Gabby Agbonlahor grabbed a late equaliser as Aston Villa twice came from behind to secure a point against Everton at Goodison Park.

Everton took a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Leon Osman slotted home after some great build-up play, before Villa levelled against the run of play with a spectacular long-range strike from captain Stiliyan Petrov in the 63rd minute.

Leighton Baines looked to have won it for Everton when he converted a 69th-minute penalty, but Agbonlahor headed home a cross from Marc Albrighton with seven minutes remaining to maintain Villa’s unbeaten start to the season.

McLeish made one change from the side which were held to a goalless draw by Wolves as he handed a debut to Alan Hutton in place of Chris Herd, who dropped to the bench.

Jermaine Jenas was not included in the matchday squad after picking up a thigh injury in training on Friday.

Everton had a penalty appeal turned down in the opening minute when Richard Dunne went through the back of Leon Osman, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the protests.

The home side had two good chances shortly after, when Leighton Baines delivered an inswinging corner in from the right which was met by the head of Phil Jagielka, but his attempt was cleared off the line by Darren Bent.

Baines picked up the ball again and, this time, his low cross picked out Osman but the Everton midfielder saw his tame shot saved by Shay Given, after a bit of confusion between the Villa goalkeeper and defender James Collins.

Villa were dealt a blow in the 17th minute, when Emile Heskey limped out of the action clutching the back of his leg and was replaced by Barry Bannan, who had impressed on his competitive debut for Scotland during the week.

Everton continued to look the more threatening of the two sides and they took a deserved lead two minutes later with a well-crafted goal.

Seamus Coleman exchanged passes with Tony Hibbert down the right flank before playing an incisive ball into the feet of Tim Cahill, who held the off attentions of the Villa defence 12 yards from goal.

Cahill swivelled and laid the ball into the path of Osman, who calmly slotted a low finish past Given into the bottom-left corner of the net.

The visitors’ only real chance of the half came in the 32nd minute, when Charles N’Zogbia found Bannan but his shot from distance was comfortably saved by Howard.

Everton had another shout for a penalty straight after the half-time break when Bannan clipped the heels of Baines but, again, referee Oliver waved play on.

It continued to be one-way traffic in the second half and Jagielka almost doubled Everton’s advantage, heading over from close range after Fellaini had headed Stephen Warnock’s miscued clearance across the six-yard box.

Villa then grabbed a surprise equaliser in the 63rd minute against the run of play, when Warnock laid the ball into the path of Petrov who was allowed time and space to shoot.

The Bulgarian midfielder composed himself before he lashed a superb 35-yard shot which flew past the dive of Howard and nestled into the corner of the net.

Villa’s lead lasted all of six minutes, though, as Everton were finally awarded a penalty after what was arguably the weakest of their three claims, as Fabian Delph climbed on Jagielka after Cahill’s header had been saved by Given.

Baines made no mistake and sent Given the wrong way by blasting low spot-kick into the back of the net to restore Everton’s advantage.

But Villa refused to throw in the towel and Agbonlahor laid the ball out to the left into the path of substitute Marc Albrighton before darting into the box.

Albrighton crossed to the back post and Agbonlahor showed great strength to powerfully head the ball past Howard in the Everton goal.

Given then made a brilliant save from Everton substitute Apostolos Vellios, who struck a fierce volley from just inside the box which the goalkeeper tipped over the bar as Villa held on.