Toffees down Tottenham

Away side take the points as Spurs prove toothless

By Rob Carragher   Last updated: 30th November 2008

Toffees down Tottenham

Pienaar: grabbed the only goal

Man of the match: Phil Jagielka. At the very heart of Everton's titantic backline performance.

Moment of the match: Pienaar's half time transformation. The winger returned from the break wearing Leon Osman's shirt and was certainly a different player in the second half, opening the scoring within minutes.

Attempt of the match: Saha should have given Everton the lead late in the first half, heading a pinpoint Arteta cross straight at Gomes in goal.

Save of the match: Howard pulled off a fantastic point blank save from Roman Pavlyuchenko when an equaliser looked certain.

Talking point: Will talk of relegation grip Tottenham once again?

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An impressive defensive display from Everton saw the Merseysiders come away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

A solitary goal from Steven Pienaar just after the break was enough to see Everton end Spurs' unbeaten home run under Harry Redknapp and give David Moyes a win in his 300th game in charge.

The only downsides for the visitors will be the injuries sustained by strikers Yakubu and his replacement Louis Saha - both players leaving the pitch during the game with what appeared to be serious problems.

Tottenham on the other hand will be left to bemoan their profligacy in front of goal in a game that they had dominated for large parts.

Opening exchanges

In general there was a lack of early goalmouth action, with the first chance coming courtesy of Tom Huddlestone's fizzed drive across the Everton goal.

Marouane Fellaini, who had drawn a foul from Benoit Assou-Ekotto that earned the defender a booking, sent in a dangerous cross from the left that required Heurelho Gomes to parry and Jonathan Woodgate to clear.

Gomes also leapt at Leon Osman's feet to clear and then saved twice from Fellaini in the same move when the Belgium midfielder unleashed a shot from the edge of the area.

Aaron Lennon then was presented a promising opportunity when Spurs broke, but his ugly finish flashed wide and over the crossbar.

Spurs came closer when David Bentley curled in a free-kick and Phil Jagielka headed just past his own post.

Darren Bent also found room on the edge of the area, latching on to a cross from the left by Assou-Ekotto, but his finish lacked power and was straight at Howard.

When Tim Cahill crossed just before the half-time whistle, Saha was given a free header but his finish was straight at Gomes, meaning the Brazilian goalkeeper could head down the tunnel with new coach Tony Parks with Spurs still level.

Breakthrough

Pienaar delayed kick-off for the second period by wearing Osman's shirt - then within six minutes he was whipping off his shirt when he celebrated the winner.

The South Africa midfielder was fouled by Lennon, with Moyes instructing his big defenders to join the attack - but Mikel Arteta took the free-kick quickly.

Pienaar's shot took a wicked deflection off Vedran Corluka to wrongfoot Gomes, then the dreadlocked midfielder wheeled away to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.

Pienaar was in the mood for a second and Gomes had to save his swerving effort from outside the area as Spurs defenders backed off.

Redknapp's response was bringing on Fraizer Campbell for Bent, then Lennon went on a run that ended in a foul and a yellow card for Fellaini.

Bentley put the free-kick into Howard's defensive wall, with home fans calling for a penalty for handball.

Roman Pavlyuchenko almost levelled when he was found at the near post - but Howard dived sharply to deny the Russia striker.

Campbell almost grabbed an equaliser deep in stoppage-time but his effort deflected just wide.

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