Goodison Park, Liverpool
Saturday 9th May 2009, Kick Off 15:00
Premier League, Match 36
REFEREE: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
COMMENT:
Spurs travel to Everton for their penultimate away League fixture of 2008-09 on Saturday and Everton are the only team in the Premier League who could possibly do the 'Double' over Spurs this season, having already won at White Hart Lane in November in what was Harry Redknapp's only home defeat so far.
Last season, three teams did the 'Double' over Spurs - Arsenal, Birmingham City & Newcastle United, while Spurs had double League wins over Portsmouth, Derby County and Reading.
Tottenham have only chalked-up the one 'Double' so far this season (against West Ham United) but have the potential to add both Manchester City and Liverpool to the list before the season is over.
A deflected shot from Steven Pienaar proved decisive in that game which Spurs were very unlucky to come away empty-handed. Until a few years ago, the Everton League fixtures were pretty much a guaranteed six points for Spurs but the tables have been turned recently and Spurs have gone the last three fixtures without a win against the Merseysiders.
Everton are in fine form under David Moyes and are ahead of Aston Villa for fifth place while Spurs are also in with a chance of UEFA Europa League football next season if they can nick seventh spot off West Ham United, Fulham and Manchester City, who we play at home after the Everton game.
Tottenham's recent home League form has been quite remarkable - 6 consecutive clean sheets including 5 wins - and they're on course to set a new all-time club record of the fewest home goals conceded in a League season. So far, Spurs have conceded just 9 League goals at home so far this season with the all-time record standing at 11.
However, Everton must be odds-on to win this one, as Tottenham's away form has been very patchy this season. I suspect Harry will be more than happy to come away with a point.
Darren Bent and Michael Dawson are both out injured but aside from that, Harry has a full squad to choose from. I suspect he'll opt for a partnership of Keane & Defoe upfront with Pavlyuchenko making an appearance at around the hour mark.
TEAM NEWS:
Everton right-back Tony Hibbert has been ruled out with the neck injury that caused him to miss the Toffees' victory at Sunderland last weekend.
Defender Lars Jacobsen and midfielder Leon Osman face late fitness tests.
Everton (from):
Howard, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Vaughan, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha, Jo, Rodwell, Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Gosling.
Tottenham's Aaron Lennon (groin), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (foot) and David Bentley (hamstring) look set to miss out along with Jamie O'Hara (knee).
Didier Zokora is also out with a groin injury, with Michael Dawson and Darren Bent already on the sidelines.
Tottenham (from):
Gomes, Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Huddlestone, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Palacios, Modric, Keane, Campbell, Chimbonda, Corluka, Defoe, King, Woodgate, Bostock, Parrett, Gilberto.
Everton manager David Moyes praises Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
"I'm looking forward to seeing Harry. He has done a brilliant job at Tottenham and turned them around since he took over.
"I think Harry has got them a bit tougher and tighter but they will continue to play Tottenham-type football.
"I don't think you could have doubted the squad of players. Most people in the country would have been tipping them to finish in the top six this year.
"It shouldn't be a surprise to people that they are now doing well. In people like Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas they have some fabulous football players."
Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas:
"They always pack out the midfield, they have a holding midfield player and the forwards drop off in there as well.
"They aren't scared of putting in a tackle, they win headers that's how David Moyes likes his teams to play.
They're a tough side to play, very consistent and tough to beat at Goodison although we've had a good record there in recent seasons. We're on a good run and we're looking forward to it."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
FA Cup finalists Everton are already assured of a place in Europe and involved in a scrap with Aston Villa for fifth place to determine which club goes into the play-Off round for the Europa League and which will have to contest a third Qualifying Round tie. The Toffees, who will enter the play-off round anyway if they win the FA Cup, lie two points behind Villa with three to play.
Carling Cup runners-up Tottenham are one of four clubs pursuing a seventh placed finish and possible entry into Europe. Spurs are one point below West Ham, who currently hold seventh place.
This match pits the club to have lost the most matches in Premier League history (Everton, 251 defeats) against the one to have let in most goals (Spurs, 888 conceded).
Tottenham's 0-1 loss in the reverse fixture on 30 November was Harry Redkanpp's first home defeat in charge.
Everton have only beaten Tottenham twice in home Premier League matches and have recorded one victory in the last 11 against them at Goodison; 3-1 on 9 April 2004.
