What The Papers Say - 28 October

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necesarily reflect the views of Everton.

ANGRY David Moyes led a media blackout in protest at Everton’s treatment by Carling Cup organisers after they bowed out of the competition at White Hart Lane last night.

The Blues manager gave no interviews and ordered his players to keep their thoughts to themselves in retaliation to the gruelling schedule which forced them to play a third game in six days.

Everton crashed to a third successive defeat as goals from Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane saw off the challenge from an injury-ravaged Blues side.

Moyes was already without 10 first team stars and his mood darkened when Louis Saha limped off with a calf injury.

The French striker will be assessed at Finch Farm today but he is a doubt for Saturday’s home league clash with Aston Villa.

Moyes’ decision to impose a media ban was taken before last night’s game.

In the build up to the match he had hit out at the decision of Carling Cup organisers to schedule the tie in the capital little more than 48 hours after his side’s clash with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

With Arsenal’s tie against Liverpool being televised on Sky Sports tonight, London Metropolitan Police would not allow both games to be played on the same night

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admitted he had some sympathy with Moyes, but said: “We all face problems with fixture congestion at some time.

“Everton put their best team out tonight. They didn’t put a bunch of kids out. They had Fellaini, Saha, Distin, Cahill and Yakubu out there.

“Everton might say they only put out what they had, but I was the same. We only had what we had. Everybody who was fit was there tonight.

“We were in the same boat as David. He wanted to win and so did we. He could have played five kids but he chose not to.

“I haven’t got a squad as big as Everton. You go through their top players, there’s more at Everton that there are here.

“We haven’t got a big squad. I’ve got four strikers and four central defenders, but after that I’ve only got three central midfielders. Most have six. We’re not overloaded.”

DAVID MOYES last night led a media blackout by Everton in protest at Carling Cup organisers for forcing them into three crucial games inside six days.

The Goodison outfit slumped out of the competition as goals from Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane consigned them to a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth round tie.

And having been without 10 senior injured players, Moyes’s woe deepened when Louis Saha was forced off at half-time with a calf problem that will be assessed at Finch Farm today.

The visit to White Hart Lane concluded a punishing schedule for Everton, who lost 3-2 in the Premier League at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday just three days after being thrashed 5-0 at Benfica in the Europa League.

The decision of Moyes and his players to refuse to comment was taken before last night’s game, with the manager having also not held his usual pre-match media conference for the tie on Monday afternoon. Moyes had previously expressed his displeasure at the decision of Carling Cup organisers to schedule the game barely 48 hours after Everton’s trip to the Reebok Stadium.

With Arsenal’s tie against Liverpool being chosen for live broadcast on Sky Sports tonight, London Metropolitan Police would not allow both games to be played on the same evening while Merseyside Police didn’t want rival supporters to travel to the capital on trains on the same day.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp sympathised with his Goodison counterpart to an extent, but said: “We all face problems with fixture congestion at some time.

“Everton put their best team out tonight. They didn’t put a bunch of kids out. They had Fellaini, Saha, Distin, Cahill and Yakubu out there.”

Tottenham had a lengthy absentee list of their own with Aaron Lennon, Peter Crouch, Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka all injured, Jermaine Defoe suspended and Niko Kranjcar cup-tied.

And Redknapp said: “Everton might say they only put out what they had, but I was the same. We only had what we had. Everybody who was fit was there tonight.

“We were in the same boat as David. He wanted to win and so did we. He could have played five kids but he chose not to.

“I haven’t got a squad as big as Everton. You go through their top players, there’s more at Everton that there are here. We haven’t got a big squad. I’ve got four strikers and four central defenders, but after that I’ve only got three central midfielders. Most have six. We’re not overloaded in other areas.

“I’m really pleased with the lads tonight. Those that came in didn’t do themselves any harm.”

An understrength but ebullient Tottenham side progressed deservedly into the quarter-finals of a competition with which they have great affinity.

Harry Redknapp’s team can now prepare for Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium with no little confidence, not least because his fringe players, if needed against Arsenal, appear to have stepped up a gear.

Most notable among these is David Bentley, whose starting appearances this season have been limited to the Carling Cup, but who, far from sulking about it, delivered an invigorating and mature performance.

After 31 minutes he set up the opening goal with a cross that looped over Everton heads and landed at the feet of Tom Huddlestone.

“I’ve encountered every problem in the book,” Bentley said, while admitting he has not been fully focused on his football. This time last year Spurs met Arsenal in the league and Bentley was the star of the show, scoring a wonder goal in a sensational 4-4 draw. But he has failed to match that quality and has been hitting the headlines for misdemeanours off the pitch.

