Villa 2 Everton 2

An injury-time own goal from Everton's Phil Jagielka rescued a point for Villa – but their Champions League dream still looks over for another season.

Tim Cahill had twice given the Toffees the lead only for them to be twice pegged back, first by Gabby Agbonlahor and then Jagielka in what was a pulsating encounter at Villa Park.

The result leaves the seventh-placed claret and blues still seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with just five games to go.

Martin O'Neill had admitted in the pre-match build up that only a victory would keep his team's top-four challenge alive, so a draw completed a disappointing few days following Saturday's FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea.

O'Neill kept faith with the same starting line-up who started against the Blues and they repaid him with a positive and purposeful opening.

It took a fine save from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard to turn James Milner's low effort from close range.

But it was the visitors who took the lead in controversial circumstances when Cahill headed home Leighton Baines' free-kick, which had been awarded for what looked an innocuous challenge from Stephen Warnock on Leon Osman.

Villa kept pressing and Carew hit a fine opportunity into the side-netting, while it took a fine save from Howard to deny Carlos Cuellar.

The claret and blue goal eventually arrived when Agbonlahor expertly headed home a wonderful swirling Milner cross.

But it took just two minutes for the visitors to regain the advantage, when Cahill was in the right place at the right time to head in another corner.

It looked like curtains for Villa but five minutes of added time gave hope and just one minute in the equaliser arrived when Howard fumbled Jagielka's header for the ball crept over the line.

A furious final few minutes ensued as the home side went in search of the winner they so desperately needed – but it was Everton who almost snatched it when the unmarked Phil Neville pulled wide at the back post.