BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER, 2014
(4 PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(2) EVERTON 1(1)

Spurs scorers:-
Eriksen, 21
Soldado, 45

Everton scorers:-
Mirallas, 15

Attendance:- 35,901

Referee:- Michael Oliver
Assistants:- D. England & L. Betts
Fourth official:- N. Swarbrick

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.); Chiriches (sub Dier, 70), Fazio, Vertonghen , Davies; Mason, Bentaleb; Lennon (sub Lamela, 61), Kane, Eriksen; Soldado (sub Paulinho, 81)

Subs not used:- Vorm; Kaboul; Dembele, Chadli

Booked:- Chiriches (foul on Mirallas), Lamela (foul on Baines), Davies (foul on Lukaku), Bentaleb (foul on Barry), Eriksen (foul on McGeady)

Everton (4-2-3-1):- Howard; Coleman, Jagielka (Capt.), Distin, Baines; Besic, Barry; Barkley, Eto'o (sub Osman, 61), Mirallas (sub McGeady, 61); Lukaku

Subs not used:- Robles; Hibbert, Garbutt, Atsu, Pienaar

Booked:- Mirallas (foul on Lennon)

Stirring performance by Spurs.

I asked for a stirring performance from our team against Roberto Martinez's Everton side, and that is exactly what we got, with our team coming from behind yet again, and winning only their third home game in seven attempts this season. More significantly, it was our third successive win in the last week. As a result, Spurs have climbed up to seventh place, whilst Everton drop to tenth.

These were two well matched sides, both intent on playing their natural game, and whilst both teams defended stoutly (for the most part), it was refreshing to watch a game where the opposition did not simply try to get behind the ball, and to attack on the break.

Despite, or perhaps because of enforced absences such as Adebayor, Kaboul, Rose and Naughton, Spurs did harry their opponents in every quarter, playing with high energy, not a little skill, and great effort.

Club Captain Younes Kaboul, and Nacer Chadli were on the bench, but not used, and one assumes that their fitness levels have not yet reached the desirable level.

In any case, Federici Fazio and Ben Davies probably had their best games yet, and Jan Vertonghen also excelled. Vlad Chiriches was inevitably prone to occasional missed passes, but on the whole, he too acquitted himself well.

Great credit must be given to the three "rookies" in the side. I use the term hesitantly, because after all, Nabil Bentaleb played for his country in this summer's World Cup, and Ryan Mason is now 23, although only recently established in the first team this season, under Pochettino. Both fought hard at the heart of the midfield, but of the two, I thought Bentaleb impressed most, with a good range of ball-winning and passing skills.

Then there is Harry Kane, playing behind Soldado in the middle of the three attacking midfielders. Kane didn't always succeed, but he was always in the mix, making many runs from deep, carrying or getting ahead of the ball, and testing Tim Howard in the Everton goal. Harry gets the assist for Eriksen's goal, and a "second assist" for Soldado's winning goal, scored in added time at the end of the first half.

It is great to be able to write positively about every member of the team. Hugo was as reliable as ever, and even distributed the ball more effectively than usual. Eriksen worked harder than I have ever seen, and was as creative as ever.

Spurs fans have been sold on Soldado from Day One. Today he got only his third goal of the season, and his first in the Premier League this term too. It was a good goal, but his game is not just about goals (just as well, I hear you say!), but he is a sharp mover and passer of the ball.

At times today, Spurs looked really slick with training ground passing moves coming off, leading to many advances upon the Everton defence.

Another, and somewhat ironic factor is that the team that played today closely resembles our "B" team, who have perhaps had more time on the pitch and away training grounds to get to know each other's game.

Everton hadn't come to play second fiddle, and in the early stages they did look the more potent force, before Spurs started to close them down more efficiently. Ross Barkley (the lad who dived last week without any touch from his opponents) threaded a good pass through the middle for Lukaku, whose shot was well smothered by Lloris.

