Tim Howard repaid the faith of Everton manager Roberto Martinez to deliver a damaging blow to Manchester City’s title challenge.
Under fire from his own fans, the American keeper’s place was under threat with Joel Robles in goal for the recent League Cup and FA Cup wins over City and Dagenham and Redbridge. But Martinez backed Howard and the defiant 36-year-old kept his cool, making several fine saves to blank City in a league game at the Etihad for the first time in a year.
The second-half dominance of Manuel Pellegrini’s men was a far cry to a feeble opening, where it was the visitors who were far more fluent and forceful.
Yaya Toure’s downward header from Bacary Sagna’s whipped cross was pushed away well by Howard in the corner, but the sight of Romelu Lukaku at his rampaging best caused more anxiety at the other end. He was monstrous, leading the line with power and pace and creating opportunities.
A low ball across the box found its way to Gerard Deulofeu and Joe Hart spread himself well to make a vital block. Everton’s Spanish winger then left Martin Demichelis embarrassed and exposed with a blistering burst, but a cross intended for Lukaku was cut out crucially by Nicolas Otamendi.
And Hart was relieved when Lukaku cleverly chipped across for Leon Osman, but his sweetly-struck left-foot volley whistled inches wide.
City needed to improve and so they did with far more questions asked of Howard and his backline. Raheem Sterling, though, lacked awareness and composure with two openings within 10 minutes of the restart.
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How Sergio Aguero would have loved to have been in those positions. With Muhamed Besic tracking back well to aid his defenders, the Argentine was clearly singled out as the danger man. But Aguero finally got a sniff on the hour with a stinging volley straight at Howard.
City had control and Sterling followed that with a mazy dribble and low shot blocked by the legs of the Everton keeper. Howard was there again in the 68th minute to thwart Aguero, and the striker was frustrated when he wriggled through skilfully but lifted his finish over.
And, as City slipped three points behind leaders Arsenal and Leicester, there was little consolation in the fact they had avoided matching a 15-year record of conceding a goal in nine consecutive top-flight home matches.
