David Moyes hails last-gasp Jermaine Beckford goal

11 April 2012

Jermaine Beckford broke his Barclays Premier League duck in dramatic fashion by snatching a last-gasp point for 10-man Everton against Bolton last night.

The former Leeds striker curled a shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen deep into stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park - just as Everton's night seemed set to end in misery.

The Merseysiders were made to pay for squandering a number of chances as Bolton substitute Ivan Klasnic turned the ball in 11 minutes from time and their woes increased as Marouane Fellaini was sent off.

The Belgium international, returning after four games out, was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Paul Robinson in frustration after a tackle.

But Beckford, an 81st-minute substitute, had the final say as he struck for the first time in the league since his summer move from Yorkshire after Leighton Baines had forced Lee Chung-yong into a mistake.

Manager David Moyes has long said the 26-year-old would need time to adjust after stepping up from League One but the Scot admitted he threw him into the fray too soon earlier in the season.

Moyes said: "It was a fantastic finish, it really was. We needed something - it was probably the last 10 or 15 seconds of the game.

"I think that is what Jermaine has got but there is a lot he will have to learn in being a Premier League player.

"I put him in a bit earlier than I should have done. My idea was always to bring him off the bench in games where we needed a goal.

"I shouldn't have started him so early - that was a mistake of mine.

"But it was a good goal. The one thing we can't teach him is the one thing he came with - the ability to score goals."

Moyes had much stronger words for Fellaini, who reacted petulantly after being brought down by Robinson.

He said: "It was correct. I've no complaints. It was retaliation. He shouldn't do it. He was stupid."

Louis Saha, making his first start since August, added vibrancy to the Everton attack but was unable to make the most of several opportunities.

Yet after falling behind, Everton could at least be satisfied to have extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

"If we hadn't have got a point, we'd have come away saying it wasn't right," Moyes said.

Everton's late equaliser denied Bolton fifth place in the table but manager Owen Coyle looked on the result positively.

"If someone had offered me four points from two games against Tottenham Hotspur and Everton I would obviously have taken them with both hands," said Coyle, whose side also hit the bar through Matt Taylor.

"I am disappointed because we were in a great position to win the game - but that is the only disappointment.

"I felt my group of players were terrific. Every one of them had to stand up to be counted."

Coyle also refused to heap blame on Lee for not clearing before Baines won possession.

"He has made a mistake in the 94th minute but he is a young player and he will learn from that and get better," said the Trotters boss.

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