Despite failing to score in their last two games against Everton, the Londoners have gained more victories (17), scored more goals (51) and secured more points (62) against Everton than any other club in the Premier League.
Distance between the clubs: 215 miles (345 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
EVERTON
6th 56 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 5th
Lowest could fall: 6th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Ever-presents in the Premier League; never finished higher than fourth (2004-05) or lower than 17th, and averaging 12th.
2. Never finished consecutive seasons in the top-half of the Premier League until last year - now they're certain to register three in a row, and could equal last terms fifth place.
3. The current total of 56 points after 35 games is six points down on last season, when fifth in the table.
4. Victory here would only be their second home win against a current top-half club; the first was against Fulham.
5. The 1-2 defeat to Manchester City in their most recent outing at Goodison Park brought an end to an eight-match unbeaten home sequence.
6. Already recorded home and away victories over Bolton, Stoke, Sunderland and West Brom, and could also complete the double over West Ham, Fulham and Tottenham.
7. Their last three fixtures are all against London opposition. Of the seven already played against clubs from the capital, the first, away to Arsenal, was lost. The next three were won against Fulham (h), West Ham (a) and Tottenham (a), and the most recent three were drawn, against Chelsea (h), Arsenal (h) and Chelsea (a).
8. Still to host West Ham and visit Fulham, after this.
Fixtures
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
10th 47 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 10th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Won six of the last nine.
2. Five points up on this same stage last season, when 11th in the table - their final placing.
3. Completed 10 Premier League games since failing to score; the longest current run of any club.
4. Dropped just eight points from winning positions, drawing one and losing two. Only Chelsea has dropped fewer (seven).
5. Lost the last two on the road, conceding seven goals in the process.
6. Four goals short of conceding 500 away from home in the Premier League.
7. Won four away league games this term. Three of those were against clubs currently in the top-half (Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City), and one against a bottom-half side (Hull).
8. Ever-presents in the Premier League, but never finished higher than fifth (2005-06 and 2006-07) or lower than 15th, averaging a 10th placed finish.
9. Their home games have produced fewer goals than any other club (28; 19 for, nine against), and their away matches have yielded more than any other club in the Premier League (55; 23 for, 32 against).
10. A home fixture against Manchester City and a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool remain after this.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
EVERTON
Tim HOWARD is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Everton's league and cup matches this season.
Tim CAHILL and Marouane FELLAINI are the club's leading Premier League scorers with eight goals each.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Darren BENT is Tottenham's top scorer of Premier League goals with 12.
BENT is also a double shy of 100 career league goals (Ipswich, Charlton and Tottenham).
If selected:-
BENT will be making his 250th career league appearance, and 300th in all club competitions.
Jermain DEFOE will be making his 250th Premier League appearance (West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth).
HEAD TO HEAD
Tottenham have not lost in four Premier League visits to Everton; they won three in a row, then it was 0-0 last season.
Three points would see the Merseysiders doing the double over Tottenham for the first time in the Premier League. The last league season they defeated Spurs home and away was 1985-86.
The club playing at home has not won in six Premier League meetings between these sides.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Everton 46 wins, Spurs 53, Draws 44
Prem: Everton 5 wins, Spurs 17, Draws 11
at Everton only
League (inc PL): Everton 30 wins, Spurs 17, Draws 24
Prem: Everton 2 wins, Spurs 7, Draws 7
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Everton 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
30 January 2008 - Ref: Andre Marriner
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Everton
30 November 2008 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Everton scorers: Pienaar 51
MARK LAWRENSON'S (BBC) PREDICTION:
Everton had disastrous results at home at the start of the season but since then they've been very tough to beat at Goodison Park.
Tottenham will go there and play but Everton are solid even without the injured Phil Jagielka, who has been their rock at the back.
Verdict: Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Saturday's game will be the 163rd encounter between Everton and Spurs, who have never met before in a major English domestic Cup Final. In fact, the two teams have never met in over 40 years of competing in the League Cup.
They have played together in some exotic locations though, including Vienna, Prague and even Argentina!
The only other match played at a neutral venue was the 1995 FA Cup Semi-Final at Elland Road, home of Leeds United.
