Everton FC saw their hopes of a much-needed home win over rock-bottom Leicester City vanish in the space of 10 calamitous second-half minutes at Goodison Park.
Roberto Martinez’s side were held to a 2-2 draw by the defiant Foxes and remain in 12th place, only six points above the Premier League’s bottom three.
It was another deeply frustrating Europa League hangover in the end, and could have been worse as the visitors looked to exploit the space left by the Blues as they desperately pushed for a winner.
Everton crafted the better chances during a laboured opening period, largely thanks to Ross Barkley’s clever through balls and the outlet offered by Aaron Lennon’s pace.
But when they did Romelu Lukaku, severely isolated in attack for the half, couldn’t find a way past veteran Mark Schwarzer in the Leicester goal.
It began to have the hallmarks of a typical post Europa League hangover when the contest was stilkl deadlocked at the break.
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For all their general possession the Toffees were finding Leicester, who so often seem in a false position at the bottom of the table, an altogether more durable unit than the accommodating Young Boys.
That didn’t stop Everton eventually edging into the lead. Steven Naismith’s scuffed shot wrong-footed Wes Morgan and trickled past Schwarzer on the hour, but nobody in Goodison cared.
That should have been the catalyst for the hosts to seal their dominance.
But Nigel Pearson quickly reshuffled his pack and it yielded swift rewards. First boyhood Blue David Nugent took advantage of a Tim Howard error to tap home from a few yards.
Then his fellow substitute Jamie Vardy was quick to react to another Howard fumble, as the American could only meekly swat a cross away. Vardy steered the ball back across goal and Esteban Cambiasso swept it home. Goodison groaned as one.
The Toffees were still finding some attacking momentum thanks to Darron Gibson’s impressive array of passing. The Irish midfielder had been asked to come on and do his best impression of the suspended Gareth Barry, and he did that and more.
It began to look like it wouldn’t be enough.
Romelu Lukaku missed a sitter to get back on level terms; then hopelessly miscued his attempted control when played through again.
To complete an inglorious hat-trick of howlers, so different from in Berne, he stabbed wide at the back post as Baines’ deflected shot flashed by him.
The Belgian kept taking up dangerous positions though and when Christian Atsu crossed from the byline his attempted diving header was enough to make Matthew Upson glance the ball into hi 3s own net.
But could they turn an underwhelming draw into a much needed win?
The answer was a grim no. In fact the Blues had to survive another last-gasp scare when Howard flapped at another cross seconds before the whistle.
With Arsenal away in a week’s time and then the visit of Stoke City, things could well get worse on the domestic front before they get better.
EVERTON: Howard, Baines, Jagielka (Capt), Stones, Coleman, McCarthy, Besic (Atsu, 55), Naismith, Lennon, Barkley (Gibson, 55), Lukaku.
Subs not used: Robles, Kone, Mirallas, Garbutt, Alcaraz.
Bookings: None
Goals: Naismith (58) Upson OG (87)
LEICESTER CITY: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Morgan (Capt), Upson, James, Huth, Schlupp (Vardy, 61), Simpson, Cambiasso, Mahrez (Nugent, 61), Kramaric.
Subs not used: Hamer, Drinkwater, King, Ulloa, Wasilewski.
Bookings: Morgan
Goals: Nugent (61) Cambiasso (70)
Referee: Philip Dowd.
Attendance: 38,904
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