'VAR didn't help us' insists Postecoglou as Tottenham just survive Everton comeback in Christmas cracker
CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Everton manager Sean Dyche (right) and Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou during the Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur. Photo credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
IN FOOTBALL, as in life in general, you don't always get what you deserve, and both Everton and Tottenham will reflect on this weekend's result as one that could have gone either way.
Spurs won, thanks to early goals by Richarlison and Heung Min Son, but they have played better and lost, most notably in recent defeats to Aston Villa and West Ham.
Everton had not played this well in their recent run of four successive league victories, yet left the Tottenham Hotspur stadium empty-handed, save for the satisfaction of knowing that they will surely survive the threat of relegation if they continue to show the same spirit and quality.
That they could not find an equaliser or even a winner, after a late Andre Gomes goal gave them hope, was down to poor finishing and the excellence of Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal.
Sean Dyche was unhappy that VAR prompted Stuart Atwell to reverse his decision awarding Dominic Calvert-Lewin a second-half goal, but no-one could dispute that Gomes kicked Emerson Royal rather than the ball in the build-up, and Ange Postecoglou summed it up. “VAR didn't help us – it was a foul that the referee missed. It's a tool, it's used. I still don't like it.”
But both managers - and their supporters - can take heart from the way their clubs have performed in recent weeks.
Tottenham, having started the season superbly with an unbeaten ten-game run, had a major wobble in November when they lost four games out of five and a rash of key players to injury and suspension.
But Postecoglou's side have now won three games in succession, can expect the return of some of their stars in the New Year, and perhaps most importantly, Postecoglou has seen them weather adversity for the first time.
In that period, fringe players such as Ben Davies and Emerson Royal have stepped up to the plate, while unlikely leaders have emerged, not least Vicario, who has proved to be a bargain.
Many Spurs fans were dismayed when the expected arrival of David Raya did not happen, with Brentford's valuation of €45m proving too much for Daniel Levy.
The little-known Vicario was signed from Empoli for less than €20m, and his shaky pre-season form worried some supporters.
Those fears were unjustified, however, as the Italian has proved one of the signings of the season, racing ahead of Raya, Andre Onana and others to the top echelon of keepers in England.
He is an important part of Tottenham's build-up play, constantly exchanging passes with a defence that has not been unchanged since October.
But his shot stopping is excellent, too, as he proved with saves to deny Calvert-Lewin, Arnaut Danjuma and James Garner. “Vic was outstanding today with a couple of brilliant saves,” said his manager.
“He’s been brilliant from day one for us, and we haven’t always needed him like we did today. Other times it’s probably one or two saves a game, but he’s been important in our build-up and in our organisation. But today we needed his goalkeeping.”
The 27-year-old has also stepped up as a vocal leader, much like his predecessor Hugo Lloris, who is still at Tottenham and trains alongside him, before his likely departure in January.
With Son set to be away at the Asian Cup throughout January, vice-captain James Maddison injured and Cristian Romero regularly suspended or on the brink of a ban, Tottenham need leaders and Vicario is one.
Sean Dyche, meanwhile, took huge encouragement from his side's display even if they had nothing to show for it.
Many Everton fans pointed out that going two goals down inside 18 minutes away from home would previously have preceded a capitulation, but Dyche's 'dogs of war' are made of sterner stuff and fought their way back into the game with aggression and good football.
“I am pushing 11 months now (since taking over from Frank Lampard) and out of all the performances we’ve had, that is arguably one I’m most proud of.
“I thought we were outstanding. You talk about pride in performances and taking pride in yourself - and it sounds weird because we lost today - but that was as close I have been to total pride. I thought the players were absolutely superb. It was an outstanding performance.”
Everton are still appealing their ten-point deducion for breaching financial fair play regulations, but Dyche refuses to allow his players to think of what might be with those points reinstated.
Instead they have used the punishment as a spur to fight harder, adopting an 'us against the world' mentality.
They have another tough test to come against Manchester City on Wednesday, while Spurs travel to Brighton on Thursday.
Both clubs, their management, players and supporters, can look back on a few months that have seen them come through adversity with some success, and look forward with optimism for the New Year.
Vicario 8; Porro 7, Romero 7 (Dier 46), Davies7, Emerson Royal 7; Skipp 7, Sarr 8 (Lo Celso 73); Johnson 7, Kulusevski 8, Son 7; Richarlison 7 (Hojbjerg 63).
Pickford 6; Patterson 6, Tarkowski 8, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 6; Harrison 6 (Danjuma 66), Gueye 6 (Gomes 24), Onana 6 (Beto 79), McNeil 7; Garner 7, Calvert-Lewin 6
Stuart Atwell 6/10
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