United charge halted by battling Everton

(CNN) -- Everton held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw Saturday in another setback for the defending champions as they attempt to catch early season pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Red Devils were cruising after Darren Fletcher opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.

The Scot ran on to an inch-perfect pass from Ryan Giggs on the edge of the area before calmly slotting the ball past Tim Howard for his third goal of the season.

United continued to dominate the match, with Howard forced to produce a couple of vital saves in the space of a minute.

Defender Nemanja Vidic got in front of his marker and glanced a header the American keeper did well to reach. He then tipped Giggs' excellent drive around the post.

The match turned in the 63rd minute when Everton's $30 million record signing Marouane Fellaini nodded in a cross from former United midfielder Phil Neville.

Everton nearly went ahead two minutes later when Yakubu took advantage of a mis-kick from England defender Rio Ferdinand and curled in a shot which was touched on to the post by Edwin van der Sar.

Wayne Rooney, who was looking to score his 100th career goal against his former club, enjoyed a frustrating afternoon and was eventually substituted shortly after being yellow-carded.

"The referee (Alan Wiley) was to blame because he booked him for nothing and the crowd was egging him on, wanting him to be sent off," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "In that situation you wonder who will be next."

Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo, still struggling to regain his form after undergoing ankle surgery, squandered a chance to restore United's lead in the 87th when the winger turned Nani's cross wide.

"We had good chances and played some fantastic football and we should have capitalized on that," Ferguson said. "At the end of the day, though, you cannot deny Everton the point."

"I don't think the referee protected our players enough. I don't know what the game is coming to with some of the tackles and the speed of the tackles."

Everton boss David Moyes was happy after his side moved another point away from the relegation zone.

"We are really pleased with how the players finished, especially against Manchester United and the way they are playing," he said. "A point against them at this moment is as good as a win as far as we are concerned."

United are now five points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool, who play each other Sunday and are level on 20 points in the current standings.

Promoted Hull City joined the leading duo on 20 points after continuing their stunning start to the season by crushing fellow promoted side West Bromwich Albion 3-0.

The Yorkshire team, who had been pre-season favourites for relegation, notched a fourth successive victory -- and a third straight win away from home.

West Brom dominated the first half but Kamil Zayette volleyed the opener soon after the interval to punish some poor defending from a corner.

Brazilian midfielder Geovanni doubled the lead with a diving header in the 62nd minute after Marlon King lobbed the ball to him.

Striker King then scored his third goal of the season four minutes later as the Tigers clinched a sixth victory in nine league outings.

Also on Saturday, Sunderland ended a 28-year wait for a home win over north-east rivals Newcastle as winger Kieran Richardson's 75th-minute free-kick sealed a 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light.

The home side took the lead in the 20th minute when French striker Djibril Cisse diverted in Steed Malbranque's misdirected shot, but struggling Newcastle leveled 10 minutes later when striker Shola Ameobi headed in Geremi's free-kick after finding space at the far post for his second goal in two games.

Richardson lashed the winner past goalkeeper Shay Given after Nicky Butt tripped El-Hadji Diouf to lift Roy Keane's team into the top half of the table and leave the visitors second from bottom.

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear had recalled Joey Barton onto the substitutes' bench after serving a six-match ban for attacking a teammate while at previous club Manchester City, but the troubled midfielder was pelted by coins by home fans as he warmed up.

He was sent back to the dugout after inciting the supporters by kissing the badge on his shirt, but eventually came on to the pitch with five minutes remaining.

Police made 29 arrests after fans invaded the pitch following the match.

Manager Keane appealed for leniency from the English Football Association.

"Hopefully the FA will go easy on us," Keane said. "Supporters have to enjoy it, it's been a long while since they've had something to really celebrate and they have to enjoy these things. If they've overstepped the mark, we will do something about it."

In Saturday's late game, Blackburn Rovers snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough as substitute Benni McCarthy scored in the fourth minute of injury-time.

The South Africa striker headed in Brett Emerton's corner at the near post to leave the visitors frustrated after Turkey forward Tuncay Sanli was unlucky to have an overhead kick disallowed for offside in the first half.

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz had earlier hit the post for the home side, while Boro's Jeremie Aliadiere smashed a shot against the Rovers crossbar.

Afonso Alves finally opened the scoring in the 74th minute after out-pacing veteran centre-back Andre Ooijer to collect Gary O'Neil's long pass and turning to fire past goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

In the Scottish Premier League, champions Celtic beat Hibernian 4-2 after blowing a two-goal lead, substitute Glenn Loovens and Scott Brown netting in the last 15 minutes.

Second-placed Rangers, who trail by three points but have a game in hand, came from behind to beat Hamilton 3-1.

Kris Boyd equalized Brian Easton's header with a penalty and then put the visiting side ahead from Steven Davis' cross in the 50th minute, while substitute Nacho Novo netted with 10 minutes left.

In other games, Dundee United beat St. Mirren 2-0, Hearts held Aberdeen 1-1, Motherwell won 2-1 at Inverness, as did Kilmarnock at Falkirk.

Meanwhile, Rangers revealed that their former club captain and Scotland manager Ian McColl has died at the age of 81.

During a 15-year career at Ibrox, the defender won six league titles, five Scottish Cups and two League Cups.

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