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Coming into the fixture, the odds seemed to be stacked against Everton, with the Toffees failing to score a goal in their last 3 games against Spurs.

However, with Sean Dyche’s side looking to have regained a fighting spirit in recent weeks, many blues were still hopeful for a result. Luckily, this fighting spirit was definitely evident in the game to come.

FIRST HALF

The game began as many expected. Tightly contested with the ball changing possession frequently.

As the first half progressed, Spurs looked dangerous in transition, finding success with the switch ball out to full back Porro and Perisic who both kept very high and wide starting positions.

Harry Kane had a couple of big chances coming from the wing backs early on, with one being cleared off the line by a defiant Michael Keane and another headed chance whistling past the post. Dyche’s side regrouped and grew in confidence as the half went on.

Their best chance fell to Abdoulaye Doucoure when Dwight McNeill whipped in a brilliant ball and Doucoure found himself with a free header in the centre of the opposition box, though he could not convert.

HALF TIME THOUGHTS

Half time seemed to arrive quickly, I left my seat to use the toilet and almost slipped over on my return to the amusement of a Gwladys street steward. Funnily enough, this slight slip that I managed to save would come to characterise Everton’s second half…

SECOND HALF

Everton started the second half really strongly, winning the ball high up the pitch through the excellent work rate of the midfielders and front three.

An excellent chance fell to Idrissa Gueye early as a result of this press, Gueye found himself on the edge of the box with the ball at his feet, with options on his left and right.

Gueye made the poor decision to shoot and the ball flew over the crossbar, perhaps the chance fell to the wrong midfielder.

Everton continued to mount the pressure onto Spurs in the second half and limited their opponents to only a couple of half chances early in the second half until in the 58th minute the game was flipped on its head.

After Demarai Gray was fouled in the middle of the pitch, tensions flared and Doucoure became too involved, lashing out at Spurs captain Harry Kane.

The referee of course swiftly sent Doucoure for an early shower; I for one just hope his absence in the next few fixtures will not come to haunt us in our relegation battle.

Spurs immediately seized control following the red card, and 10 minutes later in the 68th minute Christian Romero baited Michael Keane into a soft foul that won Tottenham a penalty that Harry Kane calmly slotted into the bottom left corner.

I along with many Blues near me could not help but feel the mountain would be too steep to climb for a side that scores as few goals as Everton, however the reaction from the players to going behind was excellent.

Tottenham made the strange decision to sit back after going ahead, inviting pressure from the revitalised Blues.

Onana and Gueye worked doubly as hard in midfield and Everton hung onto the game. Uncharacteristically, Sean Dyche would make four substitutions late in the second half that seemed to spur the Blues on and in the 88th minute the numbers would be levelled up when Tottenham substitute Lucas Moura saw red after a late challenge on Michael Keane.

The Goodison crowd were now believing again, screaming for an equaliser.

The equaliser would come in dramatic fashion in the 90th minute when Michael Keane channelled his inner Vincent Kompany and rifled the ball past Lloris from 25 yards out.

Goodison Park went into complete delirium, I myself lost both a shoe and my phone in the celebrations.

The players did not rest on the equaliser, mounting the pressure onto a shaky Spurs defence in the last few minutes. James Tarkowski came closest to the elusive winner with a shot from inside the box that was deflected out for a corner.

FINAL WHISTLE

The full-time whistle blew and all things considered everyone in Goodison was mightily pleased with the hard-fought point. In a roller coaster of a game Sean Dyche’s side yet again proved to the fans that they are going to fight tooth and nail to keep Everton in the Premier league.

Mathew Fallon