Premier League - Everton dent Spurs Euro hopes

Eurosport - Sat, 09 May 22:59:00 2009

Tottenham's hopes of playing European football next season were dealt a blow after a goalless draw against Everton at a soggy Goodison Park.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Everton's Steven Pienaar (L) challenges Tottenham Hotspur's Vedran Corluka (R) - 0

With Fulham beating Aston Villa at Craven Cottage, the stalemate on Merseyside saw Spurs lose ground in the race for a Europa League place.

West Ham, level 48 on points with Spurs, play Liverpool later on Saturday, while Manchester City, a point behind, can move above Spurs should they get something from the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Everton, meanwhile, moved to within a point of fifth-placed Villa, with two games remaining this season.

The Toffees have already sealed a place in Europe next season, and their performance during the first quarter of the game offered did little to suggest they have anything else to achieve in the league this season - their early showing smacked of a meaningless end-of-campaign run out.

Spurs capitalised on the hosts' initial lethargy, dominating the opening exchanges and refusing to allow Everton out of their own half for long periods.

Yet Harry Redknapp's side failed to make their early superiority count, Robbie Keane seeing a goalbound shot well blocked by Joseph Yobo in the seventh minute and Gareth Bale firing a twice-taken free-kick just over the ball soon after.

With the crowd voicing concern over their side's sluggish performance, Everton finally upped their game as the first half drew to a close; indeed the hosts went in at the break on top, although a goal would have been harsh on Spurs.

On 41 minutes, Jo caused panic in the Spurs' back line when he ran on to Steven Pienaar's through pass - Ledley King eventually blocked the Brazilian's effort with Heurelho Gomes off his line - while Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell both sent long-distance efforts off-target in quick succession.

Everton continued their resurgence after the break but, much like Spurs earlier on, they were incapable of converting chances into what really counts - goals.

Tim Cahill, on 58 minutes, and Pienaar, on 72 minutes, both went close with swerving efforts on goal while sandwiched between those chances, Dan Gosling struck an upright with an awkward shot that bounced up off the turf.

Immediately after the frame of the goal had come to Spurs' rescue, the visitors raced downfield where Jermain Defoe forged their best chance of the second half. The striker, back in the starting line-up alongside Keane, turned his man well before sending a curling effort just the wrong side of the post.

It proved the nearest the visitors came to snatching a winner as not even the introduction of Roman Pavlyuchenko as a third striker with nine minutes remaining made a difference to the result.

At the other end Everton were equally impotent in terms of providing a threat in front of goal and the full-time whistle was met by boos from the home crowd.

At least they have European football and an FA Cup final to look forward to - should results go against them elsewhere, Spurs could well finish the season with nothing at all.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 16 - 35 of 35

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  1. Well, West Ham and Man City lost, so it didn't hurt­ Spurs too badly. The author of this piece is obviously­ a Gooner, because only a gooner could find fault with a­ nil-all away draw to a top 6 team by a team that was­ holding up the Premier League for good portions of the­ first half of the season.

    From RAMBR0, on Tue 12 May 4:48PM

  2. you should of won everton what are you thinking fifth­ place could of been ours you @#$%s

    From frank r, on Sun 10 May 7:31AM

  3. Rosebud ur team of Paedos are forever up ur ARSEnal!­ Just worry about ur own club havin to really on the­ ladies team to fill ur trophy cabinet! Good Result Good­ luck to Everton in the Final! Yid Army!

    From brendancmullan, on Sat 9 May 10:15PM

  4. weve had 3 managers this year harry needs his players­ not ramos s or jol s judge us next year muppets

    From Spurs..xx, on Sat 9 May 8:57PM

  5. what has aresanal won this year @#$% all

    From Spurs..xx, on Sat 9 May 8:52PM

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Sat 9 May 8:24PM

  7. AUDERE EST FACERE

    From elly, on Sat 9 May 8:14PM

  8. every season spurs will claim they will maketop four­ that they are a big club.well if they cant win matches­ like this how will they mae top four.as for woodgate­ that make a statement of reaching top four has his­ performance been able to make the change?

    From efozia, on Sat 9 May 7:48PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    big club my ar*e!..... thought this was the year you­ mugs were gonna break into the top four?.... LOL....­ FOREVER IN OUR SHADOW! EIE

    From N5nipper, on Sat 9 May 6:45PM

  10. margaret(23) shouldnt you be doing housework or ironing­ or something, instead of talking @#$% on this forum.­ leave the football to the blokes and stay home doing­ the washing up.

    From phil, on Sat 9 May 6:45PM

  11. Come on, it wasn't Everton denting Spurs hopes, its­ the other way round, Everton were at home, the are­ above Spurs, Spurs had a load of injuries and lost the­ heart of their midfield, Wilson. Yet we held you to a­ draw.

    From liptonjanet, on Sat 9 May 6:00PM

  12. 'Knocked the cockspur out of Europe',Margaret­ (23)? What utter @#$% and just the kind of garbage we­ expect from an Arsenal supporter.

    From Mike, on Sat 9 May 5:51PM

  13. Everton dent Spurs Euro hopes? What b o l l o c k s -­ West Ham and Man City both have hard games this­ weekend, if they both lose then Spurs will stay 8th - a­ point or two from Fulham? This leaves us in a great­ place to catch 7th at the end.
    IMHO :D COYS!

    From lee, on Sat 9 May 5:37PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well done you toffees you knocked the cockspur out
    of­ europe they should have been relegated not trying
    to­ get into europe
    anexcited arsenal fan
    Margaret

    From Margaret, on Sat 9 May 5:18PM

  15. Poor journalism

    This was a good result for Spurs

    From a1londonboy, on Sat 9 May 5:16PM

  16. I hear a silly @#$% telling us spurs fans that­ we're deluded into thinking we want to qualify for­ the CL. Such @#$%!!!

    From Erskine Sam, on Sat 9 May 5:10PM

  17. Was always going to be a tough match, in the 1st half­ Spurs dominated but everton got in and much of the 2nd­ - but it petered out in the end. We're happy with­ the point, everton obviously thinking of the fa cup­ final.

    From denniovis, on Sat 9 May 5:07PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Spurs players and fans have some deluded thourght that­ they are good enough to play in the champions league­ maybe in ten years!!!!! possibly

    From tippersbob, on Sat 9 May 5:06PM

  19. An expected result but I had hoped for some goals.­ Spurs have done so well at Goodison in the past and I­ was concerned that they might grab a late win. I am­ worried about our inability to score with the final­ approaching and this must be of great concern to Moyes.

    From WILLIAM, on Sat 9 May 5:02PM

  20. Everton to win as they are a far better team. Spurs­ have done really well to get in a position to challenge­ for europe and deserve alot of credit but they have too­ many slackers like woodgate who love it when things go­ well but hide away when things are tough!­ COYB!!!!!!!!!!

    From Thomas, on Sat 9 May 12:21PM
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