Baines stakes claim for dead ball duties

Leighton Baines has warned Everton team-mate Mikel Arteta he now expects to take his fair share of free-kicks following an inch-perfect effort in the 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Tottenham.

Baines’ 17th-minute goal at White Hart Lane yesterday was one of the best dead-ball strikes of the season, the left-back managing to get his 20-yard shot up and down over a wall containing the 6ft 7in Peter Crouch.

However, Baines would almost certainly have deferred to star midfielder Arteta had the Spaniard not been missing with a groin strain.

Arteta looks set to be fit for Saturday’s game against Stoke and Baines acknowledges his recall would mean a return to playing second fiddle in the free-kick stakes.

But the 25-year-old is ready to make more of a case for himself to take them if they are better placed for a left-footer to hit.

Asked about the current arrangement, Baines told evertontv: “I don’t know if there is an understanding as much as he just takes them!

“When we get over it, we discuss it, and Mikky ends up taking his fair share and I take a few as well.

“I wouldn’t say either of us are massive specialists, so if one of us says we really fancy it then we leave it to each other. But hopefully I’ll be able to take a few more.”

Baines’ goal yesterday was his first in the league for 14 months and only the eighth of his entire career in all competitions.

“I’ve not scored a lot of goals but when I have scored they have tended to be memorable ones and that’s another one for me really,” he said.

“It was very nice for me to see it come down and end up in the back of the net and I’m very pleased with it.”

Baines did not have long to revel in his big moment, with team-mate Tim Howard’s flap three minutes later allowing Crouch to set up Spurs dangerman Rafael van der Vaart for the easiest of equalisers.

“You’re looking for a solid 10 minutes after you’ve scored, especially away from home, so the timing wasn’t ideal,” Baines said.

“It was a bit of a soft goal to concede as well. I’m not too sure what happened – it might have been a miscommunication.”

The goal was the first Everton had conceded in the Premier League in four matches, while Tottenham once again failed to keep a clean sheet.

Not since the opening day have Spurs shut out the opposition in the league but yesterday saw a marked improvement in their defending from that of recent weeks - especially Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat at Inter Milan.

Everton were restricted almost exclusively to shots from outside the box, with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp hailing the performances of centre-halves William Gallas and the fit-again Younes Kaboul.

“I thought Kaboul and Gallas did ever so well at the back together,” said Redknapp, who singled out the former’s performance on what was his first appearance for more than a month.

“Kaboul’s got everything to be a top player. He lacks concentration at times.

“But he’s got pace, he’s great in the air, he can pass, can come out with the ball.

“He’s lightning quick, he’s a great athlete – it’s all there for him.

“If he just gets his concentration and keeps working on his game, he’s got everything to be an outstanding player.”

Another player who impressed on his return from injury was Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who put in a typically industrious performance.

Manager David Moyes said: “I thought after I lost Mikel I needed Pienaar’s creativity.

“He gave us moments on the ball, gave us a wee bit of rest on the ball as well because he was able to keep it and hold on to it.”