Toffees clash ends goalless

It means we have yet to score in the competition after four games of the campaign but did pick up another point from a game of few clear-cut chances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with just five shots on target across the whole contest.

The opening 10 minutes were played almost exclusively in Everton’s half as we made a fantastic start, but failed to take any of the big chances we created. Five minutes in, Andy Robertson clipped a free-kick to the back post which Jan Paul van Hecke half-volleyed over the crossbar – it would prove to be one of our best chances of the game – before Mateus Fernandes saw a shot well blocked by Jarrad Branthwaite with Archie Gray also seeing one from distance blocked. Fernandes was then in again, picked out with a lovely pass but the midfielder seemed to lose his footing before the chance disappeared.

Having not taken our opportunities, we allowed the visitors to grow into the game and, after Ainsley Maitland-Niles drilled wide from distance, Everton had a spell of possession in and around our box although Antonin Kinsky wasn’t unduly troubled. The remainder of the half was fairly even although we had the better attacking moments without making the most of them, Robertson’s excellent overlap picked out by Omar Marmoush, only for the final ball to be cut out by Pickford an example. The only shot on target in the first period came two minutes into stoppage time and it went the way of the Toffees, James Garner’s arrowed low free-kick to the back post well pushed away by Kinsky as we went in goalless at the break.

Having been the better team at the start of the game, it was our visitors who opened the second half on top and we were fortunate not to concede when Thierno Barry got on the end of Tyrique George’s cross to the far post and only Kinsky’s face prevented the ball from going in. Rodrigo Bentancur was then in the right place to block George’s fierce shot from a cleared corner with 54 minutes on the clock.

Just after the hour we made a triple change with Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel and Lucas Bergvall replacing Fernandes, Dominic Solanke and Bentancur but almost conceded immediately. Kinsky’s pass out to Tonali was intercepted by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall just 20 yards out although, to be fair to the Czech goalkeeper, he was quickly off his line to smother the Everton player’s shot.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, there was real tension in the air with the contest so finely poised, the feeling inside the stadium that just one goal would probably win the match. It almost fell Everton’s way in the 75th minute, Dewsbury-Hall with the perfect cut-back to Brennan Johnon but the former Spur side-footed well over the bar.

We searched for a winner in the final stages, Tonali looking like a chance had opened up for him 20 yards out only for his shot to be blocked before Gray headed a Savio cross over the bar with four minutes left. Pickford then made a superb save, diving low to his left to tip away Bergvall’s 25-yard effort, just our second shot on target in the game, and the last opportunity as the final whistle sounded soon after.

One note to make was the late introduction of Tosin Adarabioyo, who replaced Gray for his debut following his arrival from Chelsea on deadline day last week.

Line-ups

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky, Gray (Tosin 85), van Hecke, van de Ven (c), Robertson, Tonali, Bentancur (Bergvall 63), Savio, Fernandes (Kudus 63), Marmoush (Maddison 77), Solanke (Tel 63). Substitutes (not used): Dubravka, Senesi, Davies, Gallagher.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Maitland-Niles (O'Brien 75), Tarkowski (c), Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Johnson (Hackney 75), George (Grealish 65), Barry. Substitutes (not used): Travers, King, Keane, Dibling, Alcaraz, Graham.

Match data

Yellow cards: Everton – Dewsbury-Hall, Garner.

Referee: Darren England.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Light cloud, moderate breeze, 21 degrees.

Attendance: 60,477.