from just a few feet out.

Just four minutes later and David Moyes' men were two goals up as Stephen Pienaar picked out Tim Cahill from a corner, and after heading the ball against the crossbar the midfielder made no mistake with the follow up to nod home from close-range.

But Villa were soon back within a shout as the Everton defence failed to deal with James Milner's floated cross into the box, and after bobbling round inside the area the ball fell to John Carew who drilled the ball home via a deflection off the line.

Just a few minutes into the second-half though and the visitors restored their two-goal advantage as Leon Osman allowed Phil Neville's pass to roll through to Pienaar, and the South African dropped the shoulder to lose his defender before rifling a shot into the bottom corner, leaving Brad Friedel rooted to the spot.

But just one minute later and Villa again pulled themselves back within a goal as Gareth Barry won his side a free-kick in a dangerous area, and Milner stepped up to smash home a ferocious 25-yard effort.

And the Villains finally managed to bring themselves level as referee Howard Webb adjudged Joleon Lescott's high boot to have caught Stiliyan Petrov inside the area, and captain Barry stepped up to drill home the resulting penalty.

The result sees Villa close the gap on fourth-placed Arsenal to eight points while Everton remain in sixth, a further one point back.

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.

Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Albrighton.

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo.

Subs: Nash, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Saha, Jacobsen, Rodwell, Gosling.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)