Mauricio Pochettino: 'You never know what may happen. We have Christian Eriksen, Clinton N'Jie and Heung Min Son to come in, as Harry needs help. This has been a difficult period for us'

Published: 29 August, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 0, EVERTON 0

TOTTENHAM'S shaky start to the season continued today (Saturday) as they failed to break Everton down at White Hart Lane.

The 0-0 draw means Spurs have now taken just three points out of a possible 12 and have yet to win this term.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the game that he thought his team deserved victory after creating the lion's share of chances.

"It was a game we should have won," he said. "We were better than Everton."

He added that Harry Kane, who nearly opened his account in a one-on-one with Tim Howard in the first half that the Everton keeper did well to save, was on form despite carrying the burden of being the team's only genuine striker.   

“I was happy with Harry's performance," he said.

"His confidence is good at the moment. Sometimes the biggest players in the world do not score. We know not to put too much pressure on him."

But with Spurs firing blanks and Pochettino saying that the last days of the transfer window "could be busy", he is as aware that his team desperately need extra firepower.

Referring to potential signings, he added: "You never know what may happen. We have Christian Eriksen, Clinton N'Jie and Heung Min Son to come in, as Harry needs help. This has been a difficult period for us."

Everton settled well and Spurs found it hard to impose themselves. The visitors went close through Tom Cleverley on 15 minutes. Kyle Walker got in a tangle, Cleverley stepped in, but Hugo Lloris was equal to his drive.   

On 23 minutes, Kane sprung the offside trap via a delightful through-ball from Ryan Mason. With just Howard to beat, last season's goal machine saw his effort strike a leg and fly wide.

Other first-half highlights included Mason racing on to ball from Nacer Chadli but finding Howard equal to a scooped shot, and defender Toby Alderweireld watching his goal-bound header neatly tipped over.

In the second half, Tottenham's best moment came when Kane turned and finished well, only to have his shot disallowed for offside. Danny Rose and substitute Dele Alli also went close. But the lack of goals, and yet more points dropped in what is fast becoming a calamitous start, underlines the need for owner Joe Lewis, who was at the match on a rare visit to the Lane, to open the chequebook.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Bentaleb, Mason (Pritchard, 84), Kane, Dier, Dembele (Alli, 53), Chadli.
Subs: Vorm, Lamela, Trippier, Alli, Pritchard, Carroll, Davies.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

WELCOME back, Danny Rose. This time last year Ben Davies was brought in, supposedly to take Danny's spot. With Rose injured, Davies has been starting, but not impressive. Rose showed today why he is the first choice left-back.

Dele Alli's introduction for Mousa Dembele upped the tempo – but it's a bit much to be asking a 19-year-old to single-handedly turn the game around on his own.

Kane was crying out for help. The performance was such he had to drop deep in search of the ball, negating his attacking strengths.

Eric Dier is enjoying his run as a defensive centre midfielder, but surely this is a position, along with centre-forward, that Spurs must strengthen. He still looks like he is a short-term solution.