Premier League 2, First Division 2017-18
             Goodison Park, Liverpool
         Sunday 10th September 2017, 1pm

            EVERTON     v     SPURS
         (Blue/White)      (White/Blue)
            4-2-3-1          4-2-3-1

              4(1)             1(0)

           Joel Robles  1   Alfie Whiteman
         Jon Joe Kenny  2   Brooklyn Lyons-Foster
         Nathan Foulds  3   Keanan Bennetts
        Beni Baningine  4   Luke Amos
        Morgan Feeney(C)5   Christian Maghoma
          Lewis Gibson  6   Japhet Tanganga
          Gethin Jones  7   Samuel Shashoua
         Harry Charsey  8   George Marsh
          Oumar Niasse  9   Ryan Loft
       Dennis Adreiran 10   Joseph Pritchard(C)
       Ademola Lookman 11   Anthony Georgiou

         Anthony Evans 12   Jack Roles
            (10)46Mins      (8)64Mins
             Joe Haton 13   Jonathan De Bie
       Bassasia Sambou 14   Shilow Tracey
                            (9)55Mins
           David Henen 15   Jaden Brown
             (3)46Mins      (7)64Mins
           Josh Bowler 16
             (8)84Mins

Scorers:-
          Niasse 5, 64      Pritchard 56
          Lookman 58
          Henen 67

Booked:-
   Baningine 40(Diving)     Bennetts 33(Holding)
                            Georgiou 73(Foul)

Coaches:-
         David Unsworth     Wayne Bennett 

Spurs travelled to Everton on the day after the first team had a comfortable 3-0 win, and faced a tougher task as the "Toffees" U-23s are the reigning champions at this level. Spurs went into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Manchester United at Stevenage while Everton had probably a better result with a 3-0 win at Chelsea. Niasse scored in that game having been on loan at Hull last season, scoring four goals in the closing stages. For this game they brought in other first team experience in the form of keeper Robles and wideman Lookman. Spurs did not have a full squad which may have been due to the International break.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman behind Maghoma and Tanganga with Lyons-Foster at right back and Bennetts on the left. In a change of formation Amos was joined by Marsh in front of the defence with Pritchard ahead of them flanked by Shashoua on the right and Georgiou on the left in support of Loft up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the Gwladys Road end now called the Howard Kendall stand but were put under pressure by a high pressing Everton. The home side took the lead when Kenny got down the right and crossed to the far post for the unmarked Niasse to head home. Spurs rode the storm and gradually got into the game. Bennetts got the first booking of the match battling with Kenny before Lookman fired over. Baningine was booked for diving as Spurs finished the half well. Pritchard had an effort blocked on the edge of the area and Tanganga had a header over the bar from a free kick.

Everton made two changes for the start of the second half with Belgian youth international Henen replacing summer signing Adreiran as a second striker to go to a 4-4-2 formation. Henene was soon in the action having an effort blocked for a corner. Marsh drove wide from a pull-back by Georgiou. Pritchard laid the ball off for Amos to strike but it was also wide.

Spurs replaced Loft with Tracey who had an immediate effect laying the ball off for Pritchard to score with an effort that took a deflection to beat Robles.

Everton responded with Lookman driving forward and forcing a save from Whiteman for a corner. The corner was not well cleared and Lookman scored from over 20 yards with a lovely strike. Having gone behind again Spurs pushed forward in search of another goal with Pritchard firing wide, but in pushing forward they got caught when Henen got down the right and crossed for Niasse to get his second inside the six yard box.

Spurs threw caution to the wind, making a double change with attacking midfielder Roles replacing Marsh and Brown coming on for Shashoua, going to left back, allowing Bennetts to move forward. With both Spurs full backs playing high Amos was knocked off the ball by Niasse who played in Henen to score a fourth for the home side.

Baningine drove wide for a corner from which Tanganga headed off the line. Georgiou was booked for a foul on Lookman as Spurs continued to attack with Roles firing over when played in by Amos. Brown was making good runs on the left and from one drew a save from Robles. Niasse got behind the Spurs back line but could not beat Whiteman one-on-one, winning a corner. Everton had the last chance with Bowler hitting the far post.

It was an evenly fought match with both defences preventing attempts on goal in the first half and when the game opened up more in the second there were still few opportunities with Everton making theirs count. Spurs' next game will be at Stevenage on Monday the 18th when Swansea are the visitors. They lost their last game 5-2 at West Ham but face Derby this evening.

Ray

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