Everton 4-1 Spurs (PL2)

Three goals in nine minutes changed the complexion of what had been a close encounter as Everton ran out 4-1 winners in Sunday's Premier League 2 match at Goodison Park.

Everton took an early lead through Senegal international striker Oumar Niasse - who, alongside Ademola Lookman, would provide a threat throughout - but we recovered and, in a first half of few chances, worked our way back into the game by half-time.

We started the second half on the front foot, went close through George Marsh and Luke Amos and it was no surprise when skipper Joe Pritchard levelled on 58 minutes, his third goal of the season.

Unfortunately, Everton wrestled back the initiative almost immediately with a fine strike from Lookman on the hour and another two goals followed in quick succession to end the game as a contest. David Henen set up Niasse for his second and 3-1 on 66 minutes and Niasse returned the favour for Henen three minutes later.

Niasse was denied a hat-trick late on by Alfie Whiteman, who won a battle of wills one-on-one when the striker broke clean through and Josh Bowler struck the post in the last minute.

Key action

Goal: Everton 1-0 Spurs - Oumar Niasse - 6mins
Everton's high press put us under pressure early on and the home side took the lead on six minutes. Jonjoe Kenny worked a one-two with Gethin Jones down our right and clipped a cross to the far post where Niasse buried his header from six yards.

First period: few real chances - 6-45mins
We worked our way back into the game in terms of possession with Keanan Bennetts always an outlet on the left. However, chances were at a premium in a tactical half, both teams probing away, trying to find an opening. Anthony Georgiou and Pritchard had decent efforts blocked and Japhet Tanganga headed our best chance over from Bennetts' corner. At the other end, Lookman's quick burst ended with a shot over the crossbar.

Above: Joe Pritchard drives forward.

Chances: positive start to second half - 46-57mins
We were straight on the front foot after the break. Georgiou set the ball up for Marsh to curl just wide from 20 yards on 50 minutes and Amos drilled narrowly the wrong side of the post from the edge of the box.

Goal: Everton 1-1 Spurs - Joe Pritchard - 58mins
A goal we deserved, and down to Pritchard's tenacity. He closed down Morgan Feeney on the edge of the Everton box, weighed up his options before taking aim, his shot from 18 yards taking a slight deflection beyond Joel Robles into the far corner.

Goal: Everton 2-1 Spurs - Ademola Lookman - 60mins
Everton almost restored their lead immediately after our equaliser but Whiteman was equal to Niasse's piledriver. However, less than a minute later is was 2-1 as Lookman unleashed a drive into the top corner from 25 yards.

Goal: Everton 3-1 Spurs - Oumar Niasse - 66mins
Pritchard went close at the other end moments after Everton's second goal but the third arrived five minutes later. Substitute Henen got away down our right, sped to the byline and cut the ball back for Niasse, who worked a yard of space and dispatched from close range.

Goal: Everton 4-1 Spurs - David Henen - 69mins
Niasse and Henen swapped roles as Niasse turned provider, the pair broke centrally, Niasse slipped the ball in to Henen and he drove home from 12 yards.

Coach Wayne Burnett said

“We managed to get an equaliser but within a few minutes we gifted them an attempt at our goal and that eventually led to their second goal. That changed the momentum of the game. Take nothing away from Everton, they were worthy winners, better than us at the basics. For all our nice play in the defensive third and middle third, I thought we lacked a cutting edge, certainly in the final third.

“There were one or two good performances. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster at the back, playing against a very talented player in Lookman, he did very well. He’s still only 16 and did well, I was pleased with him. Japhet Tanganga stuck in there as well. They were worthy winners though. The momentum of the game changed when they went ahead again at 2-1 and if we could have taken control of the game for five minutes, you never know. But that’s ifs, buts and maybes and we weren’t quite as good as we have been recently.”

Match data

Everton: Robles, Kenny, Foulds (Henen 46), Baningime, Feeney (c), Gibson, Jones, Charsley (Bowler 85), Niasse, Adeniran (Evans 46), Lookman. Substitutes (not used): Hilton (GK), Sambou.

Spurs: Whiteman, Lyons-Foster, Bennetts, Amos, C Maghoma, Tanganga, S Shashoua (Brown 66), Marsh (Roles 66), Loft (Tracey 56), Pritchard (c), Georgiou. Substitute (not used): De Bie (GK).

Goals: Everton - Niasse 6, 66, Lookman 60, Henen 69; Spurs - Pritchard 58.

Yellow cards: Everton - Baningime 41; Spurs - Bennetts 34, Marsh 52, Georgiou 70.

Next up

Our Development Squad return to Premier League 2 action against Swansea City at Stevenage on Monday 18 September, kick-off 7pm.