Everton 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur: Everton leave it late but Jelavic seals deserved win

By CARL MARKHAM
Published on 10/12/2012 00:00

EVERTON scored twice in the last couple of minutes to snatch a well-deserved victory over a Tottenham side who looked to have escaped the Goodison Park fortress with all three points.

Everton 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Scorers: Everton - Pienaar (90), Jelavic (90+2); Spurs - Dempsey (76)

Despite dominating, David Moyes’ side found themselves trailing to Clint Dempsey’s 76th-minute deflected strike. But Steven Pienaar headed a 90th-minute equaliser and Nikica Jelavic turned home the winner in added time to extend their unbeaten home league record to 12 matches.

Had they not got at least a point, Moyes would certainly have complained about a penalty claim which did not go their way late in the first half when Pienaar’s shot hit the arm of William Gallas.

Everton have been on the end of some rough decisions in recent weeks and Moyes made a point of highlighting that in his programme notes. “We’ve had decisions which have cost us points....On a regular basis at the moment decisions being made by officials are affecting the outcome of games,” he wrote. “I will continue to try to support the Professional Game Match Officials but they must work to improve their standards throughout the game.”

Fortunately for him he did not have reason to complain as much after his team’s late turnaround ended a disappointing sequence of seven draws in nine Barclays Premier League matches.

With the injured Gareth Bale out of the team, Tottenham did not have the same attacking thrust down their left as Dempsey was in no way a like-for-like replacement. As a result Everton were able to take advantage, particularly in the first half, by pouring forward down their right side.