Yakubu nets as Everton reserves draw with West Bromwich Albion

Aug 17 2011 by Neil Jones, Liverpool Echo

YAKUBU was on target as Everton’s reserves fought from two goals down to draw with West Bromwich Albion in their Barclays Premier Reserve League opener.

The Nigerian, along with fellow Goodison outcast Joseph Yobo, was given a 90-minute run-out by Alan Stubbs in a behind closed doors encounter at the Baggies’ training ground.

The Blues’ second string started brightly, with Jay Wallace and Conor McAleny forcing early saves from Albion keeper Marton Fulop.

But they fell behind on 38 minutes as James Hurst volleyed past Adam Davies from 12 yards.

Yobo tested Fulop with a free-kick soon after, while Yakubu and Femi Orenuga went close.

They were fortunate to survive at the other end, though, when Hurst’s fierce strike thundered against the crossbar.

And when the goalscorer’s fellow England Under-20 international Saido Berahino doubled Albion’s lead with a tap-in, after Davies had saved from Sam Mantom on 68 minutes, the game looked all but up.

But Everton rallied, and halved the deficit within five minutes, as McAleny smartly headed home Jake Bidwell’s left-wing cross at the far post.

And just two minutes later Yakubu slotted home neatly after fine work from Femi Orenuga to earn Stubbs’ side a deserved point.

EVERTON: Davies; Browning, Yobo, Mustafi, Bidwell; Orenuga, Wallace, Baxter, Forshaw; McAleny, Yakubu. Subs: Duffy, Roberts, Nsiala.