Runs end, positions swap as Everton beats Tottenham

As Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard recently noted in an interview with FOX Soccer’s Leander Schaerlaekens, just because the Toffees weren’t putting up the same results as they had at the beginning of the season didn’t mean the team was playing poorly. For whatever reason, Everton had only posted one win in nine games ahead of today’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur (1-1-7), and while they certainly weren’t playing up to the standards that dealt Manchester United a loss to open the season, David Moyes’ team wasn’t falling apart.

Today, Everton proved Howard’s point, although it took some late theatrics to do it. With Howard’s countryman Clint Dempsey having pushed Spurs in front in the 76th minute, Everton approached stoppage time set to extend their winless run to five. Instead, Stephen Piennar headed the Toffees even on 90 minutes before Nikica Jelavic’s sixth goal of the season pulled off the miraculous. When Everton won 2-1, it was the third time this season they’ve come back to win after conceding the opening goal.

For Spurs, the result recalls problems Tottenham had holding leads at the start of the season, but on the road against a team that will contend for top four, it wasn’t a bad result. It snapped a four-match unbeaten run, but they aren’t the first team to have to reset after a visit to the blue half of Liverpool.

At the same time, it was points dropped against a direct competitor for a place in next year’s Champion League. Should Spurs finish one or two points behind Everton, this game should jump back to the forefront of Tottenham memories.

The result vaults Everton to the top of a three-team tie for fourth, goal difference slotting them above Tottenham and West Brom. Arsenal, two points back, will have a voice in the race, too, though after today’s comeback at Goodison, doubts about Everton’s staying power should begin to fade. After games against Spurs, United, Arsenal, and Manchester City, the Toffees have yet to lose to the teams expected to compete at the top of the table (2-0-2). With Stoke, West Ham, and Wigan on tap before a meeting with Chelsea on Dec. 30, Everton has a chance on consolidate their place among the league’s elite.

It may not have been pretty, but Everton found a way to get three points. Now four months into the season, we can start to believe this Everton team is for real, ready for their first run at Champions League since 2004-05.