Premier League
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2EvertonEverton1

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Everton

By Tim OscroftBBC Sport
Roberto Soldado scores for Spurs
Roberto Soldado had not scored in the league since 2 March.
  • Soldado scores first league goal since March
  • Brilliant Mirallas opener cancelled out by Eriksen
  • Everton have late penalty claim for handball waved away

Tottenham's Roberto Soldado scored his first Premier League goal of the season with the winner as Spurs beat Everton 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

The hosts had fallen behind early on to a brilliant Kevin Mirallas strike.

But Christian Eriksen equalised six minutes later before the Spanish striker grabbed what turned out to be the deciding goal.

Everton, who had a late penalty claim for handball ignored, drop into 10th place while Spurs go seventh.

Tottenham 2-1 Everton: Brave Spurs please Pochettino

Defeat for Roberto Martinez's side ended an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, while counterpart Mauricio Pochettino finished a satisfying seven days that reaped three victories across domestic and European competition.

This season the Londoners had lost four of their league matches that, like this, followed on from a Europa League fixture on a Thursday but they showed few signs of tiredness until late in proceedings.

Spurs were energetic and combative from the outset but fell behind to superb piece of skill.

Mirallas followed up his match-clinching goal against Wolfsburg in the Europa League on Thursday with a sublime effort, bent in off the underside of the crossbar from outside the area after the Belgian had evaded Soldado following a free-kick.

Everton's Kevin Mirallas
When Kevin Mirallas (centre) scored after 15 minutes, it was the sixth time Spurs had conceded in the opening quarter of an hour of a match this season

The hosts hit back quickly when Harry Kane's shot on the run was pushed out by Tim Howard into the path of Eriksen, who guided the ball in past Gareth Barry on the goalline.

Kane was then instrumental in Spurs taking the lead, robbing Barry near halfway to set up Aaron Lennon.

The England international fed Soldado, who pushed forward before driving the ball past Howard for only his fourth goal of 2014.

Having taken a grip on proceedings just before the break, Spurs kept up their momentum when the match resumed with the impressive Kane bending in a shot that forced Howard into action.

Spurs handball went unpunished - Roberto Martinez

Federico Fazio was close to getting a touch to a teasing cross from Eriksen, while Everton had offered little to test the Spurs defence in the wake of Mirallas' goal.

Hugo Lloris dived at the feet of Seamus Coleman to deny the Irishman following a perceptive pass from Ross Barkley, but for all their growing pressure, Everton did not look threatening until late on.

The ball appeared to brush the hand of Fazio in the area after Leighton Baines had swung in a free-kick, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the Toffees' claims.

Oliver also ignored Spurs' own shout for a spot-kick when Kane went to ground deep into stoppage time, leaving the scoreline to remain for a result that means Pochettino's side have won all but one of their last seven outings.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino:

"Our mentality and our spirit today were fantastic. This is what we want. We need to keep this feeling.

"It is impossible always to win but with the spirit and mentality we showed today, it will be easier to win games.

"Everton have a very good squad and for us it is a little bit more than three points. It is important to grow and build on the victory."

Everton manager Roberto Martinez:

"I'll never blame a decision like that [not being awarded a late penalty] for not getting a result, it happens, it's part of the game.

"But I'm disappointed because Michael Oliver is a really good referee and when the ball contacted the arm he wasn't in an obstructed view. I think it should have been spotted.

"I would never blame a third party for us not getting a result though. We should be good enough to come to White Hart Lane and get a result."

Spurs' Christian Eriksen scores against Everton
Spurs' Christian Eriksen scored for the second game in a row when he cancelled out Everton's opener from Kevin Mirallas
Spurs Harry Kane
Spurs' Harry Kane was named man of the match for an influential performance, but could not add to his tally of 10 goals in all competitions this season.
Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto Martinez
Spurs have gained nine points from losing positions this season

Line-ups

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 6ChirichesBooked at 56minsSubstituted forDierat 70'minutes
  • 21Fazio
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 33DaviesBooked at 89mins
  • 38Mason
  • 42BentalebBooked at 90mins
  • 7LennonSubstituted forLamelaat 61'minutesBooked at 87mins
  • 18Kane
  • 23EriksenBooked at 90mins
  • 9SoldadoSubstituted forPaulinhoat 81'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Kaboul
  • 8Paulinho
  • 11Lamela
  • 13Vorm
  • 15Dier
  • 19Dembélé
  • 22Chadli

Everton

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 24Howard
  • 23Coleman
  • 6Jagielka
  • 15Distin
  • 3Baines
  • 17Besic
  • 18Barry
  • 11MirallasBooked at 43minsSubstituted forMcGeadyat 61'minutes
  • 5Eto'oSubstituted forOsmanat 61'minutes
  • 20Barkley
  • 10Lukaku

Substitutes

  • 1Robles
  • 2Hibbert
  • 7McGeady
  • 19Atsu
  • 21Osman
  • 22Pienaar
  • 29Garbutt
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
35,901

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamEverton
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home13
Away10
Shots on Target
Home6
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away4
Fouls
Home15
Away5

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Everton 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Everton 1.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by Aiden McGeady (Everton).

  4. Booking

    Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Post update

    Aiden McGeady (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur).

  7. Post update

    Foul by Muhamed Besic (Everton).

  8. Post update

    Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  9. Booking

    Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Gareth Barry (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ross Barkley (Everton) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Leighton Baines with a cross.

  13. Booking

    Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  14. Post update

    Romelu Lukaku (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur).

  16. Post update

    Corner, Everton. Conceded by Eric Dier.

  17. Booking

    Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Post update

    Leighton Baines (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).

  20. Post update

    Leighton Baines (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea13103030111933
2Man City1383227131427
3Southampton138232491526
4Man Utd136432215722
5West Ham136342116521
6Arsenal135532115620
7Tottenham136251818020
8Swansea135441714319
9Newcastle135441416-219
10Everton134542321217
11Liverpool135261618-217
12Stoke134361316-315
13Sunderland132831219-714
14Crystal Palace133461822-413
15West Brom133461318-513
16Aston Villa13346718-1113
17Hull132561420-611
18QPR133281425-1111
19Burnley13256921-1211
20Leicester132471321-810
View full Premier League table