Source: Telegraph
Tottenham lay down marker for next season at Everton
Harry Redknapp's rehabilitated side have the quality, versatility and now the freedom of expression to suggest they are as equipped as any to challenge the established Big Four.
They outplayed Everton, the FA Cup finalists and contenders for the title best of the rest, for the first 40 minutes and might have put the match out of reach.
But they discovered, as many before them have, that David Moyes' side have determination, resilience and plain cussedness in their DNA. By the end, Everton had grounds to claim they edged the contest and deserved all three points.
Steven Pienaar, Everton's resourceful little South African winger, eventually eclipsed Spurs' Luka Modric and tilted the balance of play.
Dan Gosling hit a Spurs post and the eccentricities of the Londoners' Brazilian goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, provided a steady supply of encouragement to Everton's offensive players.
Wilson Palacios, Spurs' combative midfield player, left the team hotel on Saturday morning and flew back to Honduras after the body of his kidnapped brother, Edwin, was discovered in a mountainous area of the country.
Spurs have a wealth of options and their composed start oozed self-belief. Tom Huddlestone occupied the anchor role in front of a back three. The system gave Spurs stability and flexibility and they threatened to overrun and unusually laboured Everton.
Robbie Keane, the Spurs captain, was denied by two crucial interventions, Gareth Bale swung a free kick just over the bar and Keane couldn't quite control a splendid pass from Jermain Defoe as another opportunity beckoned.
Redknapp said: 'We dominated for half the match. This was a chance to look at something different, play 3-5-3, and try players who had not played so much. But in the second half they came back.'
In fact, Everton finally came alive in an attacking sense in the later stages of the first half. Jo Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell all threatened to undo Spurs' excellent earlier work.
Tim Cahill went closer still with a glorious drive in the 59th minute, Pienaar again found Spurs bodies in his way and Gosling bounced a shot against a post.
Spurs evacuated the area and Defoe was just off target after a characteristically smart turn and shot.
At the other end, Pienaar found space but not the accuracy to beat Gomes.
Steve Round, the Everton No 2, said: 'We were taken by surprise by Tottenham's system and it took us time to get to grips with it. But after the first half-hour we were the better team. We just couldn't find the final cross and that final bit of quality. But I still felt we edged it.'
