Everton 0 - 1 Tottenham
Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to keep Tottenham's noses in front in the race for Champions League football.
Everton were outplayed and outmanoeuvred for long spells of this game but mounted a characteristic late charge and could have grabbed an undeserved point with a barrage of long balls.
But it would have been a travesty. Arsenal winning at home to West Brom heightened the need for Spurs, with a four-point lead over their north London neighbours in the race for fourth place, to show backbone and to hang onto their slim lead.
They should have scored more but they had to rely on Keane's 15th goal of the season to see them home.
Everton boss David Moyes had pleaded for Sven-Goran Eriksson to watch Phil Neville and James Beattie in action and the England coach duly obliged. But the Swede would have been far more impressed by the performances of the clutch of England stars in the visitors' ranks.
Everton spent much of their time trying to contain Spurs' movement and passing. Jermain Defoe, in for the injured Mido, must have been delighted that Eriksson was watching and his link play with Jermaine Jenas particularly impressed.
Spurs started well and got the better of the first half. They had plenty of possession and it cost Lee Carsley a 10th-minute booking.
The Republic of Ireland international chased down three successive Spurs players and finally caught Anthony Gardner with a late lunge as the ball eluded him. That was very much the order of the day for Everton who were made to run and run to keep Spurs in check.
Gardner, Michael Carrick and Keane all had chances to score which kept home keeper Richard Wright busy and he also made a fine instinctive save from Teemu Tainio's header.
Aaron Lennon, another out to impressed the England coach, gave Gary Naysmith a torrid afternoon.
The visitors made the breakthrough after 33 minutes. Lee Young-Pyo pulled a cross into Keane's path and, as the Irish striker surged into the box, he was pulled down by Alan Stubbs. Keane got up to blast home the penalty himself.
Neville was booked for a foul on Gardner with the Spurs defender also being cautioned for his reaction to the challenge.
Everton needed more drive about their play, and they were much better after the break. Tim Cahill got into a good position only for Ledley King to block the effort.
But Spurs hit back with substitute Danny Murphy, on for Tainio, firing in a cross which put Jenas in with a chance only for Wright to make a fine save to his right.
The Everton keeper made an even better stop seconds later when Naysmith's poor chested back-pass found Defoe a couple of yards out, but somehow Wright managed to block the effort.
Murphy then set up Keane in the box, but Spurs' top scorer lifted his effort over the top.
Lennon and Jenas ran Everton ragged and Stubbs hurt himself stopping one Jenas run. He was replaced by Matteo Ferrari.
Lee then made another chance for Keane but again Wright got down to save.
Duncan Ferguson arrived to give his own brand of attacking power to Everton after 65 minutes, replacing Simon Davies.
Spurs continued to waste chances, Defoe curling an effort against the angle on 71 minutes and somehow Everton were still in the match.
With that in mind, Spurs sent on defender Calum Davenport for Lennon with eight minutes left.
Everton replaced Naysmith with Kevin Kilbane two minutes later as the Toffees battled for an unlikely point. Carsley saw a free-kick deflected wide and Beattie nodded a free-kick past a post.
But Spurs held on and deservedly claimed three more points as they plot a course for European combat.
David Moyes claimed Tottenham are the best side he has seen at Goodison Park this season after Robbie Keane's first-half penalty kept them on course for a Champions League spot.
Moyes admitted that Spurs could have won more comfortably as Everton lost at home for the first time in 2006.
Moyes said: 'We didn't have many chances, but not for the lack of trying because we threw everything at them.
'But there is no doubt we were beaten by the better team and, from what I have seen, maybe even the best team to play at Goodison this season.
'We lacked a spark, we lacked the creative players we rely on and definitely we missed Mikel Arteta.
'But Spurs made it looked very easy the way they passed and moved. We tried everything. We changed the formation, we changed the players.'
Moyes added: 'We ended up hitting it up front looking for the knock-downs and in the end that was probably the best way for us in the circumstances.
'We never got to grips with the game from the opening minutes. We let them pass it, gain composure at the back and in midfield.
'They are always a threat with Keane and Defoe. They have a great balance to their team and all round are a good side.'
Spurs boss Martin Jol savoured taking another step towards claiming fourth spot.
He said: 'People who have not seen the game may think this was a narrow escape, but it wasn't.
'We punished ourselves a bit by not scoring the second or third goal, we could have won by more.
'If we had done that we would have been able to take players off and rest them with Monday's game with Manchester United in mind.
'We couldn't do that and ended up having to take more risks by putting on three centre halves to counteract Everton's tactics.
'We made it hard for ourselves. They played a typical British game, plenty in the air and we had to fight for everything.
'But we created so many chances, we should have won by several more goals. We were expecting a really tough game because Everton have done so well since Christmas. I was expecting it to be a bit tougher than it was but they are never an easy side to play against.
'We had a lot of good chances in the first half, Richard Wright made a string of good saves.
'Now we are on 61 points going into Monday's game. Last season people thought it was a surprise that Everton got over 60 points, I have tremendous admiration for them for achieving that.
'I couldn't imagine a team like Everton on 60 plus points but now we are in that same position of fourth with 61 points and that is a tremendous effort from the players.'
