By Chris Bascombe and Rob Bagchi
Everton 2 – 2 Tottenham
Spare a thought for the early leavers who follow Tottenham Hotspur home and away. In their world, Ange Postecoglou’s side are going head-to-head with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Jarrad Brainthwaite’s Everton equaliser was the eighth time Postecoglou’s defence have succumbed in added time this season. That equates to five points – and serious levels of concentration – needlessly dropped.
Ange Postecoglou directs his side in the 2-2 draw with Everton.Credit: Getty Images
No wonder the Spurs boss, usually so effervescent when facing the media, sounded flat after seeing these two points sink into the River Mersey. He knows this result should have been so much better, and when he adds up those late lapses, so could a fine season.
The first stage of Postecoglou’s Spurs redesign has rightly earned plaudits. Phase two will be about adding the control and killer instinct that separates trophy winners from neutrals’ favourites. There are valid comparisons to be made between Postecoglou’s Spurs and Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United. History seems to have scrubbed the fact Keegan’s side won diddly squat.
As with Newcastle in the mid-90s, the essence of Ange-ball is a thrilling sense of jeopardy. Postecoglou’s risky soccer is a great advert for the gambling industry. His side always gives you a chance – even the biggest lead would not convince an opponent they are out of the game – and their intent to win will always attract new admirers. It’s like the Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte era were a dark, gothic dream. It’s all aboard the romantic era for Spurs now.
There are still obvious weaknesses for a side with genuine Champions League qualifying aspirations, however.
Everton always sensed an opportunity. In the first half that was because of a decent response to conceding early to ex-player Richarlison, and Dwight McNeil’s ability to make corners as threatening as scud missiles.
After half-time, the home side’s main source of encouragement was Postecoglou’s religious zeal to compress the game into the opposition half, no matter what the circumstances or peril. That Spurs back line is a high wire act, persistently a well-directed long ball or a hopeful punt from turning fluid attack into full-stretch defence.
The game was often meandering, Spurs seemingly in utter control with 20 minutes left, when from nothing they needed Micky van de Ven to indulge in a sprint worthy of the Olympics 100m final. Is such hazard really necessary when the hard work is done to claim a lead and dictate the tempo?
Plan A is all well and good, but if plan B and plan C amounts to more of plan A, regardless of the circumstances, Spurs will never feel safe when the opponents risk more as injury time approaches.
The same applies when a last gasp set-piece sparks a sense of defensive panic. Conceding so many, so late, is not a trend. It is a bad habit.
“We needed another goal. In the last 10 minutes, it is almost inevitable you will be put under pressure here,” said Postecoglou, not surprisingly suggesting the issue was in the opposition’s final third rather than in his own half.
“We had the opportunities. Their keeper made some good saves that kept them in the game. We have to take it on the chin and move on.”
For Sean Dyche, the draw was the least his team deserved. He may have needed longer to persuade a neutral audience of that.
Aside from yells for penalties and free kicks, there was not much to get the crowd going as time was running out. Whatever the justifications for the sense of persecution for being in danger for a 10-point deduction, you know it is not going well on the pitch when the blame game shifts entirely to the officials and Premier League.
Dyche had just been booked for querying Michael Oliver’s failure to award Beto a foul on the edge of the penalty area, and Evertonians had just completed the final rendition of their accusatory Premier League chants when James Garner’s free kick was flicked on by Christian Romero in the 94th minute.
Branthwaite was on the spot to ensure recrimination turned to celebration.
There would have been deflation had Richarlison – one of Everton’s saviours a few years ago – been the player responsible for piling more misery on a club seeking to escape the bottom three.
The Brazilian was about to dash off to celebrate his first after four minutes, only to remember his surroundings. He offered a repentant bow towards the Gwladys Street end instead. That was applauded, although the apologies would have been more appropriate from Everton right-back Ben Godfrey as he had observed the move develop around him, failing to shadow Destiny Udogie as he exchanged passes with Timo Werner.
Richarlison begs forgiveness after scoring against his old side.Credit: Getty Images
Everton initially found a groove, Dominic Calvert-Lewin sharper than a barren goalscoring run suggested. His 17-game wait ended courtesy of James Tarkowski’s assist from McNeil’s corner.
But Richarlison wasn’t finished, his second a beauty after James Maddison was heavily involved in the build-up.
Spurs had benefited from moments rather than concerted periods of high quality in the first half, making it ironic that they conceded after a spell when they looked much the better side.
Unsurprisingly, another Everton set-piece left them bruised.
Postecoglou has transformed perceptions of Spurs with much improved 90-minute performances. Now he just needs to crack the code for added time.
The Telegraph, London
