Everton FC 2-2 Tottenham: Full Time Match Report

06 December 2009 18:17
Tim Howard[LNB]THE green shoots of recovery continued to flourish at Goodison as Everton displayed the fighting spirit to come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Tottenham.[LNB]An injury time penalty save by Tim Howard from Jermain Defoe ensured a point apiece from a pulsating encounter in which Louis Saha and then Tim Cahill cancelled out goals from Defoe and Michael Dawson.[LNB]Following on from a positive derby performance last week and reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League with a hard fought victory in Athens in midweek, Everton halted an alarming run of form that had previously yielded just six points from a possible 24 in the league.[LNB]After a positive first half display, hope of taking anything from this game appeared to be extinguished within 15 minutes of the restart when Tottenham romped into a two-goal lead.[LNB]Instead, Everton dug deep to fight back and earn a morale boosting draw against the Premier League high-flyers.[LNB]With Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling joining the injury list in midweek, Everton could at least welcome back Joseph Yobo and Jack Rodwell for the visit of Spurs.[LNB]Yobo's return proved only a temporary reprieve for David Moyes however, who was forced to withdraw the Nigerian international after just 15 minutes following what appeared to be a recurrence of the hamstring problem that saw him limp out of the derby a week earlier.[LNB]As in Athens, Moyes had to reshuffle his pack, bringing on Seamus Coleman who went to right-back while Lucas Neill slotted in next to Tony Hibbert at the heart of the defence.[LNB]A bright first half brought plenty of goalmouth action at both ends. How it remained goalless at the break was a mystery.[LNB]Early pressure from Everton saw Diniyar Bilyaletdinov attempt to thread Jo in, the ball ricocheting off Sebastien Bassong forcing a save from Heurelho Gomes after just two minutes.[LNB]Tottenham then went straight up the other end to win a corner; Michael Dawson heading over the crossbar.[LNB]The game pointed towards an open, free-flowing affair when Jack Rodwell then tested Gomes following some neat link-up play with Steven Pienaar.[LNB]And all this in the first five minutes.[LNB]Tottenham's 4-1-3-2 formation makes them dangerous on the break however, and it was Aaron Lennon who caused the Everton defence problems nine minutes in.[LNB]Picking up the ball from Wilson Palacios, the England winger weaved between Blue shirts to play Peter Crouch in on the edge of the area.[LNB]With the Gwladys Street appealing for offside, Crouch spun swiftly to fire a shot high over the bar.[LNB]Just three minutes later Tim Howard had to save well from Jermain Defoe as Tottenham swept forward again.[LNB]This time it was Tom Huddlestone driving through the middle who picked out Defoe 20-yards away from goal. The diminutive striker made the most of a Tony Hibbert slip to skip inside and shoot straight at Howard who saved with his feet.[LNB]Rodwell picked up a harsh booking after 20 minutes for what appeared to be a perfectly timed challenge on Niko Kranjcar before a positive burst forward from Coleman sent panic through the visitor's defence when the youngster's low cross drew Gomes off his line only for Dawson to slide the ball out for a corner.

Source: Liverpool_Echo