It is a measure of Everton's vast improvement this season that they will be bitterly disappointed with just a point from a vibrant Premiership battle of skill and grit at Goodison Park.
Aston Villa played their part in an intriguing up-and-down contest that was far more entertaining than the 1-1 scoreline suggests.
The quality of the two first-half strikes, from Marcus Bent and Lee Hendrie respectively, were a measure of the panache to which Blues fans have become accustomed to after their team's flying start to this term.
For Everton the game followed much the same pattern as their others this year.
A solid start made way to increasing pressure but on 25 minutes it appeared that the in-form Hendrie had not read the script.
The home-grown midfielder stroked a confident curler past a helpless Nigel Martyn after good hold up play from Juan Pablo Angel.
It was against the run of play but gave Villa renewed confidence and minutes later a sweeping passing move culminated in a rampaging Gavin McCann volleying a Nolberto Solano lay-off into the arms of Martyn.
Everton retaliated and on the half-hour mark a jinking run from Leon Osman was only halted in the box by a last-gasp tackle from Olof Mellberg.
From the resulting corner Villa only half cleared to David Weir who slid a clever ball through to the unmarked Bent and the striker coolly flicked it past Thomas Sorensen with the outside of his right boot.
In the second half Everton dominated but failed to convert a host of decent chances.
Kevin Kilbane volleyed wide from all of three yards after the constant menace that was Bent had forced Villa into another defensive mistake.
Bent went close again for the Blues when his looping volley beat Sorensen only to nestle itself on the top of the Villa net.
Villa boss David O'Leary made wholesale changes to his lacklustre side and a new-look three-pronged attack began to peg back a battle-weary Everton.
Carlton Cole found himself with the ball just four yards from goal but snatched at the chance and rocketed a right-footed shot high over the bar.
The Blues battled and chased but even the introduction of Duncan Ferguson could not force a much-deserved breakthrough.
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Weir (Everton) Combined a steadfast performance at the back with some telling attacking contributions. Unlucky not to be on a winning side.