Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton. Premier League.
White Hart LaneAttendance35,865.
Sunday 30 August 2015 11:55, UK
Tim Howard produced a number of good saves but Tottenham once again lacked a cutting edge during a 0-0 draw with Everton at White Hart Lane.
Harry Kane, still without a goal this season, squandered the hosts' best chance when he was put clean through by Ryan Mason in the first half but shot straight at Howard's legs.
Kane also had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half and Nacer Chadli, Mason and Nabil Bentaleb could also have done better with decent opportunities.
Everton were always a threat on the break and Arouna Kone almost snatched three points for the visitors when he headed a Bryan Oviedo cross just wide of the far post late on.
Spurs have now drawn their last three Premier League matches and remain winless from their opening four of the campaign, while Everton's resoluteness has ensured their fifth point.
And while they will praise Howard for ensuring that point, Spurs will be kicking themselves for a lack of conviction in front of his goal.
Nabil Bentaleb missed the target on 15 minutes with a first time effort from Chadli's cut-back and then Everton immediately tested Hugo Lloris at the other end with a long-range shot from Tom Cleverley.
Kane, who has scored just twice in his last 12 Premier League outings, timed his run perfectly to beat two defenders on the halfway line and latch on to Mason's pass, but hesitated enough to allow Howard to halt his effort just short of the half-hour mark.
Spurs closed the half strongly, with Mason going close after breaking into the box and Toby Alderweireld forcing Howard to tip over with a header, but Everton suffered a blow when Cleverly twisted his ankle and had to be stretchered off.
And the stretcher was needed in the second period to remove Mousa Dembele after he also seemed to twist an ankle, after setting up Kane for another blocked effort in front of goal.
Dembele was replaced by Dele Alli and he had shouts for a penalty turned down after appearing to be felled inside the box, but the home side's attacks began to peter out as they sensed another fruitless day was looming.
Tottenham: Lloris 7; Walker 6, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 7, Rose 6; Bentaleb 6, Dier 7; Chadli 6, Mason 7, Dembele 7; Kane 6
Subs used: Alli 6, Pritchard 6
Everton: Howard 8, Coleman 7, Stones 6, Jagielka 6, Oviedo 6, Barry 7, Cleverley 6, McCarthy 6, Barkley 6; Kone 7, Lukaku 6
Subs: Mirallas 6, Naismith 6, Deulofeu 6
Man of the match: Tim Howard
