Cahill sends City crashing at the death

Tim Cahill underlined the problems facing Mark Hughes and Manchester City with a dramatic injury-time winner in Everton's 1-0 victory at Eastlands on Saturday.

Everton's long list of injured forwards meant they went into the game without a recognised striker and with Australia midfielder Cahill employed as a solo attacker.

Yet Cahill was able to rise above Micah Richards to head home Leon Osman's 91st minute corner from six yards, a stunning reverse for City who have now lost five home league games this season and scored just once in their last four games.

To add insult to injury, the corner only came about because of a wayward back pass from Richard Dunne which keeper Joe Hart was unable to keep in play.

With City manager Hughes apparently cash-rich ahead of next month's window – a luxury not shared by Everton's David Moyes – a proven goalscorer is surely his foremost target.

Everton could have taken an early lead when Mikel Arteta's superb free-kick, from just outside the area beat both the City wall and the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar with Marouane Fellaini reacting first with a follow-up header which, also, clipped the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

They were the first of many chances at both ends of the field. Moments later, Robinho and Benjani Mwaruwari combined in one of several flowing City moves with the Brazilian eventually forcing Tim Howard into a fine reflex block.

Everton's inventive set-plays were proving problematic for City and Fellaini should have done better when Arteta's corner found him only for the midfielder to head meekly wide.

As the game flowed end to end, it was soon City's turn to respond as a slip from Fellaini allowed Vincent Kompany to free Elano for an impressive shot which Howard kept out with an even more impressive piece of goalkeeping.

In the 28th minute, it was Hart's turn to enjoy his finest moment of the game, as the youngster somehow twisted to keep out an 18-yard blast from Arteta that was so wickedly struck that it knocked the keeper off balance.

A shot from Shaun Wrigt-Phillips was possibly even more impressive as he took Robinho's pass in his stride and clipped the bar.

Yet the half ended with Everton in the ascendancy. Osman's cross was met by Fellaini who managed to get off a shot from six yards which Hart saved superbly.

The corner conceded, however, almost presented Everton with the lead as Joleon Lescott flicked Osman's flag kick over the bar at the near post.

Cahill headed wide, from Phil Jagielka's free-kick, early in the second half before the visitors came within inches of the lead following Phil Neville's 57th minute cross.

The ball eluded Fellaini at the near post but, with Cahill poised to covert at the far, Pablo Zabaleta made the most timely interception with the touch that took the ball away from the lone Everton striker.

In keeping with the rest of the game, there would soon be similar misfortune for City as Wright-Phillips showed incredible footwork to skip to the by-line and deliver a cross which was almost met by Ireland before Neville cleared to safety.

Chances were proving harder to come by in the second period but, still, Ireland had time to force one more excellent save from Howard as the City midfielder powered through from central midfield and placed an accurate shot towards the bottom corner, forcing the US keeper into a well-timed dive.

It was a crucial save as Cahill struck with his first goal since September to steal the points.