By Phil McNulty

David Dunn clears off the line from Everton's Phil Jagielka

Everton had to settle for a point after dominating an eventful clash against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

The visitors were furious as Andrew Johnson's late strike was ruled out by a belated offside flag after James Vaughan robbed keeper Brad Friedel.

Everton were in control, with Manuel Fernandes denied by Friedel and also hitting an upright with a free-kick.

Blackburn's David Bentley twice tested keeper Tim Howard and Roque Santa Cruz missed a glorious chance late on.

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Everton were boosted by the return of Tim Cahill after suspension and Leon Osman after injury - and David Moyes's side took charge in the first 45 minutes.

David Dunn was booked for a wild challenge on Mikel Arteta after 21 minutes, and then somehow escaped a red card when he deliberately handled right infront of referee Alan Wiley.

Wiley awarded a free-kick but then, to general amazement, took no further action against the Blackburn midfield man.

Everton were posing all the threat, with Arteta forcing a diving save from Friedel and Osman driving only inches wide from the resulting corner.

Dunn's continued presence on the pitch took on greater significance seconds before the break when he cleared Phil Jagielka's header off the line.

Both sides had opportunities to score seconds after the break, with Howard saving well from Bentley and Friedel blocking Fernandes' shot with his legs from Arteta's cross.

Fernandes then came even closer after 62 minutes, striking the post with a superb free-kick from 25 yards.

Blackburn had barely been in the game as an attacking force, but it took a superb block from Jagielka to stop a goal-bound shot from Santa Cruz.

Substitute Benni McCarthy had penalty appeals waved away when he fell under a challenge from Jagielka, but the South African striker had slipped.

Everton keeper Howard then saved superbly from Bentley's free-kick as Blackburn looked as though they had finally weathered the storm.

There was a moment of real controversy with five minutes left when Johnson looked like he had finally put Everton ahead.

Vaughan won a race for possession with keeper Friedel and found Johnson, who steered home a composed finish, but the linesman raised a very belated flag for offside.

Johnson had been in an offside position earlier in the move, but the flag went up at a late stage, with Everton celebrating the goal.

Everton were infuriated, and their agony could have increased in injury time, but Santa Cruz turned a close-range effort over the bar with only Howard to beat.

"From my point of view, that decision on Everton's goal was the one thing that assistant referee got right.

"It was a good Premier League game despite the intervention of the officials. Everton are a very good side and they showed that, but I was pleased with our performance as well."

"I was pleased with the way we played. It was always going to be a tough game, but we had some real opportunities to win it. I'm disappointed we didn't take all the points and feel a bit down at only getting one.

"Our team is playing really well and we did it again here. Manuel Fernandes hit the post with a great free-kick for us, but he also missed a big chance to put us in front."

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Reid, Derbyshire (Kerimoglu 73), Bentley, Dunn (McCarthy 56), Pedersen, Santa Cruz.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Berner, Roberts.

Booked: Dunn, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Pedersen.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Carsley, Fernandes, Osman (Vaughan 75), Cahill, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Nuno Valente, Anichebe.

Booked: Howard, Arteta.

Att: 27,946

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz 8.80 (on 90 minutes).