Priceless points for Everton

FOURTH-PLACED Everton re-established their seven-point lead over neighbours Liverpool with a narrow victory over Norwich at Goodison Park last night.

The visitors had battled bravely throughout and could have been ahead had Dean Ashton and Darren Huckerby not wasted glorious second-half chances.

But in the end it was the influence of Duncan Ferguson, on as a late substitute, who caused the chaos which saw Everton grab a priceless victory.

Ferguson and Gary Doherty both hurled themselves at the ball after 77 minutes in the six-yard box and it ended up in the net. Ferguson claimed the goal and it would take a brave man to take it away from him.

Norwich's industry and defensive determination kept Everton at arm's length early on, but the home side did threaten when Kevin Kilbane stabbed the ball wide.

Norwich went close when Martyn had to throw himself at Ashton's feet, with the rebound blazed over the bar by Jonson.

Darren Huckerby's pace worried Stubbs on a couple of occasions before McFadden's cross from the right just eluded Beattie.

Kilbane was the next to throw himself at a Hibbert cross and failed to connect by inches.

At the other end, Jim Brennan was far too slow to react with the goal at his mercy from Huckerby's mishit ball across goal.

Everton started to play with more urgency after the break and Kilbane's low drive drew a low save from Green at the foot of the post.

Beattie burst into life in the 54th minutes when he cut across the face of the box to send a dipping drive inches over.

Three minutes later Cahill got to the line on the left and fired in a near-post cross which Beattie met on the run and flicked just wide.

Norwich responded with a Huckerby drive into the side-netting and then an ambitious angled hook forced Martyn to hold on at his near post.

Everton sent on Ferguson in the 63rd minute and within minutes Doherty fouled the big Scot on the edge of the box. Carsley's 67th-minute curling free-kick was superbly saved by Green.

At the other end Ashton's free header from Huckerby's cross was straight at Martyn, and with their next attack Huckerby should have scored from 10 yards but Martyn made another save.

The home side took the lead on 79 minutes. McFadden's cross was met by a powerful close-range header by Bent and Green made a fine save. But the ball dropped into the six-yard box where Ferguson's outstretched boot and desperate Doherty's lunge sent the ball spinning into the net.

In a frantic finish, a Damien Francis shot appeared to hit an Everton hand in the box, but furious appeals were waved away.

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir (Ferguson 64), Pistone, Yobo, McFadden (Naysmith 87), Carsley, Cahill, Kilbane, Beattie (Bent 76).

NORWICH: Green, Edworthy, Doherty, Fleming, Drury (Stuart 45), Jonson (McKenzie 81), Holt, Francis, Brennan, Huckerby, Ashton.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).