COVENTRY City earned themselves a 2-2 draw in their final friendly of the 2009/10 pre-season with Premier League outfit Everton at the Ricoh Arena.
Tim Cahill gave the visitors the lead with a rebounded effort after 15 minutes but Michael Doyle levelled proceedings with ten minutes of the first half to go with a simple tap home after good work from Clinton Morrison.
Toffees substitute Jose Baxter then appeared to have won in for Everton with five minutes to go, firing through a packed penalty area and past Keiren Westwood.
But Aron Gunnarsson rescued the game for City just three minutes later, nipping in at the near post and directing a downward header past Tim Howard from Doyle's cross.
The Sky Blues started the game in a lively fashion, Ashley Cain travelling almost the length of the pitch down the right side with Marouane Fellaini in tow after three minutes, only to slip as he tried to cut past Leighton Baines into the Evertuon penalty area.
City 'keeper Keiren Westwood was called into action three minutes later when a looped ball was met by the head of Jo who directed the ball towards goal, forcing Westwood to stretch and tip the ball around his post.
Jo tested Westwood again five minutes later, a shot from just inside the corner of the City penalty area forcing the Republic of Ireland shotstopper to get down low and block the shot for another corner.
He was finally beaten after quarter of an hour though, Jo turning Stephen Wright and cutting back for Cahill whose first shot was saved by Westwood but sent the rebound into the roof of the Coventry net.
New City signing Sammy Clingan made a clear case to be set-piece taker on 26 minutes in his first run out at the Ricoh Arena with two quick-fire corners which were both whipped into the six-yard box.
Leon Osman got Westwood working again at the other end just after the half hour with a long range effort which just curled around the far post.
But the Sky Blues were level four minutes later when Morrison received a ball at the side of the six-yard box with his back top goal but turning Joseph Yobo and cutting back for the waiting Doyle who tapped home from the edge of the six-yard area.
City started the second half much like the first when an enthusiastic Best chased down half-time substitute 'keeper Howard, getting to the ball a whisker later than Howard.
Lively Jo fired across the face of goal at the other end five minutes later, just before the introduction of Sky Blues trialist Peter Gilbert for testimonial subject Marcus Hall.
Westwood was then called upon just after the hour mark to make a great save and tip Fellaini's shot from the edge of the area over the bar.
Howard had more clearance troubles five minutes later, this time Gunnarsson doing the chasing and getting a foot to the ball to send it wayward and out for an Everton throw.
Doyle almost had a second goal on 70 minutes when Gunnarsson's deep cross found him at the back post to volley straight at Howard who held onto the ball.
But it was Everton who got their noses infront for a second time with five minutes to go when Baxter took a ball just inside the Coventry area and shot low through traffic and past Westwood.
Disappointment from Sky Blues fans quickly turned to joy three minutes later though when Doyle got to the byline and put in a cross for Gunnarsson who directed a downward header at the near post which took a flick off Yobo and deceived Howard, sneaking just inside the woodwork.
Teams
Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), Hall (Gilbert 50), Clingan, Cain (Eastwood 67), Doyle, Best, Morrison (Jeffers 87), Osbourne (Clarke 80), Gunnarsson, Turner
Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Grandison, Walker
Everton: Nash (Howard 45), Hibbert (Baxter 72), Baines, Yobo, Jo, Vaughan (Aggard 77), Cahill (Wallace 72), Neville (c), Osman, Fellaini, Rodwell
Subs: Duffy, Forshaw, Jukiewicz
