Kilbane on the mark as Everton win thriller

An inspired subsitution from manager David Moyes helped Everton clinch the points in a 3-2 win over Norwich at Carrow Road that keeps them hanging on to the coat-tails of Arsenal and Chelsea. 

After his side surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead, Moyes sent on Duncan Ferguson and Steve Watson who combined after 73 minutes to score the winner. 

Watson picked up a loose ball from the right and crossed to Ferguson to head home at the back post, leaving a frustrated Norwich still waiting for their first Premiership win of the season. 

Everton played a patient counter-attacking game in the first-half which reaped its rewards as Moyes' side went into the break two goals to the good. 

On 10 minutes, Marcus Bent sent Australian midfielder Tim Cahill galloping into the box and his cut-back from the right found Kevin Kilbane unmarked at the far post. 

The Irish international rifled drive into the roof of the net from 12 yards gave Norwich keeper Robert Green no chance. 

Green was beaten again five minutes before half-time after a flowing Everton move that started on the edge of their own box. 

The ball was swiftly transfered from Alan Stubbs to Leon Osman and on to Thomas Gravesen running purposefully at a back-pedaling defence. 

His slide-rule pass down the inside right channel released Bent striding into the box and he finished smartly across Green into the far corner of the net. 

Nigel Worthington responded by sending on Mathias Svensson for Thomas Helveg after the interval and the switch paid dividends within three minutes of the re-start. 

Svensson released the live-wire Leon McKenzie inside the Everton box with Stubbs struggling to keep up. 

McKenzie did brilliantly to keep his feet despite Stubbs' scything challenge before slotting the ball between Nigel Martyn's legs from six yards.

Norwich had the bit between their teeth and piled pressure on the Everton goal.

Less than 10 minutes later it was 2-2 as the unmarked Damien Francis scored his first Premiership goal, tapping home from three yards after Mattias Janson headed Darren Huckerby's corner into the danger area. 

Svensson nearly levelled matters a minute from time but fired narrowly wide from just outside the box with Martyn scrambling across his goal.

It was a harsh result on Norwich who dominated large spells but Everton's seventh win from 10 games keeps them in the early-season title hunt.