HOW typical that on the day Yakubu rediscovered his goalscoring touch, his team-mates should lose theirs.

Not even an early birthday celebration from the Nigeria international could prevent Everton from marking David Moyes’s 250th league game in charge in a manner that has become worryingly familiar this season.

Once again, the groans and grumbles reverberated around Goodison at the final whistle after an afternoon in which home comfort remained frustratingly out of reach for Evertonians.

But recent late shows against Bolton Wanderers, Fulham and West Ham United have perhaps brought greater reward than performances merited, the opposite was more the case yesterday.

Moyes could be justified in expressing his disappointment afterwards that Everton failed to record a fourth successive triumph and only a second home win this season from a low-key encounter.

This was better from his team. Responding admirably to Gary O’Neil’s shock eight-minute opener, Everton battered at the Middlesbrough door only to spurn the eventual chances their enterprise fashioned.

Yakubu was as guilty as most when denied by Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull after being sent clear during the first half, his unconvincing finish every inch that of a striker suffering a nine-game goal drought.

But the forward, who turns 26 this coming Saturday, ultimately rediscovered the scoring touch to prevent his former club leapfrogging his current team-mates in the Premier League table.

It may not have been the most elegant manner in which to end his barren spell – the striker diverting Mikel Arteta’s inswinging free-kick home off his back – but it was maybe the touch of fortune Yakubu needs to kickstart a campaign that has stalled after four goals in his first five games.

And it was as much a relief to the team as the player with Everton still struggling to heed Moyes’s call to turn Goodison back into a fortress.

While only the top two can boast a better away record in the Premier League, Everton have now dropped an alarming 15 points from the 21 available at home.

That’s not good enough, particularly given the difference a couple of more home wins could have made to their standing in a congested league table.

Indeed, victory yesterday would have moved Everton to within two points of Arsenal and a Champions League qualification berth.

That poor Goodison form isn’t going unnoticed. For the second successive home game, the attendance was the lowest league gate during Moyes’s reign although, as against Fulham a fortnight ago, the kick-off time, live television cameras and a meagre travelling support undoubted contributed.

The confidence generated by three successive wins persuaded the Goodison manager to select an attacking line-up, with Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill starting together in central midfield for first time.

Moyes declared himself pleased with the initial findings and, with Everton’s injury list clearing, the Goodison manager now has genuine options at his disposal, evidenced by Steven Pienaar restricted to a late substitute cameo despite returning to fitness.

Since their 5-0 thrashing at home by Chelsea last month, Boro have been unbeaten and had secured an impressive win at Aston Villa in their previous outing.

Gareth Southgate’s side were admittedly gifted victory last week, and they were again indebted to a touch of fortune for their eighth-minute opener yesterday.

Breaking down the Everton right, a series of deflections ensured the ball fell kindly for Tuncay Sanli, with another lucky ricochet off Joseph Yobo allowing the Turkey international to then feed the incoming O’Neil on the right.

With left-back Joleon Lescott having been dragged towards a covering central position, the Boro midfielder had enough time to produce a neat finish off the post to Howard’s left.

Didier Digard, impressive in the Boro midfield, fired an angled drive narrowly wide soon after for the visitors but otherwise the first half was a tale of Everton’s profligacy.

Yakubu was particularly at fault in the 13th minute. Sent clear from Louis Saha’s flick on, the Nigerian showed strength to hold off Emanuel Pogatetz but couldn’t find a way past Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull who saved instinctively with his left hand.

Boro were prepared to put bodies on the line to defend their lead, none more so than midway through the half when, after a hopeful Lescott cross from the left floated over Turnbull and struck the inside of the post, Pogatetz blocked Fellaini’s goalbound effort.

Yakubu later went down in the area as he challenged with Turnbull for a loose ball but claims for a penalty were rightly waved away by referee Howard Webb.

Everton, though, should have been level shortly before the break when, after a Leon Osman shot was deflected behind off Chris Riggott, Arteta’s resultant corner was headed horribly wide at the near post by an unattended Cahill.

The second half saw more of the same. Osman shot straight at Turnbull and Saha sent a diving header wide after Arteta’s clever chipped pass had given Phil Neville space to cross.

Everton’s equaliser finally arrived in the 65th minute when, after being fouled by Digard on the left, Arteta – far livelier yesterday than for some time – dusted himself down and delivered a dangerous cross that Yakubu somehow diverted beyond Turnbull off his back.

Although rarely out of their own half, Boro did remain dangerous on the break and one such sortie ended with Digard striking a shot from the edge of the area that Howard turned against his post before clutching the rebound off Phil Jagielka.

The openings dried up for Everton after drawing level with Boro content to play for a point, and indeed it required a crucial challenge from Jagielka on Tuncay during injury time to prevent the visitors leaving with greater reward.

But there was to be no late winner this time.