Everton took the lead in the fifteenth minute, following a free kick which had been conceded by Chiriches. That was cleared, but then Soldado couldn't quite clear his lines when over-stretching on the right of the box. The ball reached Mirallas out on the left. He ran inside a little before unleashing a superb unstoppable right foot shot that hit the net in Lloris's top left corner.

Spurs got back on terms after a few minutes, with Harry Kane making a run at an angle from the inside right, before hitting a well placed shot which Howard could only push as far as Eriksen, who placed his shot extremely well, beating Barry, who was backing up his keeper.

A lovely quick passing move by Spurs, from their own half, ended with a chipped pass by Mason and a chipped shot by Kane, which went just over the bar.

Jan Vertonghen intercepted a ball in his own half, and after a wall pass with Soldado, the ball was fed to Kane, who made a good run, but hit a weak shot. More good effort by Kane led to a ball to Lennon, who passed inside to Eriksen. Eriksen's shot took a slight deflection, passing just outside the post and going for a corner.

Seamus Coleman, who is a very attacking right back, got round Eriksen, and hit a good shot, which was well saved by Lloris. From the Spurs clearance, the ball was back-headed into the path of Soldado, but he fired straight at Howard.

Aaron Lennon had been fully involved,both on the attacking front,but also supporting Chiriches at the back. He was unfairly halted on a surging run late in the first half, and Mirallas got the only yellow card of the match for an Everton player.

As we entered three minutes of added time, Spurs attacked again down that right channel, with Kane, then Lennon carrying the ball. Lennon made the final pass, which split the defence inside the box, for Soldado to gleefully fire home across Howard with his shot.

At half time, it was great to see Steve Perryman being interviewed, clearly expressing his passion for the club and its fans, and deservedly winning great applause in return.

After 51 minutes, Soldado tried to run onto a clearance by Chiriches, but Everton defended the situation well. Samuel Eto'o had been fairly quiet behind Lukaku, but the Belgian striker held up the ball, and fed it back to Eto'o, who fired wide.

Bentaleb showed great skill and determination in winning and holding the ball in the middle, spreading the play, with a ball to Ben Davies. Davies crossed, and Soldado's glancing header passed just wide at the back post.

Harry Kane made a solo effort, starting near the right corner flag, but then arcing round to find room for left foot shot, saved by Howard.

Chiriches took the first yellow card for Spurs after a foul on Mirallas, when Chiriches had allowed a Spurs attack to break down. In the latter stages, Spurs would collect four more bookings, as they desperately sought to stem the tide of Everton attacks. Everton did, after all, dominate possession on the day.

Following a short corner by Spurs, and a cross by Eriksen, Fazio hit a glancing shot across goal from the near post, but it passed wide. At the other end, Lloris plucked a long range effort by Lukaku out of the air.

Gareth Barry was guilty of a cynical foul on Harry Kane just outside the box, but no card was forthcoming, and Spurs made nothing of the free kick.

After slick passing by Davies, Soldado and Eriksen, Ryan Mason hit a great shot, which passed over the corner stanchion.

Roberto Martinez made a double substitution, and Pochettino replaced Lennon with Lamela, which gave a worry about who was going to back up Chiriches. It wasn't long though before Chiriches was replaced by Eric Dier. Vlad appeared to have taken a knock.

Ben Davies won great applause for determined defending, ultimately coming away with the ball, after two or three nibbles. Lukaku received a ball from Osman, but he was offside, and Hugo made the save anyway. Another ball by Barkley gave Coleman a change from an angle on the right, but Spurs again smothered the shot, at the expense of a corner. Another effort by Lukaku passed wide.

Spurs were perhaps tiring a little towards the end of the game, which might be another reason for four more yellow cards. An Everton free kick from the right was cleared in front of goal, and this might have been the time when Everton claimed a handball by Fazio, but Mr. Oliver waved"play-on". He also waved away Spurs appeals for a penalty when Harry Kane appeared to be brought down in the Everton box.

Spurs saw out the three minutes added time, and it was a pleasure to linger and give our boys a deserved and prolonged round of applause.

A similar degree of application, and perhaps an extra team bus might lead to a half-reasonable result at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night!

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