Rafa Benitez says a revved-up Goodison Park helped Everton sustain a breakneck tempo and “fight until the last minute” of Sunday’s Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton were in the ascendancy for long periods and fleetingly believed they would have a chance to hit the front when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty following Hugo Lloris’s 64^th-minute challenge on Richarlison.

The decision was reversed after a VAR review and Everton ultimately had to make-do with one point following an energetic and purposeful performance that perhaps merited all three.

Fabian Delph, starting a match for the first time in 337 days, was excellent in front of Everton’s defence and there was a strong display from fellow midfielder Allan.

Neither player was able to finish the game but Everton maintained the pace and aggression that stifled Spurs, who didn’t manage a shot on target, and generated 12 attempts on goal for the home side.

“I have to say thank you to the fans, when they are behind the team, you can see how everybody works,” said Benitez.

“I said so many times, the commitment of the players is there.

“We can make mistakes, we can concede goals and miss chances but in terms of commitment… the team has that.

“Today, from the first tackle, from the first minute to the last, everyone was giving everything, the fans were behind the team – the connection between players and fans was great.

“That is the reason we could keep the tempo high, even if we are short of fitness in midfield. Delph was great in the last game and this one but he was 10 weeks without playing and had a yellow card, so we had to make a sub.

“Allan had flu and was running a lot, so had to come off. So, it was difficult to keep the tempo.

“But I was really pleased with the attitude of the players and the way they were fighting until the last minute.”

Everton remain 11^th in a condensed Premier League table, with Arsenal in fifth separated from 13^th-placed Southampton by only six points.

Benitez’s side will wonder if they could have claimed all three points against Spurs.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford didn’t have a save to make, albeit the visitors came close to completing an audacious smash-and-grab when Giovani Lo Celso’s strike thudded against the post with two minutes remaining.

Richarlison tumbled when trying to skip around Spurs keeper Lloris in the box but Kavanagh changed his penalty decision after watching replays. 

Mason Holgate, an 82^nd-minute replacement for Allan, was sent off in added time following a challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but Spurs couldn’t capitalise on the man advantage.

Indeed, spritely front runners Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min were off the field by then and England striker Harry Kane was kept quiet by the Everton defensive duo of Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey.

“To keep a team like Tottenham without any shots on target, we have some credit for that,” continued Benitez.

“We didn’t create too many chances but we played against a good team.

“Today we had spirit and intensity and in the middle of the pitch a lot of players working very hard against very good players.

“We needed to close the penetrating passes and challenge and the players did everything.

“All the team was working so hard.

“The penalty was a pity. Richarlison touched the ball after the keeper touched him. In the middle of the pitch it is a foul and in the box, it has to be a foul.”

Everton remained without a number of players for the visit of Spurs – but Benitez is tentatively optimistic of having additional bodies when he takes his side to Manchester City in a fortnight.

Asked specifically about centre-half Yerry Mina, who last featured against Manchester United on 2 October, Benitez said: “Yerry is close. He didn’t have the time to be ready for this game. In a few days he can join the team, start training and then we will see how he progresses. I am optimistic for Yerry.”