It augurs well for Everton’s latest fight against relegation, one that may be decided behind closed doors and not exclusively on the pitch, how they refuse to accept their fate and chase survival to the death. Their character denied Tottenham victory here and brought a valuable point in the bid to remain a Premier League concern.
Ange Postecoglou despaired at the final whistle and understandably so. Two superb goals from the former Everton favourite Richarlison had set Spurs on course for a sixth away win of the season. But a combination of Jordan Pickford’s defiance, Everton’s persistence and the visitors’ vulnerability at set pieces produced a thoroughly entertaining draw. Jack Harrison and Jarrad Branthwaite, timing his first goal of the season to perfection in the 94th minute, capitalised to rescue the home side.
“It is a difficult place to come and dominate but for the most part I thought we handled it OK,” said the Spurs manager. “We created some good chances in the second half and we needed the third goal to kill the game off. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold out.”
A long afternoon seemingly beckoned for Everton when Richarlison struck first. Destiny Udogie and Timo Werner carved open the home side’s right, with Ben Godfrey sucked out of position, and when the left-back crossed from the byline the unmarked Brazil international steered an emphatic volley into the roof of the goal.
It was Richarlison’s eighth goal in eight Premier League appearances, maintaining the vast improvement from a striker who scored two in his first 39 league outings for Spurs, although there was not a hint of celebration. He bowed in apology to the Gwladys Street stand, who added to the surreal scenes by applauding the opposition goalscorer.
Tottenham’s quick, fluid forward line continued to cause the Everton defence problems but the hosts hauled themselves back into the contest by stepping up the intensity and aggression. A glaring lack of quality with their final delivery, touch and decision, however, left Everton heavily reliant on set pieces for a way back. The deliberate ploy to put pressure on the Spurs goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, eventually told from a Dwight McNeil corner.
Vicario’s weakness at set pieces had been exposed in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City. Everton surrounded the keeper at every corner and when he palmed one to the back post, with Harrison leaning into him, James Tarkowski headed across goal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to mark his 200th league appearance with his first goal in 17 matches. Or so he thought. His header brushed Harrison as it crossed the line and was awarded to the on-loan winger. Vicario, looking on aghast as the referee, Michael Oliver, slowly awarded a goal and not a free-kick, had the bigger complaint.
Everton merited the equaliser for work rate and determination, although Spurs carried the superior threat. Werner again prospered down Everton’s right to find James Maddison, who turned the ball into the path of the visitors’ No 9. From the edge of the penalty area Richarlison curled an unstoppable shot beyond Pickford’s reach and into the top corner.
Spurs would have wrapped up victory long before it slipped through their grasp but for Pickford. He saved impressively from Pedro Porro, Maddison and Richarlison as the visitors continued to stretch the home defence.
Sean Dyche threw on every attacking option he had in pursuit of a second equaliser. Youssef Chermiti shot tamely at Vicario from a Lewis Dobbin cross while a third substitute, Beto, had two penalty claims rightly dismissed. The Everton manager was booked for his protests over Beto’s second collision with Radu Dragusin and was still complaining when James Garner whipped a free-kick into the heart of the Spurs area. Cristian Romero could only glance the ball into the path of Branthwaite, who made no mistake with a brave close-range header.
“The character has been there for a long time,” said the Everton manager, who awaits the outcome of next week’s appeal against the club’s 10-point deduction for a breach of financial rules. “When you add in quality, the togetherness of the group and the fans, it becomes much more powerful.”
