Everton 1 Reading 1:  Andrew Johnson's late equaliser spared Everton the 'Rocky Horror Show' they had been fearing.

With Sylvester Stallone their newest fan watching from the directors' box, Everton had laboured to get back on level terms with a purposeful Reading side.

Joleon Lescott was credited with the own goal that put Reading ahead in the first half, and for a long time it looked like the Toffees were down and out.

But Johnson's ninth goal of the season with nine minutes left hauled his side off the canvas, and sent Stallone wild as he danced around next to chairman Bill Kenwright, waving his newly acquired Everton scarf around his head.

Stallone is in the UK to promote his latest film, Rocky Balboa, and for long spells his presentation to the Merseyside public before the game on the pitch was the brightest spot of the afternoon.

But Johnson rescued his side with a looping header, and kept alive Everton's hopes of European football next term.

Early on, the nearest anyone came to an early goal was when Johnson was put clear, and rounded Marcus Hahnemann but delayed his shot from a tight angle. Cahill arrived in support, and saw the American keeper save his close range shot at the second attempt from Johnson's pass.

But after this Everton flurry, Reading's work rate and effective running and tackling soon had their hosts on the back foot, and the Berkshire side were ahead on 27 minutes.

A free-kick following James McFadden's foul on Kevin Doyle was angled into the box by Nicky Shorey. Irishman Stephen Hunt got away from his marker to send in a downward header that bounced out off Tim Howard's boot before hitting Lescott and bouncing over the line for an own goal.

Near the break Reading were hit by an injury to Doyle, who looked to have damaged the hamstring in his right leg in a race for possession with Lescott. The Republic of Ireland striker was helped away in pain and replaced by Shane Long.

Everton got their equaliser on 81 minutes when Joseph Yobo's long pass forward was flicked on by Cahill for Johnson to head over Hahnemann and into the net. Goodison erupted, Stallone was leaping around in the directors' box and Everton had got themselves off the ropes.  PA