Everton 3-2 Tottenham: First-half horror show costly as Spurs beaten again despite late fightback | OneFootball

Pressure on Ange Postecoglou as wretched run of Premier League form continues amid yet more injury woe

Tottenham’s miserable run of Premier League form continued with a 3-2 defeat by Everton, who got their first win of David Moyes’ second spell in charge.

It was a lively start to the game, with Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky called into action early to push away a strike from Jesper Lindstrom.

Radu Dragusin blocked an effort from Ndiaye before Everton broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes on the clock, Calvert-Lewin showing tricky feet inside the box to bamboozle Gray before flicking in at the near post. There was a handball in the build-up to the goal by Lindstrom, but it stood nevertheless.

James Tarkowski made a superb block to deny Spurs captain Heung-min Son before Calvert-Lewin breached a high defensive line multiple times, the ball bouncing badly off his thigh at the last.

Tottenham’s best spell of a disaster first period saw Jordan Pickford crucially swipe the ball away from the head of Dragusin at the back post following a corner and an unmarked Son sweep straight into the hands of the England goalkeeper after being picked out by Kulusevski.

It was end-to-end stuff as Kinsky pushed Orel Mangala’s attempt onto the post and then kept out a header from Calvert-Lewin before Pickford again thwarted Son, who was denied a penalty after falling under the challenge of Jarrad Branthwaite inside the Everton box.

The Toffees doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, Ndiaye charging through the middle and beating Dragusin with a nifty stepover before blasting high past Kinsky and into the roof of the net.

Lucas Bergvall sailed a shot high into the stands and there was a delay lasting five-and-a-half minutes as Dragusin was patched up after catching a stray elbow to the face from Calvert-Lewin, who was booked.

Seven minutes of stoppage time had already been signalled and Everton continued to pile on more pressure, Tarkowski’s stooping low header from a Lindstrom free-kick bouncing off the legs of Kinsky.

But the suddenly rampant hosts would not be denied a third goal before the break as a deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Tarkowski and flicked off Calvert-Lewin before the unfortunate Gray accidentally hooked into his own net to sum up a truly wretched first half for Tottenham, whose new system playing three at the back had failed miserably.

Postecoglou sent his stunned side out early for the second period, no doubt after a few stern words in the dressing room, and made a hugely attacking change as the fit-again Richarlison replaced Dragusin.

They did not have any joy until 13 minutes from time, when Kulusevski guided a gorgeous lofted finish into the back of the net after Pickford had come out to meet Maddison and substitute Mikey Moore had an effort blocked.

Moore also played a key role in Tottenham’s second goal in stoppage time, delivering a brilliant cross to the back post that was finished off by Richarlison from close range to set up a very nervy finish for Everton, who held on to kick off the second Moyes era and move four points clear of the bottom three with only a fourth league win of the campaign.

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