TOTTENHAM V EVERTON
Ten-men Everton have recorded a fabulous 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Twenty-one years to the day since the last league win at White Hart Lane, The Toffees had Kevin Kilbane sent-off after just 32 minutes but outplayed the hosts to secure a thoroughly deserved success.
Everton stood toe to toe with the expensively assembled Champions League hopefuls from the first whistle, closing down the space in the middle of the park and also creating the odd opening themselves.
Leon Osman fired wide early on and Joleon Lescott looked to have been hauled back inside the penalty area mid-way through the half by Calum Davenport.
Spurs almost took the lead in the 25th minute when an effort from Dimitar Berbatov deflected off Lee Carsley over Tim Howard and needed to be hooked away by Gary Naysmith.
Everton’s task was made all the tougher when Kilbane was sent-off after 32 minutes. The Irish international had made just three fouls but two of them, both on Young-Pyo Lee were deemed worthy of yellow cards by Mark Halsey.
Kevin Kilbane leaves the field after being sent off
Everton re-organised, with Mikel Arteta slipping into the wide left role and Tim Cahill dropping slightly deeper to cover the middle.
Lescott and Osman linked up nicely just before the break with the latter pulling a low shot wide of the target.
Dutch international, Edgar Davids, had an ineffective opening period but he let fly in stoppage time with a shot that fizzed past Howard’s left-hand post.
Four minutes into the second half, Arteta curled a free-kick high over the bar after Andy Johnson had been upended on the edge of the penalty area.
It was from another Arteta free-kick that Everton took the lead. The Spaniard floated the ball into the Spurs box, Lescott guided his header past Paul Robinson and Davenport appeared to get the final touch.
The goal inspired The Toffees to really take the game to the hosts and play some eye-catching football.
Yobo and Lescott celebrate the Toffees
The second goal was superb.
Leon Osman shrugged off the attentions of Davids to slide an inch perfect pass into the path to Phil Neville who delivered a fabulous first-time cross that Johnson turned past Robinson.
The spirit was typified when Cahill’s left boot came off and he continued to play on and make challenges for another couple of minutes!
Lescott, who had a fine match, had to leave the field with a nasty head injury ten minutes from time and David Weir entered the fray for his first appearance of the season.
Robbie Keane should have pulled a goal back for the Londoners in the 88th minute when he completely missed a low centre across the face of the goal from Aaron Lennon.
Twenty-one years of White Hart Hurt is finally over…and what a way to do it!
Andy Johnson celebrates his goal
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