Emmanuel Adebayor Scores As Tottenham Move Ahead Of Everton
By Logan Holmes
A second half goal from Emmanuel Adebayor gave Tottenham the win over Everton to move them above their rivals and into 5th place in the Premier League.
Emmanuel Adebayor [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]Team: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose, Lennon (Defoe), Paulinho (Capoue), Bentaleb, Eriksen (Townsend), Dembele, Adebayor Subs: (unused) Friedel, Naughton, Kaboul, Soldado
Tim Sherwood made just one change to the team which drew at Hull City last weekend. Reverting to playing with Emmanuel Adebayor as the lone striker, Mousa Dembele returned having missed the previous game through injury with Roberto Soldado dropping to the bench. Andros Townsend was included among the substitutes for the first time since injury against West Ham in mid-December.
Everton had much the better of the first half and Spurs could have been four down inside the first seven minutes with Leon Osman causing them problems. The visitors were quicker to the ball and after 2 minutes Osman put a shot past the post from the edge of the area. Then after 6 minutes a counter-attack by Everton was deflected for a corner but from the corner with Spurs struggling to get the ball cleared Naismith set up Osman for a shot from the 18 yard line which brought a great save from Hugo Lloris. Then from the corner Osman headed over. A minute later Naismith set up Osman again but his weak shot was gathered easily by Lloris.
After this Spurs had a period of possession but when Christian Eriksen took the ball into the area he was closed down as he prepared to shoot. Eriksen went close a minute later when his free-kick from 30 yards curled over the bar.
After 18 minutes Lloris made another good save but Baines had been off-side when delivering the cross. The goalkeeper caused some alarm with a pass out to Michael Dawson who was immediately surrounded by three Everton players. After poor defensive play Lloris eventually grabbed the loose ball in the area to retrieve the situation.
Everton were still the much sharper and threatening team. They pressed Tottenham every time they were on the ball giving them no options for a pass as Spurs failed to impose themselves on the game. Lloris saved a low shot from Coleman after 24 minutes while a minute later a cross from Danny Rose was just out of the reach of Adebayor. Spurs were becoming more competitive in midfield and Aaron Lennon broke at pace but was dispossessed in the area. Howard punched out a corner from Eriksen and after 30 minutes Paulinho fed Kyle Walker on the right but his cross was deflected for a corner which Dawson headed over the bar.
A fast break by Mirallas ended as he shot over having troubled the Spurs defence with a man waiting for the pass. Everton finished the half stronger while Spurs had failed to register a shot on target during the first 45 minutes as Howard cleared from Adebayor following a through ball by Paulinho.
Tottenham improved after the interval but without troubling Tim Howard as Adebayor put a header over the bar from a corner. In a competitive game which went from end to end Everton weren’t able to exert the same control as in the first half but Lloris had to be quick to clear the danger when a ball bounced off Jan Vertonghen with an Everton player in hot pursuit.
A foul on Dembele after 64 minutes brought a free-kick in midfield. The quick thinking of Walker created the goal for Adebayor who controlled on his chest the ball chipped forward and held off the challenge of the defender to shoot low past Howard – a goal from Spurs first attempt on target.
Everton battled to get back into the game with greater possession but Spurs defended effectively over the next ten minutes and came out the other side. A move started by Nabil Bentaleb, who played well, went to Dembele and on to Adebayor who shot over after 76 minutes. The same player was blocked by Coleman when he ran on to a through ball from Dembele and in the final minutes as Everton pushed forward with renewed urgency in search of a goal the Spurs defence stood up to the test. The game finished with a break in the 92nd minute by substitute Jermain Defoe whose shot was blocked for a corner by Howard and Spurs had the three points in their grasp.
Tottenham move two points ahead of Everton and are three points behind 4th-placed Liverpool. Spurs keep their season alive and remain in a challenging position for the final Champions League place. The performance from Spurs, like most this season was poor but the win and the three points will satisfy most of us. Everton dominated possession and chances but didn’t take them in the early stages of the game allowing Spurs a route back into the game.