Everton were outplayed and outmanoeuvred for long spells of this game but mounted a characteristic late charge and could have grabbed an undeserved point with a barrage of long balls.
But it would have been a travesty. Arsenal winning at home to West Brom heightened the need for Spurs, with a four-point lead over their north London neighbours in the race for fourth place, to show backbone and to hang onto their slim lead.
They should have scored more but they had to rely on Keane's 15th goal of the season to see them home.
Everton boss David Moyes had pleaded for Sven-Goran Eriksson to watch Phil Neville and James Beattie in action and the England coach duly obliged. But the Swede would have been far more impressed by the performances of the clutch of England stars in the visitors' ranks.
Everton spent much of their time trying to contain Spurs' movement and passing. Jermain Defoe, in for the injured Mido, must have been delighted that Eriksson was watching and his link play with Jermaine Jenas particularly impressed.
Spurs started well and got the better of the first half. They had plenty of possession and it cost Lee Carsley a 10th-minute booking.
The Republic of Ireland international chased down three successive Spurs players and finally caught Anthony Gardner with a late lunge as the ball eluded him. That was very much the order of the day for Everton who were made to run and run to keep Spurs in check.
Gardner, Michael Carrick and Keane all had chances to score which kept home keeper Richard Wright busy and he also made a fine instinctive save from Teemu Tainio's header.
Aaron Lennon, another out to impressed the England coach, gave Gary Naysmith a torrid afternoon.
The visitors made the breakthrough after 33 minutes. Lee Young-Pyo pulled a cross into Keane's path and, as the Irish striker surged into the box, he was pulled down by Alan Stubbs. Keane got up to blast home the penalty himself.
Neville was booked for a foul on Gardner with the Spurs defender also being cautioned for his reaction to the challenge.
Everton needed more drive about their play, and they were much better after the break. Tim Cahill got into a good position only for Ledley King to block the effort.
But Spurs hit back with substitute Danny Murphy, on for Tainio, firing in a cross which put Jenas in with a chance only for Wright to make a fine save to his right.
The Everton keeper made an even better stop seconds later when Naysmith's poor chested back-pass found Defoe a couple of yards out, but somehow Wright managed to block the effort.
Murphy then set up Keane in the box, but Spurs' top scorer lifted his effort over the top.
Lennon and Jenas ran Everton ragged and Stubbs hurt himself stopping one Jenas run. He was replaced by Matteo Ferrari.
Lee then made another chance for Keane but again Wright got down to save.
Duncan Ferguson arrived to give his own brand of attacking power to Everton after 65 minutes, replacing Simon Davies.
Spurs continued to waste chances, Defoe curling an effort against the angle on 71 minutes and somehow Everton were still in the match.
With that in mind, Spurs sent on defender Calum Davenport for Lennon with eight minutes left.
Everton replaced Naysmith with Kevin Kilbane two minutes later as the Toffees battled for an unlikely point. Carsley saw a free-kick deflected wide and Beattie nodded a free-kick past a post.
But Spurs held on and deservedly claimed three more points as they plot a course for European combat.
David Moyes claimed Tottenham are the best side he has seen at Goodison Park this season after Robbie Keane's first-half penalty kept them on course for a Champions League spot.
Moyes admitted that Spurs could have won more comfortably as Everton lost at home for the first time in 2006.
Moyes said: 'We didn't have many chances, but not for the lack of trying because we threw everything at them.
'But there is no doubt we were beaten by the better team and, from what I have seen, maybe even the best team to play at Goodison this season.
'We lacked a spark, we lacked the creative players we rely on and definitely we missed Mikel Arteta.
'But Spurs made it looked very easy the way they passed and moved. We tried everything. We changed the formation, we changed the players.'
Moyes added: 'We ended up hitting it up front looking for the knock-downs and in the end that was probably the best way for us in the circumstances.
'We never got to grips with the game from the opening minutes. We let them pass it, gain composure at the back and in midfield.
'They are always a threat with Keane and Defoe. They have a great balance to their team and all round are a good side.'
Spurs boss Martin Jol savoured taking another step towards claiming fourth spot.
He said: 'People who have not seen the game may think this was a narrow escape, but it wasn't.
'We punished ourselves a bit by not scoring the second or third goal, we could have won by more.
'If we had done that we would have been able to take players off and rest them with Monday's game with Manchester United in mind.
'We couldn't do that and ended up having to take more risks by putting on three centre halves to counteract Everton's tactics.
'We made it hard for ourselves. They played a typical British game, plenty in the air and we had to fight for everything.
'But we created so many chances, we should have won by several more goals. We were expecting a really tough game because Everton have done so well since Christmas. I was expecting it to be a bit tougher than it was but they are never an easy side to play against.
'We had a lot of good chances in the first half, Richard Wright made a string of good saves.
'Now we are on 61 points going into Monday's game. Last season people thought it was a surprise that Everton got over 60 points, I have tremendous admiration for them for achieving that.
'I couldn't imagine a team like Everton on 60 plus points but now we are in that same position of fourth with 61 points and that is a tremendous effort from the players.'
posted by dgarden at 8:06 am
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