Everton eased their relegation worries with a narrow 3-2 win over error-ridden Tottenham Hotspur, heaping more pressure on Ange Postecoglou in the process.
The Toffees have not beaten Spurs at Goodison Park since 2012 when stoppage-time goals from Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic sealed a memorable comeback victory for David Moyes.
Moyes’ return to Everton dugout didn’t go to plan against Aston Villa in midweek, but there was a completely different feeling on Merseyside after Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring with a smart low finish after good work from Idriss Gueye.
Calvert-Lewin had gone 16 games without a goal but showed immense confidence to turn Archie Gray and Ben Davies inside before curling a shot past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Tottenhamstriker is missing Dominic Solanke after suffering a knee injury in training, he should have equalized through Son Heung-min ten minutes later, but his tame effort from Dejan Kulusevski was smothered by Jordan Pickford. The Spurs captain was made to pay for his profligacy shortly after Everton mercilessly exploited a number of schoolboys defending against the visitors.
Iliman Ndiaye turned behind Gray and after Radu Dragusin failed to catch the 24-year-old, he strolled into the penalty area with some guile before firing past Kinsky into the roof of the net.
Orel Mangala was denied by the post before Ndiaye’s goal, but Everton were not to be denied a third before half-time as the hapless Gray, drawn in a back three alongside the hapless Dragusin and Ben Davies, deflected Calvert-Lewin’s shot across the six-yard box.
Spurs brought on Richarlison for Dragusin at the break – the latter suffering a nasty blow to the head late in the first half – but James Maddison’s high and wide shot with just over 15 minutes remaining was their first try of any kind in 40 minutes.
Spurs, perhaps recognizing how ordinary their performance was, managed to get on the scoresheet a few moments later through Kulusevski – the Swede excellently slotting over the Everton wall in a moment of real quality.
Everton, an attacking threat throughout, retreated into their shell as Moyes made defensive substitutions and former hero Richarlison set up the finishing touch in the stands when he turned Mikey Moore’s cross from close range.
Everton held on though, securing a big win and building a four-point lead over Ipswich Town ahead of their clash with Manchester City at Portman Road.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Jordan Pickford |
6.7/10 |
|
RB: Jake O’Brien |
7.0/10 |
|
CB: James Tarkowski (c) |
7.7/10 |
|
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite |
7.1/10 |
|
LB: Vitaly Mikolenko |
6.7/10 |
|
CM: Eagle Mangala |
7.4/10 |
|
CM: Idrissa Gana Gueye |
8.7/10 |
|
RM: Jesper Lindström |
7.9/10 |
|
in the morning: Abdoulaye Doucoure |
6.6/10 |
|
LM: Iliman Ndiaye |
8.0/10 |
|
CF: Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
8.4/10 |
|
UNDER: Ashley Young (70′ for Lindstrom) |
6.1/10 |
|
UNDER: Nathan Patterson (81′ for Ndiaye) |
ON |
|
UNDER: Michael Keane (88′ for O’Brien) |
ON |
Substitutes not used: Asmir Begović (GK), Joao Virginia (GK), Harrison Armstrong, Jack Harrison, Beto, Martin Sherif.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Antonin Kinsky |
6.5/10 |
|
CB: Archie Gray |
4.7/10 |
|
CB: Radu Dragusin |
5.1/10 |
|
CB: Ben Davies |
6.0/10 |
|
RWB: Pedro Porro |
7.0/10 |
|
CM: Pope Sarr |
6.6/10 |
|
CM: Lucas Bergvall |
7.2/10 |
|
LWB: Grandpa Spence |
7.4/10 |
|
in the morning: Dejan Kulusevski |
7.8/10 |
|
in the morning: James Maddison |
6.7/10 |
|
ST: Son Heung-min (c) |
6.6/10 |
|
UNDER: Richarlison (46′ for Dragusin) |
6.9/10 |
|
UNDER: Mikey Moore (74′ for Sarr) |
6.8/10 |
Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusesi, Min-Hyeok Yang, Sergio Reguilon, Damola Ajayi, Will Lankshear.
Player of the match – Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton)
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