Everton 1 Tottenham 0

Everton won only their fourth home game against Spurs in the Premier League's twenty years history.  Their only goal extends their current unbeaten run to seven games while Spurs have lost a third consecutive League game for the first time under Harry Redknapp.

Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Scorer: Jelavic

Team: Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto; Bale, Sandro (Van der Vaart), Parker (Livermore), Modric; Adebayor (Sakha), Defoe  Subs: (unused) Cudicini, Nelsen, Kranjcar, Rose

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Spurs' loss of form continued at Goddison Park, allowing the chasing pack to draw closer.   Two months ago at White Hart Lane, Spurs beat Everton with ease to move level on points with Manchester United, three points off top spot.  This heralded widespread media discussions as to whether Tottenham could actually win the title.  How things have changed in that subsequent period.  Everton have now gone seven games undefeated while Tottenham have managed only two League wins and and have lost three successive League games for the first time under Harry Redknapp.  Spurs difficulties have been compounded by a loss of players to injury with Aaron Lennon and Michael Dawson joining that list and as in recent games an individual error has led to a goal being conceded.

To compensate for the loss of Lennon, Gareth Bale started the game on the right with Luka Modric on the left and Sandro playing in the middle beside Scott Parker.  Jermain Defoe was given the opportunity to play alongside Emmanuel Adebayor.  Unfortunately, from early on Spurs were very disjointed and Everton were the much more purposeful team.  They were quicker to the ball and dominated possession for much of the first half.  Having said that, for all Everton's possession, the Spurs defence wasn't having too many problems although a poor clearance by Younes Kaboul presented Everton with a shot wide and after twenty minutes Brad Friedel saved a dangerous cross-shot from Fellaini.  Two minutes later Osman beat Kaboul too easily as he ran into the penalty area and found Jelavic who scored his first Everton goal on his home debut.

Everton continued to dominate the half and it was only in the final ten minutes before the interval, after Bale moved to the left, that Spurs began to look more of a threat.

In the second half Spurs were much quicker to the ball and showed greater endeavour.  Defoe had a shot saved as Spurs provided the greater threat.  Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto who had rarely progressed into the Everton half before the interval were now taking up much more advanced roles as Spurs pushed forward for an equaliser.  On 52 minutes, Defoe had another shot saved after being set-up by Parker and following the introduction of Louis Saha in place of Adebayor, Modric shot over after good interplay between Bale and Assou-Ekotto.

Just after the hour mark, Kaboul shot over from a free-kick after a foul on Bale on the edge of the penalty area.  Defoe then had another shot saved and Van der Vaart replaced Sandro.  With twenty minutes remaining Saha had a shot blocked and then Everton had their first goal attempt of the half when Brad Friedel saved well from Osman.  With fifteen minutes remaining Defoe put the ball into the net but was clearly off-side.

Throughout the second half Everton did what they do best.  Having scored the goal before the interval, they were content to defend in depth and frustrate Spurs.  Spurs had eight corners while Everton had none and in the second period Spurs had about fourteen attempts on goal to Everton's one.  It shows the level of supremacy in terms of possession and threat that Spurs offered in the second half but the damage had been done before the interval.

In a final dramatic five minute period of added time after Everton had used every time wasting tactic available, Spurs might have scored on a number of occasions - a Van der Vaart shot was deflected and curled over the bar, Saha had a shot against the post which then bounced onto the goalkeeper's knee and away to safety and Defoe shot over.

At the end of February last year Spurs went on a run that saw their season tail off disappointingly and it was at a similar time this year that the defeat at Arsenal marked the start of this current dip in form.  In the coming week Spurs need to assess where things have gone wrong, to determine how to eliminate individual defensive errors, how to make the best use of the players available to them and to focus on what they do best.  Progress in the Cup next weekend and a win against Stoke a few days later are essential if a very promising season isn't going to disappear into obscurity.

Spurs League Record at Everton

In spite of losing at Goodison Park last season, in comparison with other grounds, Spurs away record against Everton is one of the is one of their better Premier League records.  Spurs visit Everton in need of a win to bring an end to a run of four away League games without a win, since their two goal success at Christmas.

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 Last season saw Everton end a run of six seasons without a win over Spurs at Goodison Park.  It was only their third home win of the Premier League era with Spurs having won there on seven previous occasions, with nine draws.  Tottenham's good form at Goodison Park coincides with the start of the Premier League in August, 1992 as their previous League success there had been back in 1984.

Spurs League Record at Goodison Park

P  74  W  17  D  26  L  31  For  82  Ag  109

Away Premier League Record against Everton

P  19  W  7  D  9  L  3  For  20  Ag  16

Last Season's Match:

Jan. 2011  PL  Lost  1 - 2  Van der Vaart

Everton won their home game against Spurs for the first time since April, 2004.  Louis Saha had given Everton the lead after three minutes as he troubled the Spurs defence with his pace and direct running.  Rafael Van der Vaart equalised within eight minutes but the loss of Gareth Bale after an hour was a setback for Spurs.  Everton scored a deserved winner with fifteen minutes remaining.

Previous League Results at Goodison Park  

Dec. 2009  PL  Draw 2 - 2  Defoe, Dawson

Jermain Defoe saw his injury time penalty saved, so denying Spurs of all three points.  Spurs had taken the lead two minutes after the interval through Defoe.  Michael Dawson added a second after an hour and the points looked secure.  A late rally from Everton brought them level after scoring twice in eight minutes - Saha scoring the first on 78 minutes.    