Here are the results of the previous 162 matches with Spurs' score shown first:
Friendly 22-Apr-1897 - H W 2 - 1 Lanham, Newbigging
Friendly 01-Jan-02 - A L 1 - 3 Smith
F.A. Cup 1 06-Feb-04 25,000 A W 2 - 1 Woodward, Balmer og
Tour 07-May-05 - A L 0 - 2 (Vienna)
Tour 16-May-05 - A L 0 - 1 (Prague)
F.A. Cup 1 11-Jan-08 21,000 A W 0 - 1
Tour 05-Jun-09 - A D 2 - 2 Tull, Middlemiss (Palermo, Argentina)
Tour 19-Jun-09 - A L 0 - 4 (Palermo, Argentina)
Division 1 04-Sep-09 20,000 A L 2 - 4 Minter, Middlemiss
Division 1 08-Jan-10 24,000 H W 3 - 0 Steel R, Middlemiss (2)
Division 1 01-Sep-10 22,000 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 17-Apr-11 20,000 H L 0 - 1
Division 1 02-Sep-11 25,000 A D 2 - 2 J McTavish, Young
Division 1 30-Dec-11 24,500 H L 0 - 1
Division 1 02-Sep-12 22,000 H L 0 - 2
Division 1 01-Jan-13 30,000 A W 2 - 1 Minter (2)
Division 1 22-Nov-13 22,000 H W 4 - 1 Bauchop, Bliss (2), Middlemiss
Division 1 28-Mar-14 15,000 A D 1 - 1 Sparrow
Division 1 02-Sep-14 9,000 H L 1 - 3 Cantrell
Division 1 01-Jan-15 17,000 A D 1 - 1 Bliss
Division 1 12-Mar-21 30,000 H W 2 - 0 Archibald, Seed
Division 1 27-Apr-21 23,000 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 25-Feb-22 34,871 H W 2 - 0 Wilson, Dimmock
Division 1 15-Mar-22 30,000 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 04-Sep-22 24,262 H W 2 - 0 Seed, Bliss
Division 1 01-Jan-23 20,000 A L 1 - 3 Lindsay
Division 1 12-Apr-24 14,606 H L 2 - 5 Walden, Lindsay
Division 1 19-Apr-24 20,000 A L 2 - 4 Lindsay, Raitt og
Division 1 13-Sep-24 35,039 H D 0 - 0
Division 1 17-Jan-25 30,000 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 12-Sep-25 37,506 A D 1 - 1 Dimmock
Division 1 23-Jan-26 22,805 H D 1 - 1 Thompson
Division 1 28-Aug-26 28,324 H W 2 - 1 Blair, Osborne
Division 1 15-Jan-27 35,986 A W 2 - 1 Blair, Dimmock
Division 1 01-Oct-27 7,716 H L 1 - 3 Townley
Division 1 11-Feb-28 29,149 A W 5 - 3 O'Callaghan (4), Dimmock
Division 2 25-Oct-30 25,265 A L 2 - 4 Smy (2)
Division 2 16-Mar-31 30,205 H W 1 - 0 Harper
Division 1 21-Oct-33 35,082 A D 1 - 1 Evans W
F.A. Cup 3 13-Jan-34 45,637 H W 3 - 0 Howe, Hunt GS, Evans W
Division 1 03-Mar-34 26,121 H W 3 - 0 Hunt GS (3)
Division 1 25-Aug-34 50,586 H D 1 - 1 Hall GW
Division 1 29-Dec-34 25,851 A L 2 - 5 McCormick, Hall AG
F.A. Cup 5 20-Feb-37 57,149 A D 1 - 1 McCormick
F.A. Cup 5 Replay 22-Feb-37 46,972 H W 4 - 3 Meek, Morrison (3)
F.A. Cup 5 11-Feb-50 72,921 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 11-Nov-50 47,125 A W 2 - 1 Baily, Medley
Division 1 31-Mar-51 46,651 H W 3 - 0 Walters, Bennett, Murphy
Division 1 04-Dec-54 31,554 H L 1 - 3 Baily
Division 1 09-Apr-55 42,219 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 17-Sep-55 42,851 A L 1 - 2 Walters
Division 1 21-Jan-56 37,119 H D 1 - 1 Smith R
Division 1 25-Dec-56 27,761 H W 6 - 0 Medwin, (2), Harmer (pen), Smith R (2), Stokes
