Cahill gave Everton the lead in controversial circumstances before David Goodwillie bundled home an unusual equaliser in the second half to salvage a point in the 1-1 draw for Blackburn.

The home side had a good chance to take an early lead as Phil Neville, on his 35th birthday, sent Landon Donovan away down the right flank and the American crossed for Victor Anichebe, but the burly striker could only scuff an effort wide.

Rovers looked to impose themselves on the game with Junior Hoilett impressing as he skinned Fellaini down the left and cut the ball into the box where David Dunn was waiting, but he was denied by a great save from Tim Howard.

Dunn again forced a save out of the American, after a lovely touch from Morten Gamst Pedersen, and from the resulting corner Pedersen's deep ball found Scott Dann, whose looping header beat Howard but was headed onto the bar by Leighton Baines and cleared.

Everton eventually went ahead on 25 minutes after Rovers failed to clear a corner and the ball was worked back to Landon Donovan.

The American's chipped ball was headed goalwards by Fellaini and after Robinson's save the Belgian blatantly handled the ball into Cahill's path and the Australian slammed home his first goal since a strike against Manchester City in December 2010.

Both sides continued to work hard in the driving rain at Goodison Park but lacked the cutting edge to create clear-cut chances and went in for the half with Everton in a controversial lead.

A scrappy start to the second half saw both teams struggle to create many chances, Cahill's high and wide 25-yard effort summing up both side's play.

Blackburn's weight of possession paid dividends on 72 minutes when David Goodwillie bundled home an equaliser.

A free-kick was drifted into the box and missed by Howard, and although Cahill was well placed on the line, he could only hit his clearance straight at Goodwillie, who deflected the ball home for a bizarre equaliser.