Football: Everton have head for fight

FA Carling Premiership: Tottenham grateful for a point as Barnsley fall to a defeat of their own making; Tottenham Hotspur 1 Armstrong 74 Everton 1 Madar 24 Attendance: 35,624

A CONSPIRACY theory seems to be doing the rounds at the moment that has the Premiership powers-that-be combining to relegate the trio of less fashionable clubs occupying the bottom three. It ignores, however, the cock-up theory preferred by some that these two bigger clubs are quite capable of spoiling any such far-fetched plan.

It was an intense, exciting but messy three-Nurofen sort of game from two teams a long way from the grace and quality associated with them. Both, though, will be content with the point apiece that edges them a little further away from Bolton, Barnsley and Crystal Palace and nearer to the 41 points likely to be enough for survival.

Everton the more so. They took a deserved lead with Mickael Madar's third goal in three games to climax a frantic first quarter, but thereafter were subjected to a fierce Spurs onslaught which eventually yielded an equaliser from Chris Armstrong's brave diving header.

"We have defended very well," the Everton manager, Howard Kendall, said. "We had opportunities to take a greater lead, but over the 90 minutes it was a fair result."

It was a slightly glossy verdict. Everton proved combative and absorbent, with Duncan Ferguson leading them forcefully, despite not having played a competitive game for six weeks due to a knee injury, and 36-year-old Dave Watson marshalling well a defence missing the suspended Slaven Bilic and Carl Tiler and including the 18-year-old Richard Dunne. Everton fielded another 18-year-old in Michael Ball and gave a debut to 19-year-old Gavin McCann in midfield.

The Tottenham coach, Christian Gross, recalled David Ginola after suspension and it was easy to see why, with the Frenchman's ball-carrying skills and curling crosses a constant menace to Everton. "We tried everything in the second half," Gross said. "We used the flanks well but we didn't get enough midfield players in the box."

On recent reputations, it seemed as if the conflicting tactics would see Tottenham seeking a way through on the ground, Everton looking to find Ferguson in the air but it became a mish-mash. Spurs were often sucked and suckered into playing the high ball while Everton could also be dangerous on the break.

A blustery wind swirling through White Hart Lane, with its rebuilt North Stand open for the first time to bring capacity up to 36,000 did not help the spectacle, torn-up paper littering the pitch along with the misplaced passes.

The crowd's passion and the players' commitment made it a compelling contest, though. Barmby and the effective Don Hutchison combined to rob Nicola Berti and Ginola aggressively in midfield and indeed Barmby, perhaps galvanised by a return to his old club, was soon booked for a foul on Ginola, the first of eight yellow cards in the game.

Madar received the second, for kicking the ball away, but he quickly made amends for this folly with his fifth goal of the season. Sol Campbell, looking increasingly uneasy amid Spurs' struggles of late, gave the ball away to Barmby and he smartly chipped into the path of Madar, who ran on, having beaten the offside trap, and clipped the ball past Ian Walker.

Tottenham's desperation was evident by this point. When Armstrong and Craig Short nudged each other chasing Ginola's through-pass, Spurs cried penalty. Campbell heading wide Ginola's cross from the left was an isolated first-half chance. Only Ginola, with a low 25-yard shot just wide, matched him. In fact, a more direct Everton initially created the better openings.

In the run-up to their goal, Madar profited from the error-prone Ramon Vega's miskick to send in Ferguson, but his shot was weak and Walker saved. Then Madar nodded Barmby clear but he lingered too long and Vega got back to clear. From the corner, Watson's shot was kicked away. Minutes later, Madar's 25-yard shot drew Walker into a good diving save.

They might have added to the lead early in the second half when Madar cushioned a neat return pass to Ferguson, who shot wastefully over. It served to sting Spurs, who now surged forward with greater purpose.

The hitherto subdued Jurgen Klinsmann twice went close with headers from crosses by Stephen Carr and also saw a bicycle kick blocked by Watson in a sustained spell of pressure. It duly brought the equaliser. The substitute Moussa Saib clipped forward a clever ball to pick out Vega's run and when he flicked it on, Armstrong threw himself among the Everton boots to guide the ball home.

Equality was fair, though both sought to win the game - Walker having to be alert late on to clutch Ball's low shot - to undermine the arguments of the conspiracy theorists. It will be interesting to see what they make of matters when Tottenham go to Barnsley in a fortnight's time.