Spurs make mockery of crisis talk

Tottenham 3 Everton 0

Spurs are supposed to be a club in turmoil having sacked Glenn Hoddle as manager six games into the season but they made a mockery of such talk today.

They swept aside Everton with a goal of the season contender from Fredi Kanoute and one each from Gus Poyet and Robbie Keane.

That made it two wins and a draw – and a third clean sheet – under caretaker manager David Pleat, who is looking justified in claiming that whoever comes in as manager will inherit a talented squad.

Having conceded three goals in each of their previous two home matches under Hoddle, Spurs fans went home happy at having seen three goals scored by their own team for a change.

For Everton meanwhile, the White Hart Lane misery continued. They have never won at Spurs in the history of the Premiership and this season they have yet to win on their travels in the league.

It was a tight game until the 43rd minute when Kanoute marked his 100th club appearance in English football with one of the most spectacular goals he has ever scored.

Everton were then caught by two goals inside the first three minutes of the second half, and despite the introduction soon afterwards of England hero Wayne Rooney there was no way back for David Moyes’ men.

Keane scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season when Spurs edged a seven-goal thriller, and the Republic of Ireland striker was the best player on the pitch in the early stages, although Everton defended solidly.

Everton’s first shot on target arrived after 13 minutes when Duncan Ferguson nodded the ball down for Tomasz Radzinski, but the ball bounced awkwardly as he hit it and lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

After 17 minutes Anthony Gardner fouled Radzinski on his left edge of the box to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position and also earn the Spurs defender the game’s first booking from Dermot Gallagher.

Ferguson’s fierce drive rebounded off the wall for a corner which Spurs were able to clear.

The home defence were caught napping after 21 minutes when Unsworth crossed from the left and Steve Watson nipped in for a free header which looped just over Keller’s bar.

Everton suffered an injury setback when skipper Alan Stubbs picked up a knock and was replaced by David Weir after 33 minutes – and that clearly knocked them out of their stride.

There was a moment of magic from Keane after 35 minutes as he slipped past Joseph Yobo with a cheeky nutmeg and slid in a low shot which Nigel Martyn pushed away.

Kanoute returned the loose ball to the far post and Keane stretched to see his second effort go wide.

Everton threatened from a left wing corner after 41 minutes before Darren Anderton cleared the loose ball. A corner from the opposite flank a minute later saw Yobo have a free header which he planted wide of the near post.

The game then exploded into life as from the restart Kanoute gave Spurs a 43rd-minute lead with a spectacular strike from 30 yards.

Keller’s goal-kick was headed on by Kanoute, knocked inside for him by Gus Poyet, and the Frenchman hit a first time shot which swerved into the top right corner – his sixth goal since his summer move from West Ham.

It was almost two a minute later as Poyet forced a fine save from Martyn with a downward header.

Spurs doubled their lead 42 seconds into the second half with a goal which caught Everton napping.

Steve Carr took a short throw-in to Darren Anderton and his cross from the right was cleverly headed into the far corner by Poyet.

Spurs must have thought Christmas had come early, as after 48 minutes they made it 3-0.

This time David Unsworth failed to control Anderton’s ball into the box and Keane pounced to steer it safely past Martyn.

That was game over and another job well done by director of football Pleat - although he is probably more realistic than to throw his hat into the ring for the vacant managerial job.

Everton’s misery was completed by a booking for Rooney after 85 minutes – his fifth which will bring a ban – for a wild lunge on Rohan Ricketts followed by a show of dissent.

Midway through the second half, two rainbows appeared in the north London sky above White Hart Lane.

Spurs fans will be hoping there is a pot of gold to go with them when the new manager arrives.