Scintillating Spurs Dismantle Embarrassing Everton

Monday 7th March 2022 - 8:00pm

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 5 – 0 Everton

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Topsy-turvy Tottenham back in action. Conte has had pretty much a full week of preparation for this one which usually results in a win. However, we face an Everton side under new manager Frank Lampard who are desperate for points having slipped into an unlikely relegation battle.

Spurs' form under Conte has generally been win lose win lose win lose, if that pattern continues we're due a win here tonight. I think we'll edge it 2-1."

Skipp's lengthy absence went on, as Conte demanded further explanation as to why from his medical department. Bentancur was back though, he went straight into the starting line-up in place of Winks. Moura was deemed fit again too, but had to settle for a place on the bench.

14' GOAL! Davies played a beautifully weighted ball in behind the left side of the Everton backline, Sessegnon showed good pace to sneak in and get there before an Everton defender, right by the byline, he was quick to smash it across the face of goal where Keane challenged Kane for it, and in doing so diverted it into the top corner of his own net. 1-0.

17' GOAL! Romero received the ball on the right and played it to Kane who let it run across his body before squeezing it inside to Kulusevski, he nipped a toe in to nudge through to Son who took a touch into his stride before smashing it low at goal under the body of Pickford and into the back of the net. 2-0.

An excellent start from Spurs who looked to be reaping the rewards of time on the training ground with Conte. There was a real structure and tenacity about their play.

28' Doherty slid through Son from inside the centre circle with a sublime ball using the outside of his boot. It was as if Son had too much time to think about his finish one-on-one with Pickford, as he opened up his body to put it into the right side of the net, and Pickford read it to make the save. Kane reacted by smashing the rebound towards the bottom corner but it fell just wide.

30' We all know Romero relishes a strong challenge, and he saw his chance to show Richarlison who he was up against tonight as he ran with it down the right wing. Romero sprinted out to meet him and was a little too full-blooded with his sliding tackle as he missed the ball and completely wiped out Everton's Brazilian striker. He received a yellow card for his efforts and had to be careful for the remainder of the match.

34' Son did well to keep the ball in play, his initial pass was blocked, but on the second time of asking he managed to find Doherty on the right side of the area. He shimmied this way and that before unleashing a shot at goal that drew a decent save from Pickford.

Spurs could have had three or four already! Everton looked desperate to get to half-time and re-shape.

37' GOAL! Doherty was looking a different player out there and latched onto a loose ball to play another cutting pass from inside the centre circle through the Everton defence. This time it was Kane who raced onto the end of it and found himself in one-on-one. He made no mistake with the finish, slotting it into the bottom left corner. 3-0.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – That's more like it! A sensational first half from Spurs. We've looked strong all over the pitch and have absolutely dominated a frightened looking Everton side. Let's hope we see more of the same in the second half."

46' GOAL! Reguilón raced straight into the action and made a good interception on the left side, knocking it into Kane in the process, he tapped it back to Son who drove forward with it before releasing it right to Kulusevski, he squared it first time and it trickled all the way through to Reguilón arriving at the far post who passed it into the bottom left corner. Welcome back Reggy! 4-0.

55' A corner from the right was too high for everyone and went on over to the empty left side. Kane was quick to chase it down and keep it in play, he turned back and whipped a cross in that Dier leaped to meet, but his header crashed against the crossbar.

55' GOAL! Bentancur passed to Doherty who found himself in space between the penalty area and the halfway line, he looked up and chipped a delightful diagonal over to Kane who watched it all the way onto his left boot before unleashing an exquisite volleyed finish across goal into the bottom right side of the net. 5-0!

Not a whole lot happened after the fifth went in, as Spurs went about comfortably seeing the game out.

The most noteworthy moments came courtesy of Dele Alli - he received a warm welcome from the Spurs faithful as he was subbed on with twenty to go. He soon slid in on Kane sending him tumbling, and Kane was quick to enact revenge moments later by sliding in on Dele and making sure he took the ball and the man. Fiery moments between two old friends, but it was all hugs and smiles at the end.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – A pretty much perfect performance from Spurs! We dominated a woeful looking Everton side from start to finish, and it'll give the whole squad a huge confidence boost. With only the league to focus on now for the rest of the season, let's hope we push on and snatch that crucial top 4 spot. Next week's game at Old Trafford is a huge one."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – Didn't have anything to do. Nice easy clean sheet for him.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 7.5 – A rock at the back. Chopped down Richarlison early on which was rash, but put Everton players off going near him for the rest of the half. Subbed off early in the second half presumably to protect him from getting a second yellow.

• 15. Eric Dier – 8 – Another solid and organised defensive display, albeit he wasn't tested much. Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with a header that hit the bar.

• 33. Ben Davies– 7.5 – Threaded a lovely ball through to Sessegnon for the opener that got the ball rolling. Went about his duties throughout.

• 2. Matt Doherty – 9.5 – His best performance in a Spurs shirt, barely put a foot wrong all game. Superb through ball to Son who missed, then the same again to Kane who scored. Came up with another sublime assist for Kane's second with a chipped diagonal cross right onto his boot.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7.5 – Hassled and harried all over. Looks much better in there alongside Bentancur than Winks.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 8 – Brought stability in the middle of the park. Composed in possession, clearly knows how to win a tackle and pick out the right pass too.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 7 – Did brilliantly for the first goal that set the tone for the evening. A generally good performance and a shame to see him forced off through injury as he's suffered a lot with them at Spurs, and it's good for Reguilón to have competition on that left side.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 9 – Another strong display from our new young Swedish talent. Poked through the assist for Son's goal and slid it over for Reguilón's too. Used the ball well and provided a constant threat.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 7 – Took too long on the ball and was tackled when he had a good chance ten minutes in, dithered with his finish and missed when played through by Doherty too. Came up with the goods on the third time of asking though he was fortunate that Pickford's blunder allowed it to slip under his body.

• 10. Harry Kane – 9.5 – Completely bossed it out there again. He was absolutely everywhere and looked like he was enjoying it. Dropped back a lot to link up play through his passing prowess. Cool, composed finish to put away his first when through one-0n-one, then came up with a world class volley for his second.

Substitutions:

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 45' ➡ 3. Sergio Reguilón – 8 – What a return for him scoring within 45 seconds of coming on, intercepted the ball with his first touch and put it in the back of the net with his second. Just his second in a Spurs shirt, and one he clearly enjoyed.

• 4. Cristian Romero ⬅ 52' ➡ 6. Davinson Sánchez – 6.5 – Kept it tight at the back and almost nodded one in at the other end.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 67' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – 7 – Looked lively and determined to get on the ball and make things happen.

Man of the Match – 2. Matt Doherty