May, 2009  PL  Draw 0 - 0

Spurs had the better of the first half but Everton showed greater endeavour after the interval but neither side could find a goal.

Jan. 2008  PL  Draw 0 - 0

Jonathan Woodgate made his Spurs debut.

Feb. 2007  PL  Won 2 - 1  Berbatov, Jenas

Dimitar Berbatov had given Spurs a first half lead but Everton scored just before half-time.  Jermaine Jenas scored the winner with only a minute remaining.  

Apr. 2006  PL  Won 1 - 0  Keane (pen)  

This was an important win as Spurs battled to hold on to fourth place.  Keane scored with a first half penalty and Spurs held on quite comfortably although a late injury to Ledley King took the gloss off the win.  

Oct. 2004  PL  Won 1 - 0  Pamarot

A hard-working defensive display ensured Spurs kept another clean sheet in Jacques Santini's short reign.  An early second half header from Noe Pamarot gave the team something to battle for and they held out to take the points.  

April, 2004  PL  Lost 1 - 3 Carr

Everton were two ahead inside twenty five minutes and three up by the interval.  Stephen Carr's goal with fifteen minutes remaining was little more than a consolation.

Aug. 2005  PL  Draw 2 - 2  Etherington, Ferdinand

The opening match of the season saw Spurs behind at the interval.  They scored twice in eleven minutes midway through the second half but Everton levelled with nine minutes remaining.

Start of the Premier League era

Feb. 1993  PL  Won 2 - 1  Mabbutt, Allen, P.

Spurs won their first game at Goodison since August, 1984.  it was to prove a good omen for Spurs as they would go on to experience their best period of results against Everton.

Mar. 2004  PL  Won 1 - 0  Sedgley

Previous Win in 1st Division

Aug. 1984  1st Div.  Won 4 - 1  Falco, Allen, C. (2), Chiedoze

The perfect start to the season, an opening day success for new manager, Peter Shreeves (or Shreeve).  By the end of the season, however, it was Everton who were celebrating as title winners, with Spurs in third.

Christian Gross' Favourite Ground

There's not much positive that can be said about Christian Gross' short time  at Tottenham but he did manage to win both his first and last games as manager - victories at Goodison.  He must have left Goodison Park after that first game at the end of November,1997 thinking that managing in the Premier League wasn't going to be a problem.  He had overseen a two goal win with goals from Ramon Vega and David Ginola.  A week later Chelsea introduced him to the realities of English football.

The following August, a goal from Les  Ferdinand gave Spurs their first win of the season after defeats at Wimbledon and at home to Sheffield Wednesday, and he must have left Goodison singing, "Can we play you every week."  His time at Spurs, however, was nearly up and during that international break he was removed from post.

It is to be hoped that Spurs can maintain their Premier League supremacy over Everton who have shown a resurgence in recent weeks and will provide a sterner test than they did at White Hart Lane in January.

They Played for Spurs and Everton: Here

Everton Preview

Everton v Spurs 21st February, 2007

There’s nothing like a win to lift morale and the Fulham result has certainly done that, although the 6th Round Cup draw has brought a reality check to our optimism.  However, a visit to one of the few grounds where Spurs have a decent record is a good opportunity to build on the positives and give us our first Premiership win of 2007.

The Fulham result showed what Spurs can achieve with the right approach and all the players showing commitment and effort – just what we have been asking for over the past few weeks. A similar approach will be essential against Everton who have moved above Spurs and have 39 points in 8th place in the league. They started the season well and won at White Hart Lane, although their victory was more to do with the ineptitude of the Spurs’ performance that day. Spurs have a point to prove on Wednesday night to prevent Everton completing the ‘double’ over us for the first time since 1985-86 when Spurs lost at home in August and at Goodison Park in February, a worrying statistic.

After their good start, Everton’s form dipped but just as Spurs’ form since December has declined, Everton’s has been on the rise. Since losing to Chelsea in mid-December, they have lost only once in the League and won at Reading and Wigan and drew in the Liverpool derby. Their last home game saw them avenge the Cup defeat inflicted by Blackburn in the 3rd Round. Their recent goals have come mainly from Johnson, who’s always on the lookout for a penalty, and Arteta who has been supporting well from mid-field and with Cahill returning from injury Everton are a hard-working team who give little away.

A number of clubs rather disparagingly refer to White Hart Lane as ‘3 points Lane’ but Spurs could refer to the Everton home ground as ‘Goodwin Park’ as they have won their on their last two visits and have only lost on three occasions in the last sixteen League games played there. Spurs have an impressive recent League record over Everton:

HOME: P 17 W 10 D 6 L 1
AWAY: P 16 W 6 D 7 L 3
And the overall League record (H & A) against Everton reads:
P 139 W 52 D 43 L 44 For 218 Ag 188
Spurs will again need to be prepared to give as much as they did against Fulham and the starting line-up could well be along similar lines to Sunday when the team had a more balanced look. Defoe and Jenas are available after suspension but the old adage goes, ‘don’t change a winning team.’

A win would be good to build on Sunday’s performance and to provide some upward movement in the Premiership table where recent results have seen Spurs slide to 11th with a group of five clubs only three or less points behind them.