Ricketts rates Gazza commentary

It is too early in Paul Gascoigne's personal and professional rehabilitation to suggest that England's fallen genius has changed for the better.

But all those who hope that the Premiership's most technically gifted Englishman can overcome the injuries and addictions that have aged and slowed him so much to enjoy an Indian summer for Everton will be heartened by the testimony of Bolton's Michael Ricketts. Ricketts scored his ninth goal of a remarkable personal season in the dying seconds on Saturday to deny Everton a victory that seemed to be theirs once Gascoigne drove his first goal for the Merseyside club into the net early in the second half.

The Bolton striker revealed: 'Paul is superb, a legend in my eyes. He took his goal very well but it's not that I will remember from this match. All through, he was giving me tips and advice. He kept saying things like "Great lay-off" and "Nice pass". He wasn't taking the mickey, either. He was being serious. 'I'd never seen him play live before, never mind been on the same pitch. It was a privilege.' In Ricketts' tribute, of course, lies the true tragedy of Gascoigne. Had he managed to negotiate a truer course through football and life's obstacles, he would have inspired a generation.

As it is, the Gascoigne that made his first start for his club since injuring his knee in reckless fashion in September is one merely seeking to extend his career. Shorn of the pace that once enabled him to deceive an opponent without fear of being caught, his remit these days is to pass, pass and pass some more. Such is his vision and his range, he managed to do that very well on Saturday. But it was his goal that brought him unbridled joy. Having seen Alan Stubbs'43rd-minute free-kick cancel out an earlier dead-ball goal from Per Frandsen, Gascoigne's team were enjoying their best spell when he struck in the 57th minute.

Gary Naysmith provided the low cross from the left and Gascoigne's finish - low and first time with his right foot - was exemplary.

'It was great to score as it's been a while,' he admitted after contributing his first Premiership goal from open play since September 1999.'But I'd have preferred not to have scored and for us to have won.' Given the late nature of Ricketts' goal - flicking in Gudni Bergsson's header with his back to goal - it was easy to sympathise with Everton but it was an equaliser fully deserved. Having lost goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to a back spasm in the warm-up and substitute Djibril Diawara to a late sendingoff, the odds did not always favour Bolton. But Allardyce's team had spirit by the bagful and ultimately enough quality to earn what was rightly theirs.