PREMIER LEAGUE
MONDAY 7TH MARCH, 2022
(8pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 5(3) EVERTON 0(0)

Scorers:-
Keane (o.g.), 14
Son, 17
Kane, 37,55
Reguilon, 46

Attendance:- 59,647

Referee:- Stuart Attwell
Assistants:- Dan Cook, Dan Robathan
Fourth official:- Martin Atkinson
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Timothy Wood.

Teams:-
Spurs (3-4-3):- Lloris (Capt.); Romero (sub Sanchez, 52), Dier, Davies; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon (sub Reguilon, 46); Kulusevski, Kane, Son (sub Bergwijn, 67)

Subs not used:- Gollini; Emerson Royal, Rodon; Winks, White; Lucas Moura

Booked:- Son (foul on Gordon), Romero (foul on Richarlison)

Everton (4-3-3):- Pickford; Coleman (Capt.), Holgate, Keane (sub Branthwaite, 46), Kenny; Allan, Doucoure, Van de Beek (sub Mykolenko, 59); Gordon, Calvert-Lewin (sub Dele, 69), Richarlison

Subs not used:- Begovic; Townsend, Iwobi, Gomes; Rondon, El Ghazi

No bookings

A romp in the park for Spurs

It was a romp in the park for Spurs. It was Spurs' biggest win of the season and their biggest Premier League win at home since 7th December, 2019 which was another 5-0 against Burnley. This was our biggest win over Everton since a 6-2 at Goodison Park in December 2018. This was Everton's biggest defeat of a poor season, and their worst defeat since another 5-0 at Manchester City on the last day of last season. The result left Spurs in the race for a Champions League place, and Everton deeply immersed in a relegation battle for the first time since the 90s. The chasm between the two teams was there for all to see, and the result was fair.

Pre-match, the stadium was decked in Ukrainian colours and was preceded by a beautiful performance by young people from Haringey Vox who performed "One Day" - a song expressing hope that one day our world will stop fighting and embrace kindness and freedom. Before kick off we stood and showed our support for Ukraine, currently subject to invasion by Russia.

Spurs' one change was the welcome return of Rodrigo Bentancur in place of Harry Winks. Lucas Moura was on the bench. Bentancur's was one of many excellent performances by Spurs players from back to front. Both Bentancur and Kulusevski are settling in very well. Bentancur is strong in the tackle and won applause for one of his second half wins which left a hapless Everton player on the floor. Kulusevski is already looking undroppable and has scored two goals in four Premier League appearances, adding an assist to his tally tonight. Dejan seems to have forged a good link-up relationship with Doherty, who gain showed good form tonight adding two assists to his name. There was some clever passing everywhere tonight.

Add to the mix the strength and consistency of Romero, Dier and Davies, plus the hard work of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg plus, of course the most lethal Premier League pairing in history - Kane and Son - and you have a team surely capable of winning fourth place in this league. Harry Kane scored his 175th and 176th Premier League goals tonight, climbing above Thierry Henry in the all-time Premier league rankings (now in 6th place). He has also now scored 241 club goals, just 25 behind the one and only James P. Greaves.

Were Spurs that good, or Everton so bad? Keane is having an awful season for "The Toffees" and has now scored two own goals this year. Frank Lampard played Jonjoe Kenny at left back, which is not his best position. He currently does not have centre-back Yerry Mina available. Dominic Calvert-Lewin started, but hardly saw the ball. He is a player who thrives on delivery and got little of that tonight. Richarlison is not a fighter. Everton's best attacking player was on the right wing 21-year-old Anthony Gordon, who has made 22 Premier League appearances this season.

It was a dry, but windy and cold night as Spurs kicked off, playing towards the North Stand. Here was little significant action in the early stages, during which Spurs showed a little difficulty in playing out from the back. They did break forward and feed the ball to Kulusevski, but he was closed down before he could make a pass. Son showed one or two dodgy touches early on. Spurs worked the ball from the right via Doherty, Kulusevski and finally Kane to Son who had a good shooting opportunity but allowed Gordon to catch him and pass the ball back to Pickford.

