Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Everton

Tottenham Hotspur tonight moved level on points with second placed Manchester United after a performance of patience and high quality.

Everton turned up at The Lane as many teams now do, to sit deep and try and frustrate Spurs. It’s to the credit of Harry Redknapp and his team that they didn’t get frustrated and saw the opposition off to seal the points.

Spurs played good possession football throughout yet struggled to create openings early on as Everton shut down the wings by doubling up, particularly on Bale.

It was from the wings though that the opener came. Benoit Assou-Ekotto has had a couple of poor outings recently but was back to his cool best tonight and it was he who launched a crossfield pass for Lennon. Spurs jet heeled right winger may have been slightly fortunate to beat the first defender but from then on looked sure of his purpose as he jinked inside and slotted past Howard with his left foot. It wasn’t the sweetest of strikes but it left the Everton keeper wrong footed.

Van der Vaart, in imperious form all night, went close with a curled effort and Adebayor should have done better after a fast break move but it remained 1-0 at the break.

Everton started the second half with a burst of enthusiasm but once Spurs had shaken off the half time cobwebs, the slick possession football resumed.

More often than not van der Vaart was at the heart of things, dropping into space and playing pinpoint pass after pinpoint pass. He was ably assisted by Modric who again looked top class and capable of creating space where none existed. Bale had something of an off night, maybe Phil Neville really does have his number?

It mattered not though as his left wing partner Assou-Ekotto provided the moment of genius for Spurs second. The ball broke to the coolest left back in football 30 yards out and he took a touch to set himself before launching a 30 yard rocket past Howard. It may have taken the slightest of deflections on the way through but no one is taking this goal away from Benny.

Spurs were never really in danger of losing this one. Friedel didn’t have a shot to save and the back four remained untroubled for the most part. Dawson and Kaboul dealt easily and efficiently with any Everton attack that got past the half way line but the majority of the keeper and defenders night was taken up recycling possession. Jake Livermore put in his best performance yet for Spurs. Scott Parkers absence wasn’t felt as Jake easily won the majority of his duels and linked defence and attack with ruthless efficiency. Adebayor had a frustrating night in front of goal but as always worked hard and always looked to bring his team mates into play.

Spurs tonight looked like the title challengers they must now be considered. It was the kind of performance that we’ve all seen Manchester United put on time again as teams look to defend and minimize damage.

Look out Manchester, North London’s finest are closing the gap. They’ve also opened a much bigger gap on their London rivals.

That’s how you deal with a game in hand!

COYS

Stuart Watts