Fellaini checks United's momentum

Marouane Fellaini headed a second-half equaliser to earn Everton FC a 1-1 draw against Manchester United FC and dent the Premier League champions' hopes of closing the gap on pacesetters Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC, while Sunderland AFC and Hull City AFC both won.

Fellaini response
Belgian international midfielder Fellaini rose highest to head in a cross from former United player Phil Neville after 63 minutes at Goodison Park, cancelling out Darren Fletcher's first-half opener for Sir Alex Ferguson's team. Fletcher struck his third league goal of the season midway through the first half when he took a touch from Ryan Giggs' pass to move the ball away from Joleon Lescott and then slotted through the legs of another former United player, goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Goodison drought
The result leaves United five points adrift of the summit in fifth, a gap which could grow to eight should either Chelsea or Liverpool win tomorrow afternoon's fixture at Stamford Bridge. Everton – whose last league victory was on 14 September – have yet to win at home in the league this term.

Heady Hull
Elsewhere, Hull's remarkable season continued with a fourth successive Premier League win, 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion FC. All the goals came after the break at the Hawthorns as Kamil Zayatte (47), Geovanni (62) and Marlon King (66) found the target to move the Humberside club into third place, level on points with the top two having played a game more.

Derby delight
Kieran Richardson's sumptuous 75th-minute free-kick proved decisive as Sunderland defeated north-east rivals Newcastle United FC 2-1 in the 140th Wear-Tyne derby. Hosts Sunderland – who had not beaten their neighbours on Wearside since 1980 – had opened the scoring when Djibril Cissé diverted Steed Malbranque's cross-shot past Shay Given from close range after 20 minutes, before Shola Ameobi equalised just ten minutes later with a far-post header. In the late game, Blackburn Rovers FC's Benni McCarthy headed an added-time equaliser to rescue a point against a Middlesbrough FC side who went ahead 16 minutes from time through Afonso Alves.