It wasn't long though before Spurs had the led. Davies was forward on the left and fed the ball for a good run by Sessegnon who got to the bye-line and instinctively cut the ball back where the ball was slammed into the net by either Kane or Keane. The goal was announced as Kane's, but it was Keane's. Everton hardly had time to dust themselves down before Spurs went two-up. This was a great team goal which ended with passes by Kane to Kulusevski who made the final pass to Son who was in space and beat Pickford with a right foot shot. The England keeper probably should have done better, but what the heck! The Everton fans must have been questioning their wisdom in making such a long Monday night trip.

Son got a rare booking for a foul on Gordon, who had got the better of Sessegnon. Sonny soon had another chance to score as Doherty brought the ball out of defence and hit a good pass forward. Son s shot was saved, and Kane s attempted follow-up passed wide. Now Romero was shown a yellow card for a very late challenge upon Richarlison outside the right of the Spurs box. Yellow cards are not rare for Romero, who already has 11 to his name in his short Spurs career. Seven of these cards have been in the Premier League and he is almost bound to be suspended at some point. Conte was able to protect him from a second yellow during the second half, giving Davinson Sanchez 40 minutes playing time.

Spurs advanced again after 33 minutes with Kane feeding Son who passed to Doherty to his right. He hit a good shot, saved by Pickford leading to a corner taken by Son which came to nothing. Kane had a chance after taking Son's pass, but this was cleared. A Bentancur win in midfield had preceded thus move. I thought Kane had looked offside when he received Doherty's excellent pass. Harry raced away and beat Pickford. VAR found him to have been onside and it was 3-0!

There have been famous occasions in the past when a 3-0 half-time led has not been enough (Manchester United and pre-Sheik Mansour City), but that was not going to happen this time. Reggie was being warmed up during the interval and replaced Sessegnon. His first touch was to slam in at the back post when Kulusevski's cross from the right reached him. Frank Lampard had replaced Keane with another youngster 19-yer-old Jarrod Branthwaite.

Everton finally had chances, both of which fell to Calvert-Lewin. One was blocked by Dier. The other passed wide across goal. Doherty was to be found in central positions at times, and after a pass to Kulu his shot was deflected and won a corner. Son won another corner after taking a pass from Kulusevski. This was hit deep and returned from the left by Kane before a Dier header skimmed the bar.

Spurs' fifth goal came in only the 55th minute and was all too easy as Doherty (again quite central) lifted a ball over the defence to the back of goal where Kane hit the net just inside Pickford's left post (in off that post in fact) with a left foot shot across the keeper.

Frank Lampard struck a forlorn figure in his technical area. Spurs fans chanted Getting sacked in the morning , but of course he has taken on a difficult task facing problems not of his own making. It wasn't long before he retreated from the technical area to his seat, no doubt accepting the inevitable defeat. Antonio Conte on the other hand was also able to sit down but could reflect on job done .

Everton's Ukrainian left back came on for Van de Beek and was given a heartfelt generous reception from around the stadium. There was more good combination wok from Kulusevski and Doherty, often with short, but important and effective passes. Kulusevski tried a 25-yarder with his left foot, but that passed over the target. Now Son was given some rest, with Bergwijn taking over.

Sanchez, who has had few minutes in recent games, made a great tackle upon Richarlison. Bergwijn had a shot saved by Pickford after taking a good ball from Kulusevski.

Dele Alli replaced Calvert-Lewin and was given rousing applause along with a rendition of "We've got Alli!" I've seen pictures since of real emotion after the game when he hugged his pal Eric Dier and was led by Hugo Lloris to the South Stand fans for a proper farewell .

Reguilon was fouled by Holgate and took the free kick himself. Sanchez got a header, but the ball flashed just wide of goal. Much as we would have liked a sixth goal, in truth the closing stages were routine, and Spurs can start thinking about Old Trafford on Saturday tea-time.

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