Seamus Coleman hails ‘massive’ win as Everton leapfrog Tottenham into fourth place

Dec 10 2012 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

SEAMUS Coleman hailed Everton’s dramatic 2-1 win over Spurs and believes the victory could be vital in their fight to qualify for Europe.

The Republic of Ireland international played a part in a rousing finale at Goodison, providing the cross for Steven Pienaar’s 90th minute equaliser, before Nikica Jelavic scored in extra time to bag three points.

And Coleman, who recovered from an ankle injury to replace injured Tony Hibbert at right back, hopes the win will help the Blues capitalise on the Christmas fixture pile-up and stay in the mix for Europe.

He said: “It was a big game and a massive few points. Before the game I was at home looking at the table and it occurred to me that a win could really put us up there but with a defeat we were looking at maybe dropping down to ninth.

“I was really pleased to be back and involved in the goal. I thought I’d be fit for last week but unfortunately wasn’t so it was good to be back in the team. I thought I had done it again in the first half but fortunately I got up and ran it off. I felt good in the end.”

Coleman admits he feared Everton would be made to pay for not taking their chances before their late flourish

“I thought during the first half ‘here we go again’,” said the 24-year-old. “We were making chances and not taking them. I got into a few good positions myself and probably didn’t get the cross in I’d have liked, so that’s why in the end I was pleased I got my head up and picked out Pienaar.

“When we were making cross after cross and chance after chance I was thinking ‘someone please just score’.”

The Blues might have levelled in the first half had they been awarded a penalty when William Gallas appeared to handle Pienaar’ shot, but Coleman said match official Kevin Friend does not deserve too much criticism.

He added: “I thought it was a handball. Referees have hard jobs to get it right all the time and they do get some great decisions right but when they go against you like that it’s really frustrating. Thankfully for our sake we got the result we deserved.”