Damien Duff scored the equaliser to help Newcastle avoid their fifth consecutive defeat when they drew 2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The Toffees took the lead after 17 minutes when Nicky Butt was penalised for a sliding tackle on Leighton Baines in the box. Referee Howard Webb did not hesitate awarding a penalty and Mikel Arteta calmly slotted it home.

New signing Marouane Fellaini scored his first goal for the Toffees when he clipped a cross from Baines, who attacked down the left flank, past Shay Given at the near post doubling the hosts' lead in the 35th minute.

Steven Taylor pulled one back for the Magpies when he headed home a Geremi cross just before half-time. Geremi attacked down the right and Taylor's header hit the underside of the crossbar on its way in.

Joe Kinnear's half-time talk seemed to work wonders as Duff scored the equaliser just two minutes after the break. Taylor beat the offside trap and crossed into the path Duff who tapped it home from eight yards out.

Both teams battled hard for the rest of the second-half with the game more evenly contested, but neither team could break down each other's defence as the match ended 2-2.

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar, Saha, Yakubu

Subs: Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Rodwell, Anichebe

NEWCASTLE: Given, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Owen, Duff

Subs: Harper, Bassong, Xisco, Ameobi, Edgar, Doninger, Donaldson