Division 1 26-Dec-56 20,172 A D 1 - 1 Robb
Division 1 09-Nov-57 39,999 H W 3 - 1 Brooks, Smith R, Harmer (pen)
Division 1 05-Apr-58 30,149 A W 4 - 3 Smith (2), Clayton (2)
Division 1 11-Oct-58 37,794 H W 10 - 4 Ryden, Medwin, Harmer, Smith R (4), Stokes (2), Robb
Division 1 28-Feb-59 36,782 A L 1 - 2 Jones
Division 1 21-Nov-59 39,432 H W 3 - 0 Jones (pen), Harris og, King og
Division 1 09-Apr-60 57,959 A L 1 - 2 Jones
Division 1 20-Aug-60 50,393 H W 2 - 0 Smith R, Allen
Division 1 17-Dec-60 61,052 A W 3 - 1 Mackay, White, Allen
Division 1 04-Nov-61 54,234 A L 0 - 3
Division 1 24-Mar-62 47,343 H W 3 - 1 Jones, White, Greaves
Division 1 01-Dec-62 60,626 H D 0 - 0
Division 1 20-Apr-63 67,650 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 26-Oct-63 65,386 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 07-Mar-64 41,923 H L 2 - 4 Allen, Dyson
Division 1 29-Aug-64 55,148 A L 1 - 4 Jones
Division 1 19-Dec-64 41,994 H D 2 - 2 Greaves (2)
Division 1 09-Sep-65 40,022 A L 1 - 3 Mullery
Division 1 01-Jan-66 36,953 H D 2 - 2 Knowles, Saul
Division 1 22-Mar-67 50,108 A W 1 - 0 Greaves
Division 1 27-Mar-67 46,917 H W 2 - 0 Mullery, Gilzean
Division 1 23-Aug-67 53,809 H D 1 - 1 Gilzean
Division 1 29-Aug-67 57,790 A W 1 - 0 Saul
Division 1 17-Aug-68 56,570 A W 2 - 0 Greaves, Chivers
Division 1 08-Mar-69 44,882 H D 1 - 1 Morgan
Division 1 17-Dec-69 28,494 H X 0 - 0 (Match Abandoned 29th minute, floodlight failure)
Division 1 11-Mar-70 27,764 H L 0 - 1
Division 1 14-Mar-70 51,533 A L 2 - 3 Gilzean, Bond (pen)
Division 1 28-Nov-70 44,301 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 30-Jan-71 42,105 H W 2 - 1 Gilzean, Chivers
Division 1 06-Nov-71 40,005 H W 3 - 0 Pratt, Chivers (2)
F.A. Cup 5 26-Feb-72 50,511 A W 2 - 0 Gilzean, Peters
Division 1 01-Mar-72 21,601 A D 1 - 1 Peters
Division 1 16-Dec-72 31,129 A L 1 - 3 Neighbour
Division 1 24-Feb-73 27,427 H W 3 - 0 Gilzean, Chivers, Pearce
Division 1 03-Nov-73 37,827 A D 1 - 1 Perryman
Division 1 30-Mar-74 19,839 H L 0 - 2
Division 1 09-Nov-74 29,052 H D 1 - 1 Chivers
Division 1 01-Feb-75 40,912 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 10-Dec-75 18,638 H D 2 - 2 Pratt, Duncan
Division 1 24-Feb-76 18,126 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 30-Oct-76 26,047 H D 3 - 3 McAllister, Osgood (pen), Pratt
Division 1 26-Mar-77 32,549 A L 0 - 4
Division 1 30-Dec-78 44,572 A D 1 - 1 Taylor
Division 1 05-May-79 26,077 H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
Division 1 24-Nov-79 31,079 A D 1 - 1 Jones
Division 1 19-Apr-80 25,245 H W 3 - 0 Miller, Ardiles, Galvin
Division 1 01-Nov-80 26,223 A D 2 - 2 Archibald (2)
Division 1 04-Apr-81 27,208 H D 2 - 2 Galvin, Crooks
Division 1 19-Sep-81 31,219 H W 3 - 0 Hughton, Roberts, Hoddle (pen)
Division 1 30-Jan-82 30,709 A D 1 - 1 Villa
Division 1 04-Sep-82 30,563 A L 1 - 3 Archibald
Division 1 03-Jan-83 28,455 H W 2 - 1 Gibson (2)
