Everton proved their own worst enemy in a game that highlighted both their progress and their limitations.
Last season, Tottenham Hotspur hammered the Blues 5-0 in a match that bluntly exposed how Frank Lampard's side was facing a battle for Premier League survival. Seven months later, the team that qualified for the Champions League and the side that just avoided relegation were separated by no more than a spot-kick from Harry Kane and a late, deflected Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg goal, scored when the visitors chased the game.
The narrow margin of defeat will do little to ease the disappointment felt by Everton boss Lampard after an effective gameplan was undermined by missed chances and a penalty that, while soft, could have been avoided. The Blues' coaching team can take some comfort from the performance but will be left frustrated that, just like against Manchester United, their team lost this game rather then forced their opponents to win it. That frustration and disappointment will be the overriding emotions from this defeat shows the progress made in such a short time. But it also made clear the work that still needs to be done at Finch Farm.
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As the match approached the hour mark Jordan Pickford had already made two important saves from Kane, smothering a shot after the England striker twisted beyond Vitalii Mykolenko and Idrissa Gueye and later parrying wide a spectacular volley. Yet the hard work of an hour was undone in a split second when Kane went down as Pickford sought to reclaim the ball he had pushed clear from a Matt Doherty strike. Referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot and while the decision will be questioned by many, Pickford looked devastated rather than incensed. VAR did check the incident but did not send it back to Tierney as it would not have been deemed a clear and obvious error, the ECHO understands. Pickford went the right way but was beaten by his international team-mate and Everton were left chasing a game they should have been leading.
With so much of the pre-match focus on the reunion between Richarlison and his former side, it was ironic that it was his departure that should have such an impact on the game. As he limped down the tunnel, Antonio Conte introduced the deep-lying Yves Bissouma. who sat in front of the hosts' defence and helped to dictate play - and allow Doherty the freedom to rampage forward. The defender was almost picked out moments before the strike that created the chaos in which the Blues conceded the penalty.
Yet while that penalty was important it was one of three moments this game hinged upon. The other two came in front of Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' goal, both in the first half. As Everton weathered the storm created by Conte's men, who dominated for spells of the first half, they looked resolute and twice broke free to create golden opportunities to take the lead. First, Demarai Gray collected a ball over the top and burst through on goal before blasting over from close range. Later in the half - after Pickford had saved at Kane's feet - it was Amadou Onana who seized on indecision in the Tottenham defence to steal the ball and stride into the box only to shoot over.
Both opportunities came after Everton had worked hard to repel a Spurs team that gathered momentum and threatened Pickford's area - repeatedly whipping in balls from the left. But for all that pressure, other than Kane's moment of genius, Tottenham failed to create clear cut chances and began to bristle as the Blues interrupted their flow. As a result, Lampard would likely have entered the break pleased his gameplan had worked but worried his side's missed chances would prove costly.
As the second half unfolded, ending with Hojberg's shot being deflected past Pickford after the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Garner and Salomon Rondon to try and rescue a point, those fears became a bitter reality. Against Manchester United, Everton were undone by their mistakes. On Saturday evening, they were undermined by missed chances that meant they simply could not afford to leave themselves vulnerable to a penalty decision that will cause more frustration than anger.
As Pickford clapped the travelling supporters at the end he, like Lampard, will know that progress is being made. But that progress remains fragile and this Everton side is too early in its journey to be able to afford such missed opportunities as the one they created in north London.
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