Everton  1 -   Tottenham Hotspur  2  -      (Half-time score : -)

Howard

Neville
Yobo
Stubbs
Lescott

Osman
Carsley
Fernandes (Hibbert 86)
Arteta

Anichebe (Naysmith 46 [Vaughan 90])
Beattie

Unused subs: 
Wright
Anderson

Robinson

Chimbonda
Dawson
Gardner
YP Lee

Lennon (Malbranque 81)
Jenas
Zokora
Tainio

Keane (c)
Berbatov

Unused subs: 
Cerny
Stalteri
Ghaly
Defoe

Arteta 43

Tottenham Hotspur

Berbatov 35
Jenas 89

     
Anichebe (foul)
Neville (foul)  

     
Dawson (foul) 42  
 

The first half started with Spurs having to defend a number of corners, which luckily were not too threatening.  What was threatening was the Everton tackling, with Anichebe going into Uriah Rennie's book for a clattering of Gardner, while Phil "Pretty BOY" Neville followed suit for going in late on Berbatov.  From the latter's free-kick, Chimbonda got around the back, but was too deep to head goalwards and his header nestled in the side-netting.

Most of the shooting opportunities in the first period seemed to be from distance, with Anichebe Fernandes and Leon Osman firing wide at the Spurs end and Robbo making a low save to another Osman effort, while Aaron Lennon hit Howard from 25 yards at the other.  It was Spurs who took a 35th minute lead when Teemu Tainio won the ball in midfield, as it was hoped he would against the hard-working Everton middle four.  The ball was picked up by Lennon, who attacked the line and pulled the ball back low to Dimitar Berbatov, who struck the ball into the top right hand corner past Howard for 1-0.  It was a well-crafted goal and one which gave Spurs confidence.

However, what didn't give Spurs confidence was Rennie's reading of his linesman's flag.  The assistant ref was clearly signalling for a foul by Anichebe on Dawson, but the referee gave the decision the other way and then booked the Tottenham centre-half for the privilege.  To add further insult to injury, Arteta whipped in the dead ball from 20 yards out and his shot was powerful enough to beat Robinson into the bottom corner of the goal.  Coming three minutes before the break it was a blow, but Tottenham had played well in the first half and should have taken  that forward into the second half.  However, bringing Naysmith on for Anichebe freed Osman to push forward more and this gave Spurs problems.  His shooting brought a good stop from the Spurs keeper and then another flew just wide, while Mikel Arteta twice tried his luck again from free-kicks but got it too high and then too wide.  That was something Chimbonda did when he won another header in the Everton box from a corner, but got underneath it to put it over the crossbar.

The game was opening up a little and Spurs hit on the break with Berbatov bringing a save out of Tim Howard before Osman once more had a chance, but put his header wide of the goal from around the penalty spot.  Malbranque was introduced to replace the tiring Lennon and his astute play helped the side settle down and start moving towards the opposition's goal.  Berba hit a shot from the edge of the box that went wide, then Robbie missed the target when put in just six yards out.  However, the missed chances were not going to be rued tonight, as Steed passed through to Jenas, who showed his scoring prowess with a curler from 20 yards past Howard and in for the winner.  Coming just after David Moyes had taken Manuel Fernandes off and put on a defender in the shape of Hibbert, it sent the crowd into a chorus of boos as the Spurs fans cheered the goal that came late enough to prevent the Toffees getting anything back.

A good win and one which was most unexpected, but hopefully, it will launch a good run-in to the end of the season to push the team up towards the top six places in the league.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - DIMITAR BERBATOV

BRUCE GROVE