Jo saw a header clawed away by Keiren Westwood after Cahill’s flick-on after seven minutes, and shortly afterwards was again denied by the Coventry goalkeeper after cleverly making space for an angled left-foot drive.

His efforts came to fruition in the 16th minute. After a fine turn lost the attentions of former Liverpool defender Stephen Wright, Jo pulled the ball back into the path of the incoming Cahill. Although the initial shot was blocked by Westwood’s legs, the Australian made no mistake with the rebound.

Pre-season is a notorious barometer of future success. But coming to Everton has evidently reignited Jo’s love for the game and given the striker the environment in which to prosper, a point to ponder for anyone considering a move away from Goodison.

Phil Neville humoured the travelling contingent with some speculative shooting but Leon Osman and Fellaini were much closer with shots from range.

Coventry, whose competitive season begins on Sunday, rarely threatened going forward save one penalty box scramble that ended with Yobo clearing off the line from Leon Best.

So it will have disappointed Moyes that the defence momentarily switched off 10 minutes before the break to allow Ashley Cain the time to cross low from the right and Michael Doyle the space to finish at the far post.

Jo again came close shortly after the interval, but Coventry took heart from their equaliser and made the game much more competitive during the second half.

Fellaini, who Moyes later revealed has been struggling to shake off the effects of a debilitating virus throughout pre-season, solicited a fine flying save from Westwood to turn over his dipping 25-yard effort, while Tim Howard – a half-time replacement for Carlo Nash – held a Doyle shot at his near post. Everton youngsters James Wallace, Jose Baxter, Keiran Agard and Lukas Jutkiewicz were given the chance to impress during the final quarter, but the entertainment level dropped to such an extent the stadium announcer kept the crowd amused with updates from the third Ashes Test.

The visitors, though, were determined to finish with a flourish and Baxter will have done his cause no harm with a well-worked goal in the 85th minute, bursting forward from midfield and exchanging passes with Fellaini before crashing the Belgian’s lay-off home from 20 yards, despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Westwood.

But Coventry earned a draw in the final moments when further slack Everton defending allowed Aron Gunnarsson to force the ball home.