Everton FC 2-2 Tottenham: Full Time Match Report

Tim HowardTHE 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.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.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.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.Instead, Everton dug deep to fight back and earn a morale boosting draw against the Premier League high-flyers.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.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.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.A bright first half brought plenty of goalmouth action at both ends. How it remained goalless at the break was a mystery.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.Tottenham then went straight up the other end to win a corner; Michael Dawson heading over the crossbar.The game pointed towards an open, free-flowing affair when Jack Rodwell then tested Gomes following some neat link-up play with Steven Pienaar.And all this in the first five minutes.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.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.With the Gwladys Street appealing for offside, Crouch spun swiftly to fire a shot high over the bar.Just three minutes later Tim Howard had to save well from Jermain Defoe as Tottenham swept forward again.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.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