Everton were reduced to nine players as Wolverhampton Wanderers continued their recent improvement, with exciting teenager Mateus Mane’s strike giving them a point at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Michael Keane and Jack Grealish were both sent off in a chaotic conclusion which saw bottom club Wolves, surely doomed to relegation, almost snatch victory at the death.
Everton led from the 17th minute when defender Keane pounced from close range for his third Premier League goal of the season.
But Wolves, who secured their first league win of the season at the 20th time of asking against West Ham United, boast a new resilience under manager Rob Edwards and stayed in contention until teenage forward Mane made another decisive contribution with 21 minutes left.
The 18-year-old, who scored his first senior goal in the 3-0 victory over the Hammers, showed great composure to run on to substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen’s pass and beat Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
There was little hint of the drama and chaos to follow in what had been a largely undistinguished game until tempers boiled over in the closing stages.
Keane’s night turned sour with seven minutes left when he was shown a straight red card after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) intervention following an aerial clash with Tolu Arokodare, where the defender looked to have pulled the hair of the Wolves striker.
Grealish then followed him down the tunnel after picking up a second caution for dissent – both coming in the space of three minutes – to leave Everton to see out a nervy nine minutes of additional time.
Wolves almost snatched victory, only for Pickford to produce a magnificent save from Hugo Bueno’s long-range effort.