Everton - 1 Reading - 1:Even star quality cannot redeem occasions like this. Hollywood glamour paid a fleeting visit yesterday, Sylvester Stallone striding into the centre circle prior to kick-off with his Everton scarf in hand and the theme music to Rocky blaring over the tannoy.

However, there was to be no blockbuster to accompany the fanfare. In movie terms, this was a turkey warranting straight to video status - less Rocky and more Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Stallone's forgettable 1992 film.

The fans could at least take solace in the actor's mere presence - Stallone sitting alongside Bill Kenwright, Everton's chairman, in the directors' box - with so little entertainment to warm them on the pitch.

There was consolation to be had, too, in the parity achieved late against a fine Reading unit courtesy of Andrew Johnson's eighth goal in his last seven games against these opponents, though few departed appeased by the point.

Stallone was whisked from the arena before the final whistle, having briefly basked in the relief that the deficit had been retrieved. He left frustration at Everton's performance welling behind him.

This was a horribly disjointed display, with Everton generating momentum only in the closing stages once desperation had set in and the visitors were beginning to tire. Nine minutes remained when Joseph Yobo retrieved possession and skimmed a cross into the box which was flicked on by the substitute Victor Anichebe.

Johnson, leaping ahead of Marcus Hahnemann, guided his header into the net though his celebrations were cut short by David Moyes, his manager, tearing away from the fourth official down the touchline to ensure his players did not waste time celebrating.

In the minutes that remained Lee Carsley sent a free-kick marginally wide of the far post, but Reading survived to claim the point their display merited.

"I thought we were comfortable for so much of the game and we're disappointed to come away with only a draw," bemoaned Kevin Dillon, Reading's assistant manager, though even he admitted that Stallone's presence had made his day. "I'm not an emotional type of person - everyone knows I'm a miserable old git - but it was brilliant to meet him."

Steve Sidwell, Reading's excellent midfielder, ended his day with his iPod hooked up to the team ghetto blaster and the Rocky theme playing loudly in the away dressingroom. Stallone, a close friend of Robert Earl, an Everton shareholder, will attend the premier of the latest instalment of the boxing franchise - Rocky Balboa - in London tomorrow, though his presence here offered a rather more surreal aspect to this contest.

The 60-year-old had arrived in a four-car fleet and, surrounded by bodyguards, went walkabout on Goodison Road before the game. By the time he had battled through the autograph hunters to take his seat the game was five minutes old, though already a troubling tone had been set.

Everton spluttered while Reading found their poise.

And the visitors had an advantage before the half-hour, Phil Neville clipping Kevin Doyle as he attempted to wriggle into the box. Nicky Shorey's free-kick was nodded down by Stephen Hunt on to Tim Howard's left leg, with the loose ball ricocheting on to the back of Joleon Lescott's leg and trickling into the net.

"Rocky, what's the score?" bellowed the visiting supporters.

Guardian Service