F.A. Cup 5 19-Feb-83 42,995 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 17-Sep-83 29,125 H L 1 - 2 Falco
Division 1 21-Jan-84 17,990 A L 1 - 2 Archibald
Division 1 25-Aug-84 35,630 A W 4 - 1 Falco, Allen C (2), Chiedozie
Division 1 03-Apr-85 48,108 H L 1 - 2 Roberts
Division 1 26-Aug-85 29,750 H L 0 - 1
Division 1 01-Feb-86 33,178 A L 0 - 1
SSS Cup SF 1L 05-Feb-86 7,548 H D 0 - 0
F.A. Cup 5 04-Mar-86 23,338 H L 1 - 2 Falco
SSS Cup SF 2L 19-Mar-86 12,008 A L 1 - 3 (a.e.t) Falco
Division 1 27-Sep-86 28,007 H W 2 - 0 Allen C (2)
Division 1 11-May-87 28,287 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 05-Sep-87 32,389 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 09-Mar-88 18,662 H W 2 - 1 Fairclough, Walsh
Division 1 03-Dec-88 29,657 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 22-Apr-89 28,568 H W 2 - 1 Walsh (2)
Division 1 22-Aug-89 34,402 A L 1 - 2 Allen
Division 1 09-Dec-89 29,374 H W 2 - 1 Stewart, Lineker
Division 1 18-Nov-90 23,716 A D 1 - 1 Howells
Division 1 24-Apr-91 21,675 H D 3 - 3 Allen, Mabbutt, Nayim
Division 1 05-Oct-91 29,505 A L 1 - 3 Lineker
Division 1 25-Apr-92 36,340 H D 3 - 3 Stewart, Minton, Allen
FA Prem 05-Sep-92 26,503 H W 2 - 1 Allen, Turner
FA Prem 10-Feb-93 16,164 A W 2 - 1 Mabbutt, Allen
FA Prem 03-Oct-93 27,487 H W 3 - 2 Sheringham, Anderton, Caskey
FA Prem 26-Mar-94 23,460 A W 1 - 0 Sedgley
FA Prem 24-Aug-94 24,553 H W 2 - 1 Klinsmann (2)
FA Prem 17-Dec-94 32,813 A D 0 - 0
F.A. Cup SF 09-Apr-95 38,226 Elland Road, Leeds L 1 - 4 Klinsmann (pen)
FA Prem 22-Oct-95 33,629 A D 1 - 1 Armstrong
FA Prem 02-Dec-95 32,894 H D 0 - 0
FA Prem 24-Aug-96 29,669 H D 0 - 0
FA Prem 12-Apr-97 36,380 A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 29-Nov-97 36,670 A W 2 - 0 Vega, Ginola
FA Prem 04-Apr-98 35,646 H D 1 - 1 Armstrong
FA Prem 29-Aug-98 39,379 A W 1 - 0 Ferdinand
FA Prem 28-Dec-98 36,053 H W 4 - 1 Ferdinand, Armstrong (3)
FA Prem 14-Aug-99 34,539 H W 3 - 2 Sherwood, Iversen, Leonhardsen
FA Prem 15-Jan-00 36,144 A D 2 - 2 Armstrong, Ginola
FA Prem 05-Sep-00 36,010 H W 3 - 2 Rebrov (2, 1 pen), Ferdinand
FA Prem 13-Jan-01 32,290 A D 0 - 0
FA Prem 20-Aug-01 29,503 A D 1 - 1 Anderton
FA Prem 19-Jan-02 36,056 H D 1 - 1 Ferdinand
FA Prem 17-Aug-02 40,120 A D 2 - 2 Etherington, Ferdinand
FA Prem 12-Jan-03 36,070 H W 4 - 3 Poyet, Keane (3)
FA Prem 04-Oct-03 36,137 H W 3 - 0 Kanoute, Poyet, Keane
FA Prem 09-Apr-04 38,086 A L 1 - 3 Carr
FA Prem 02-Oct-04 38,264 A W 1 - 0 Pamarot
FA Prem 01-Jan-05 36,102 H W 5 - 2 Marney (2), Ziegler, Mendes, Keane
FA Prem 15-Oct-05 36,267 H W 2 - 0 Mido, Jenas
FA Prem 15-Apr-06 39,856 A W 1 - 0 Keane (pen)
FA Prem 26-Aug-06 35,540 H L 0 - 2
FA Prem 21-Feb-07 34,121 A W 2 - 1 Berbatov, Jenas
FA Prem 14-Aug-07 35,716 H L 1 - 3 Gardner
FA Prem 30-Jan-08 35,840 A D 0 - 0
FA Prem 30-Nov-08 35,742 H L 0 - 1
FA Prem 09-May-09 A
LAST TIME WE MET...
