In yet another performance without a goal, Tottenham Hotspur battled to secure their first win of the season but ultimately failed as Everton held Spurs to a goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There were four changes made to the XI from the Nottingham Forest draw. Two of those were injury enforced, as both fullbacks in the shape of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie were missing from the squad, replaced by Andy Robertson and Archie Gray. The other two were more tactical in nature, as Mateus
Fernandes came in for Conor Gallagher at the #10 and Mathys Tel was dropped for Dominic Solanke, with Omar Marmoush shifting to the left to accommodate.
Yet another half went by with Spurs failing to score, but not for want of trying. The Lilywhites were dominant from the opening whistle, piling the pressure of the Everton defense as the Toffees struggled to even get out of their half. Despite this, clear-cut scoring opportunities were still lacking, as Jan Paul van Hecke had the best chance of the half, peeling off the Everton backline to meet a Robertson free kick only to shank his shot over the bar from close range.
Mateus Fernandes also found himself in shooting positions on two occasions, with space to open the scoring if he shot quickly, but both times took too many touches as the Everton defenders recovered. The flurry of early chances appeared to stoke Everton into life as they began to look more comfortable on the ball, enjoying a late spell of possession but never really threatening in a goalless first half.
Things continued to even up initially in the second half, with Everton starting to threaten on a more regular basis. Tyrique George, who had the beating of Gray on several occasions, created space for a cross into a threatening area as Thierno Barry rose high to meet the ball, with Antonin Kinsky scrambling to stop Barry’s headed effort. Kinsky was to the fore not long after as well, passing the ball straight to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as the Spurs keeper looked to play out from the back. Dewsbury-Hall immediately looked to shoot but Kinsky did well to make himself big and block the attempt.
A number of changes were made by both sides, before Dewsbury-Hall picked up the first caution of the match, scything down Sandro Tonali from behind in an awful tackle. Spurs had more of the possession, but Everton continued to knock on the door, this time via ex-Spurs winger Brennan Johnson who was found at the top of the box by Dewsbury-Hall, the Welshman surprisingly unable to direct his shot on target.
Spurs continued to push for the elusive goal. James Maddison made a late appearance in an effort to generate more creativity in the final third, and Savio and Tonali both had half-chances blocked by the Everton defense. Spurs’ final chance came by way of Lucas Bergvall, with the Swede looking to celebrate a new contract with a goal. His low strike from distance looked to be heading towards the bottom corner, but a big palm from Jordan Pickford ensured the points were shared.
Reactions
- I’m starting to feel like Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore screaming at his golf ball to get in the hole. Maybe Spurs should try doing that with the matchball before kick-off and they might have better luck?
- Some records for you: that’s the first goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the first time in Spurs’ history they have gone four matches without scoring a goal. Not great, Bob!
- That said, the opening 15 minutes were probably the best 15 minutes I’ve seen from Spurs in some time. More of that please.
- Both players played well, but there’s just not enough forward impetus in a Rodrigo Bentancur-Sandro Tonali double pivot. What do we need to do to see Mateus Fernandes play a deeper role?
- I’m very, very glad Brennan Johnson didn’t Brennan us. He had the big chance mentioned in the report above when Dewsbury-Hall found him with a square ball, and there was another moment in the second half where Brennan made one of his runs towards the back post where George had multiple opportunities to play the Welshman in but instead went himself.
- Dominic Solanke… I just don’t see it. He’s offering just so little to the attack right now, but Spurs don’t really have any other options (outside of Marmoush). The decision not to register Richarlison just feels bizarre, and we could have used his chaos today.
- On that, it was curious seeing Mathys Tel get a chance at striker today, though it didn’t go too well. Once he shifted up front, Spurs did seem to struggle with the lack of a focal point, and the already-limited cohesion seemed to drop off even more.
- Despite some of Spurs’ high-quality play in possession, the fact they only created 0.64 xG (vs Everton’s 1.17) is telling as to how dysfunctional the attack is right now. Sure, players need time to gel, but there’s a real inability to turn possession into chances.
- It doesn’t get any easier from here as Spurs head to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the League Cup in midweek.
- COYS.