“His attitude in training hasn’t been as good as it could have been,” Redknapp said. “When he plays like that, I want to keep him.”

Roman Pavlyuchenko has also mystified Redknapp and the Tottenham manager had wondered, publicly, what might be the best way to bring the striker to life. The Russian’s main flaw, it seems, is that he is too relaxed and he certainly looked it when presented with a kind rebound that left him with only Tim Howard to beat.

The resultant shot was well wide, as was his effort a few minutes later when Alan Hutton drove the ball in towards Pavlyuchenko’s near-post run.

The home crowd decided, however, that their No 9 needed plenty of encouragement, not barracking, so they ignored his profligacy and sang his name instead.

There was no disguising Everton’s frailties in defence, even if the team did look unfamiliar wearing an all-purple strip for charity.

David Moyes’s side are on a run of five games without a win and they have now conceded ten goals in their past three matches.

Last night’s encounter was their third game in six days and Moyes refused to face the media after defeat as a form of protest; his request for the match to be rescheduled was ignored.

Arsenal’s tie with Liverpool was chosen as the televised match for tonight and that meant their North London rivals could not play on the same evening.

Possibly, Moyes was relieved not to have to explain how it went so wrong. Spurs doubled their lead after 57 minutes in a moment of sheer comedy. Sylvain Distin had found Robbie Keane an irritant throughout and brought him down for a soft penalty that the Ireland striker took but his shot was easily saved by Howard.

Everton, though, allowed the ball to ping around the penalty area for far too long and Keane finally rifled it in from two yards out.

Redknapp is unlikely to face an Arsenal side tired from the exertions of their own Carling Cup adventure because Arsène Wenger prefers to give the competition over to his younger stars.

But Redknapp will not follow suit and let his fringe players call this competition their own. Instead he will pick the best side available and “go for it”.

Bentley, though, should be picked again on Saturday, with Aaron Lennon not likely to be fit.

Lennon’s fine form is one reason that Bentley “didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel,” as Redknapp put it.

“It’s an interesting selection problem for me,” the manager said.

Forgotten man David Bentley gave Harry Redknapp a timely reminder after inspiring Tottenham to victory.

Bentley could not have chosen a better week than to mark his return to the Spurs first team with a man-of-the-match display against exhausted Everton who crashed to a third defeat in six days.

Spurs midfielder Bentley scored his famous 45 yard wonder goal at Arsenal a year ago this week and will be hoping he did enough last night to keep his place in Saturday’s north London derby, especially with Aaron Lennon out injured.

Bentley set up Tom Huddlestone’s opener and even played a part in Robbie Keane’s second as the Spurs captain scored after an almighty scramble after his penalty was saved by Everton keeper Tim Howard.

Former Arsenal trainee Bentley said: “It’s been a difficult time since I came here and I've encountered every problem in the book. Sometimes my effort has been lacking at times because I haven’t been fully focused on football.

“But I think I have got that right now. I worked hard tonight and my ability came out. I am just looking to enjoy myself, work and give 100 per cent.

“We’ll see what happens on Saturday. To come to Tottenham and do that at Arsenal last year was great - and hopefully it can happen again.”

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: “Bentley’s attitude hasn’t been as good in training as it could’ve been. I’ve spoken to him about that and tonight he was fantastic. I’ll keep playing a team to try and get us to Wembley this year. I’ll keep going for it.”

It was little wonder that Redknapp fielded a near full strength line-up as Tottenham love this competition having reached the quarter finals three years running.

But with Lennon and Peter Crouch injured and Jermain Defoe suspended, there was a rare chance for Bentley and Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Bentley grasped his opportunity while Pavlyuchenko wasted his. Keane also had an off-night as, his penalty aside, he had a night of frustration and fired against the post on the half hour mark.

But a minute later, Tottenham went ahead after Bentley’s brilliant cross was missed by the entire Everton defence and Huddlestone raced in at the back post to power a shot past keeper Howard.

Everton showed some fight after the restart as Tim Cahill and half time substitute Jo saw good shots brilliantly saved by Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes.

Tottenham wrapped it up in the 56th minute when Keane was clumsily tripped by Sylvain Distin to give away a silly penalty.

Keane saw his shot saved by Tim Howard, Bentley and Gareth Bale had follow-ups blocked and then the Republic of Ireland striker fired home at his second attempt.

Fed-up Everton boss David Moyes refused to talk after the game at protest at sponsors Carling for having to play three games in six days.