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Everton
Premier League, Sunday 30th November 2008 (Attn: 35,742)
Steven Pienaar's deflected effort early on in the second half was the only thing that separated the sides as we were defeated by Everton at White Hart Lane.
It was only our second defeat under Harry Redknapp's management, a first at home, and it puts the brakes on our climb up the Barclays Premier League table.
With the exception of Didier Zokora, who replaced the injured Jermaine Jenas, Harry Redknapp stuck with the same side that defeated Blackburn Rovers at The Lane seven days before.
Ledley King, Aaron Lennon, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Vedran Corluka and Benoit Assou-Ekotto all returned to the starting XI having sat out Thursday's UEFA Cup win over NEC Nijmegen.
As with the Blackburn game, this was a tight affair, and neither side could really stamp their authority on proceedings during the first half.
Tom Huddlestone went close with smart 16-yard effort on nine minutes before a lengthy spell in which the game was mainly played out in the middle of the park.
We were certainly holding our own in that particular battle, and we were the first to break out of it on 34 minutes.
Zokora picked up the ball and went on one of his trademark runs before picking out Lennon on the right side of the box, who should have done better with his chance that he blazed over.
The visitors then had their first effort on goal five minutes later, when Marouane Fellaini picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and hit a stinging shot which Heurelho Gomes palmed away.
We failed to clear our lines and the ball eventually came back to Fellaini on the edge of the box who had another shy on goal, again straight at Gomes, but this time the Brazilian held on.
But the best chance of the half fell to Darren Bent four minutes before the break, and our top scorer should have done much better with the opportunity.
Assou-Ekotto played a ball into the box with evaded Pavlyuchenko but fell to Bent 10 yards out, whose first time shot was tame and straight at Tim Howard.
He was nearly made to pay for the missed opportunity on the stroke of half-time when Tim Cahill swung in an excellent cross from the left and Louis Saha, an early replacement for the injured Yakubu, put his free header straight at Gomes.
We started the second half brightly when Assou-Ekotto hit a fantastic 30-yard strike only inches over, but we were to suffer the ultimate setback on 51 minutes.
The ball ran to South African midfielder Pienaar on the left-hand side of our box, and his shot struck Corluka to send the ball spinning away from Gomes and into the back of the net.
It was a bitter blow but we were determined to bounce back immediately, and Pavlyuchenko perhaps should have levelled two minutes later.
David Bentley deceived the defence by playing his free-kick from wide in low to the unmarked striker, who leaned back slightly and blazed his first-time shot well over from 10 yards.
At the other end, Pienaar went for his second of the match with a fierce 20-yard strike on 61 minutes, which Gomes parried away, but Everton have their goalkeeper Howard to ultimately thank for taking home the three points.
Bentley played a low ball in across the face of goal from the right on 73 minutes which Pavlyuchenko slid in on the end of, only for the American stopper to make a fantastic reflex save to deny the Russian.
Victor Anichebe, who had replaced Saha after yet another injury worry for the visitors, fired just inches wide in the closing stages as we went searching for the elusive equaliser.
But Everton stood firm in the face of a constant barrage of high balls into their box, and deservedly took the points back to Merseyside from The Lane for the third season in a row.
Spurs (4-4-2):
Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto (Bale, 68); Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone (Boateng, 76), Bentley; Pavlyuchenko, Bent (Campbell, 62)
Subs not used: Cesar, Gunter, Dawson, O'Hara
Everton (4-4-1-1):
Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Osman (Baines, 89), Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar; Cahill; Yakubu (Saha, 11 (Anichebe, 71))
Subs not used: Nash, Castillo, Rodwell, Gosling
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