Such is the cyclical life of goal-scorers, there are times when those fractions that can be the difference between a ball ending up nestled in the net, or agonisingly wide, or foiled by a goalkeeper that probably seems 10 feet tall, loom large. So it is for Harry Kane, who last season would probably have been the matchwinner, but here endured another goalless 90 minutes.
Tim Howard produced a superb instinctive save to deny Kane in one of the game’s defining moments. In fairness the Everton goalkeeper, outstanding all game, had a few of those. That helped to deliver a well earned point to extend Everton’s positive start to the season. Spurs, in contrast, are left mulling over a frustrating period. There were a few boos at the end as the home crowd digested a fourth game without a win.
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The Everton team was quite heavily tinkered from the selection that Roberto MartÃnez chose for the Capital One Cup tie at Barnsley, but one of the few retained from that starting lineup was John Stones. Despite the manager’s assertion that the young defender had been “mixed up” by being the rope being tugged in a transfer tug of war between Everton and Chelsea, he looked relatively unaffected by the hullaballoo.
There was no sense of any ambivalence in the crowd, with the visiting contingent adapting a Beatles classic to send a defiant message to José Mourinho. “Money can’t buy you Stones,” they crooned.
Everton started confidently but soon found themselves focused on trying to contain a Tottenham team who had noticeably more zest going forward. Once the game found its pattern, Tottenham enjoyed a period of first half dominance which served up a handful of presentable chances. The key figure in their attacking game was Ryan Mason, who zipped about in a free role behind Kane. His quick bursting runs were inventive and opened Everton up.
Stones needed to intervene after one of those darts – the defender made an important block. But after that it was Howard whose skills in protecting the Everton net were so influential.
In the 22nd minute the lead gaped for Tottenham. Every pair of eyes in the ground homed in on Kane, waiting for that first goal of the season, as he raced onto Mason’s clever through ball. There seemed to be a split second of hesitation as the striker glanced to see what was around him. He shimmied, then shot, but was denied by some evergreen Howard excellence. The American thrust out a leg to deflect what would have been a certain goal. Howard produced a series of saves, a mini-masterclass of sorts. In quick succession he smothered Mason’s shot, dealt with Nabil Bentaleb’s angled drive, and tipped over Toby Alderweireld’s header.
In comparison, Everton were a little sluggish in the first half. Perhaps they felt some fatigue from that extra time Capital One Cup slog in midweek, but fluency was hard to come by. The main chance they forged in the opening 45 minutes came when Tom Cleverley dispossessed Kyle Walker, jinked inside, and unleashed a dipping shot which Hugo Lloris handled with sharp reflexes. Cleverley would not last the half, and was withdrawn on a stretcher after he was on the receiving end of a scissors tackle by Eric Dier.
After the interval, Tottenham picked up with another onslaught, pegging Everton back but the combination of the home side not looking relaxed in front of goal, and the away team manning the barricades in numbers, kept the game locked. There was a frisson of excitement as Dele Alli came on in place of Moussa Dembélé, who hurt himself mid-attack. The teenager’s first impression was to play his part in a move that ended up with Mason clean through. Guess who? That man Howard got in the way. In the 65th minute, it felt reasonable to wonder if Howard’s powers were so strong as to even erect an invisible force field. That seemed the only sensible explanation for Chadli battering a shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Then Jan Vertonghen cruised upfield and lifted his effort high too. Kane drifted offside before planting the ball in the net – no goal.
Everton began to find some respite. Bryan Oviedo’s tantalising deliveries crafted a couple of opportunities. Romelu Lukaku could not quite make the cleanest contact, before Arouna Koné headed wide. Steven Naismith appealed for a penalty when he felt he was held.
That was that. Another home team (only seven home wins from 38 Premier League games so far) left ruing their day.
Tim Howard produced a superb instinctive save to deny Kane in one of the game’s defining moments. In fairness the Everton goalkeeper, outstanding all game, had a few of those. That helped to deliver a well earned point to extend Everton’s positive start to the season. Spurs, in contrast, are left mulling over a frustrating period. There were a few boos at the end as the home crowd digested a fourth game without a win.
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The Everton team was quite heavily tinkered from the selection that Roberto MartÃnez chose for the Capital One Cup tie at Barnsley, but one of the few retained from that starting lineup was John Stones. Despite the manager’s assertion that the young defender had been “mixed up” by being the rope being tugged in a transfer tug of war between Everton and Chelsea, he looked relatively unaffected by the hullaballoo.
There was no sense of any ambivalence in the crowd, with the visiting contingent adapting a Beatles classic to send a defiant message to José Mourinho. “Money can’t buy you Stones,” they crooned.
Everton started confidently but soon found themselves focused on trying to contain a Tottenham team who had noticeably more zest going forward. Once the game found its pattern, Tottenham enjoyed a period of first half dominance which served up a handful of presentable chances. The key figure in their attacking game was Ryan Mason, who zipped about in a free role behind Kane. His quick bursting runs were inventive and opened Everton up.
Stones needed to intervene after one of those darts – the defender made an important block. But after that it was Howard whose skills in protecting the Everton net were so influential.
In the 22nd minute the lead gaped for Tottenham. Every pair of eyes in the ground homed in on Kane, waiting for that first goal of the season, as he raced onto Mason’s clever through ball. There seemed to be a split second of hesitation as the striker glanced to see what was around him. He shimmied, then shot, but was denied by some evergreen Howard excellence. The American thrust out a leg to deflect what would have been a certain goal. Howard produced a series of saves, a mini-masterclass of sorts. In quick succession he smothered Mason’s shot, dealt with Nabil Bentaleb’s angled drive, and tipped over Toby Alderweireld’s header.
In comparison, Everton were a little sluggish in the first half. Perhaps they felt some fatigue from that extra time Capital One Cup slog in midweek, but fluency was hard to come by. The main chance they forged in the opening 45 minutes came when Tom Cleverley dispossessed Kyle Walker, jinked inside, and unleashed a dipping shot which Hugo Lloris handled with sharp reflexes. Cleverley would not last the half, and was withdrawn on a stretcher after he was on the receiving end of a scissors tackle by Eric Dier.
After the interval, Tottenham picked up with another onslaught, pegging Everton back but the combination of the home side not looking relaxed in front of goal, and the away team manning the barricades in numbers, kept the game locked. There was a frisson of excitement as Dele Alli came on in place of Moussa Dembélé, who hurt himself mid-attack. The teenager’s first impression was to play his part in a move that ended up with Mason clean through. Guess who? That man Howard got in the way. In the 65th minute, it felt reasonable to wonder if Howard’s powers were so strong as to even erect an invisible force field. That seemed the only sensible explanation for Chadli battering a shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Then Jan Vertonghen cruised upfield and lifted his effort high too. Kane drifted offside before planting the ball in the net – no goal.
Everton began to find some respite. Bryan Oviedo’s tantalising deliveries crafted a couple of opportunities. Romelu Lukaku could not quite make the cleanest contact, before Arouna Koné headed wide. Steven Naismith appealed for a penalty when he felt he was held.
That was that. Another home team (only seven home wins from 38 Premier League games so far) left ruing their day.
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