Dele Alli saved Tottenham Hotspur’s blushes after scoring a superb equaliser against Everton in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The 19-year-old controlled the ball on his chest at the top of the 18-yard box, before powering a volley past Tim Howard in the dying minutes of the first-half.
Aaron Lennon originally put the Toffee’s 1-0 up against his old side against the run of play. Lennon planted the ball in the back of the net with a superb half volley of his own 22 minutes in, after it was headed downward by the strong Romelu Lukaku.
Spurs enjoyed a large proportion of the ball, also hitting the framework twice through Harry Kane and Ben Davies before Alli levelled the game. Kane took a chance just outside the box and struck the ball across the goalkeeper, before it rebounded-off the post and out of play for a goal kick. The No.10 took the opportunity from a quick free take after Dele Alli was fouled.
While Mauricio Pochettino’s men still dominated the second-half, there was a period of possession for Everton which almost resulted in a second goal. Substitute Gerard Deulofeu provided the cross, but it was just behind Lukaku.
Tottenham were visibly frustrated as their efforts would not end in that desperately needed goal. Erik Lamela was booked after receiving a warning and Tom Carroll was also cautioned for a foul on Ross Barkley.
Hugo Lloris kept his side in it after an amazing save that denied Muhamed Besic’s shot, tipping it over the bar and to safety. The game was down to the wire with Everton pressing extremely hard, but in the end Tottenham and their fans will be bemused that their side did not come away with all three points, especially after their tally of shots and level of possession.
Turning the domination into goal scoring opportunities
In Tottenham’s last two games against Watford and Norwich, they have had 63% of the ball and only won by a margin of one goal. Against the Canaries particularly, Spurs saw a bit less of the ball at 60%, but the hard work did result in three goals. Even the penalty was a result of getting into the box, and putting pressure on the defence. In the first-half against Everton, the visitors enjoyed 64% of the ball but almost went into halftime 1-0 down. Harry Kane and Ben Davies had hit the post and the crossbar, but the impressive play did not result in the goals they so desperately need. Tottenham had 13 attempts on goal compared to Everton’s three in the first-half, but it is the converted shots that count. Alli’s goal was the 13th attempt in the first-half, this time not an unlucky number for the North Londoners.
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The focus was all on Aaron Lennon against his old club
Lennon featured for Tottenham around 300 times during his 10 years at White Hart Lane. Everyone mocked the photos of the attacker after signing for Everton that portrayed a seemingly long face, but the man put his current club 1-0 up in the early stage with a superb half-volley, after the ball was headed down by Lukaku.
The goal meant that Lennon had the bit between his teeth and continued to put pressure on the visiting team, putting a halt in Tottenham’s charge after they opened the game with such intent. Strangely, Lennon was substituted at the hour mark, even after his display against his former team, though many fans would have felt he would be the one that would have helped them to stay level or snatch the win.
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Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino allowing young players to shine
Tottenham and Pochettino have been well praised for letting young players prove their worth in the Premier League, most notably the likes of England youngsters Kane and Alli. In the wake of Mousa Dembele’s absence due to a groin injury that will have the Belgian sidelined for a while, Carroll started against Everton. Most managers play their younger players as a substitute, but giving them starting berths shows the boss’s faith in his squad.
It has already been said that Tottenham regularly field the youngest team in the league, and this not only helps these developing players, but apparently Roy Hodgson and the England team also. Alli’s well-taken goal proves it is worth taking a chance. Pochettino also brought on teenager Josh Onomah, which again further concretes his faith in the younger squad members.
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