Published: 3 November 2013
By DAN CARRIER
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
EVERTON 0
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0
TOTTENHAM moved into the top four of the Premier League today (Sunday) after winning a point in a tightly contested nil-nil draw away at Everton.
Spurs now sit on 20 points, alongside Chelsea and Liverpool, five points off leaders Arsenal.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas said afterwards he was pleased with his side's performance, despite failing to capitalise on an excellent first half which saw them do everything but score at Goodison Park – a ground that this season has become a fortress, with Everton still to be beaten at home.
"It was a very tight, good game,” said Villas-Boas. “We had good moments and a great first half with pressing and good attacking combinations and we should have gone ahead. The second half evened things out but we still managed to slot in a couple of good situations. It is a good point. We could have gone second, but considering Everton's aspirations, it was important to gain a point.”
On 22 minutes, Jan Vertonghen was bundled over in the box by Seamus Coleman and it looked a penalty: but referee Kevin Friend controversially waved the appeals away.
Other chances included Roberto Soldado glancing a header wide and Andros Townsend firing a couple of efforts close.
At the back, a defence protected by Sandro was rarely troubled.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez sent his charges out for the second period with an intent missing from the first 45 and Spurs found themselves being asked questions, but Tottenham were equal to them.
On 58, Vertonghen played in Paulinho but his effort was blocked: otherwise Tottenham found themselves under increasing pressure as the half wore on.
On 75, Spurs finally broke from the siege and substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson sent a powerful shot goalwards, only to see Tim Howard push it away.
Down the other end, a speculative ball forward saw Hugo Lloris get a nasty knock on the head from Romelu Lukaku as he raced out to gather, but despite seemingly being knocked out, the French number one refused to leave the pitch as Andre Villas-Boas prepared to bring Brad Friedel on as a substitute.
A late rally from Spurs saw Sigurdsson have two decent efforts but neither side had the required nous to breakthrough. It means Spurs have conceded just one away goal this term. It's hitting the net up the other end that is proving difficult.
COMMENT by DAN CARRIER
Our north-European creative types must be wondering what exactly they have to do to cement a place in the starting XI.
Both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Christian Eriksen have had chances to show what they can do, and they have taken them: Sigurdsson has hit some good goals this term, such as his brace against Norwich, even though he has been shifted to the left flank, which is not his natural position.
Eriksen's zippy and imaginative performances mean he has been lauded as the direct heir to Luka Modric.
Yet both started on the bench – and with goals so hard for Spurs to come by, their exclusion from the start was confusing. When they did make late second half appearances, it was too late for them to exert influence.
At the other end of the pitch, defender Vlad Chiriches showed why Spurs went to Steaua Bucharest to capture his services. Neat on the ball, strong in the challenge, he has shown himself already well suited to the bustle of the Premiership.
