EVERTON secured a point thanks to a battling performance against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
The Toffees were good value for the draw, largely containing a strong Tottenham side who did not appear to be suffering from any mid-week Champions League lethargy.
Such is the strength of Harry Redknapp’s squad; the Londoners dealt with the leg-sapping defeat in the San Siro and still had a bench with the calibre of Roman Pavlyuchenko, Niko Kranjcar and Jermaine Jenas – not to mention the injured Jermaine Defoe, Michael Dawson and Verdan Corluka watching from the sidelines.
Spurs’ captain Luka Modric went closest to opening the scoring, snapping a low drive narrowly wide after prolonged possession from the home side on the edge of Everton’s box.
But the Toffees took the lead though thanks to a fantastic free kick from Leighton Baines. Yakubu cleverly won a free kick outside the Spur’s area when he was impeded by Younes Kabul, and Everton’s left-back curled a precise effort over the wall and into the top right hand corner.
The Blues had soaked up a considerable amount of pressure from Redknapp’s side, clearly emboldened by their second half fight-back against Italian giants Inter Milan in mid-week.
Their equaliser had none of the quality of the game’s first goal, but will have left David Moyes’ frustrated. Alan Hutton swung a cross into the area which Tim Howard mis-judged as he tried to claim. The ball reached Peter Crouch who nodded it across the goal, for Van Der Vaart to tap home.
Everton’s lead had lasted just two minutes.
Modric looked dangerous whenever he had the ball, and almost scored when he drifted in from the left flank and unleashed an exocet that smashed the hoardings just wide of Howard’s post.
Seamus Coleman’s pace won the Blues a free kick on the half hour when the Irishman was bundled over, but this time Baines’ delivery was not quite as precise as and sailed over the bar.
Yakubu was continuing in the bustling, industrious form he displayed in the Merseyside derby and used his physique to hold the ball up commendably.
In Mikel Arteta’s absence, Steven Pienaar was restored to the side after a month-long injury absence, and the South African was asked to be playmaker, operating in the centre of midfield. On the left flank, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov replaced the injured Leon Osman.
The game was finely balanced at the break, Spurs, however, wasted a good headed chance from Crouch just before the interval.
Spurs started the second half brightly, almost scoring twice. First Gareth Bale flashed a header just wide from substitute Sandro’s cross. Then Sylvain Distin missed a header which allowed the lurking Crouch through on goal, but the French defender recovered impressively to make the block and divert the ball safely back to Howard.
Everton were playing well, although they clearly missed the creative influence of Osman and Arteta. Pienaar battled admirably but short of match fitness, struggled to have his usual impish effect on the game.
With half an hour gone, Louis Saha made his first Everton appearance since the away defeat against Aston Villa, replacing a tiring Yakubu.
But it was Spurs who continued to press, Bale swapping wings to try his luck against Baines, and Crouch nimbly side-stepping a challenge to draw a low save. At the other end Tim Cahill, clearly buoyed by his first goal with his feet in a long while against Liverpool, sent another stinging drive close.
Jermaine Beckford replaced Seamus Coleman with seven minutes of normal time left.
But Spurs continued to threaten, and but for crucial blocks by Distin and substitute Tony Hibbert could have scored through Van Der Vaart.
As the clock raced down, Bilyaletdinov appeared to lose focus and allow Bale too much space.
Yet the Blues won a corner, Baines whipped it in and the ball was cleared only for Phil Neville to try an ambition right-footed volley from 30 yards which was full of venom if not accuracy – before the final whistle.
The draw moved the Blues temporarily up to ninth in the table, and given David Moyes’ growing injury list, is likely to be a result the Everton boss will take as a positive. The Blues are now unbeaten in four, and looking stronger by the game.
