Tottenham and Everton offer up dour draw in Antonio Conte’s first league assignment

Everton 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0

The anticipation of Antonio Conte’s first Premier League game in charge of Spurs proved more captivating than the reality. Giovani Lo Celso struck a post in the 88th minute but, as in the final sterile hours of Nuno Espírito Santo short reign, there was no shots on target from a team featuring Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura during a feisty but low-quality draw with Everton.

Rafael Benítez’s team had the edge in the second half, a penalty award was overturned after a review and Mason Holgate sent off for serious foul play late on, also after a pitch-side review by the referee Christopher Kavanagh. Everton’s performance was a marked improvement on recent efforts and, other than Lo Celso’s drive, the home side contained Spurs comfortably as the visitors failed to register a shot in two consecutive Premier League games for the first time since the data was recorded in 2003-04.

Conte stuck with the same personnel and 3-4-3 formation that opened his reign with a chaotic win against Vitesse on Thursday, reflecting how little time he has had to work with the squad so far. There was certainly greater energy from Spurs than in Nuno’s final game against Manchester United and an urgency to find Harry Kane as quickly as possible.

In case of any doubt over the new manager’s instructions, he spent the majority of the first half with his left arm raised in the air and his index finger pointing towards the upper Gwladys Street end. More intensity, however, did not produce more of a threat. At kick-off, Spurs had gone 136 Premier League minutes without a shot on target. The statistic was not rectified in over 90 at Goodison.

Emerson Royal had a decent chance when Kane released Sergio Reguilón in space down the left and the wing-back crossed invitingly to the far post. His fellow wing-back headed harmlessly over. The only other threat to Jordan Pickford in the first half also involved Kane and Reguilón. Son, his every touch booed by a home crowd that has not forgotten his involvement in Andre Gomes’ dislocated ankle, held off Séamus Coleman before finding the England captain on the right. Kane’s deep cross fell for the unmarked Reguilón but, at full stretch at the back post, he volleyed high and wide.

The more concerted pressure came from Everton, although they too failed to test the opposition goalkeeper in the first half bar a Ben Godfrey drive drilled straight at Hugo Lloris. Their reaction to three successive Premier League defeats and alarming displays against Watford and Wolves was, however, what Benítez and Goodison had demanded.

Fabian Delph was rewarded for stemming the Wolves’ tide as a second-half substitute on Monday with his first start since December. The 31-year-old, who has endured an injury-plagued career at Everton, made another positive impact. His composure on the ball and aggression without it underpinned a much-improved performance from Benitez’s side. There was some consternation in the crowd when he was replaced by Tom Davies in the 60th minute but three months out with a shoulder injury prior to Molineux best explains that decision.

Delph created one of Everton’s few first-half opportunities with a floated cross that Michael Keane headed wide. The defender’s header, Godfrey’s shot and a Demarai Gray effort that was charged down by the Spurs defence constituted the home side’s chances before the break. Everton were in the ascendency for much of the second half, however, and a flat game erupted into life moments after Delph’s departure.

Kavanagh awarded a penalty when Richarlison, racing on to Anthony Gordon’s header into the area, appeared to be clipped by Lloris as he attempted to round the Spurs’ keeper. VAR advised Kavanagh to take another look on the pitch-side monitor, where he adjudged Lloris to have played the ball and not the man and overturned his decision.

Richarlison claimed a second penalty for a non-existent handball by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, leading to handbags with three irate Spurs players and a booking for Cristian Romero. Davies scuffed a shot straight at Lloris and Gray steered a first time effort wide following a neat exchange between the substitute and Lucas Digne.

Conte’s team were on the back foot yet almost won the game on the counter attack when Holgate, introduced into central midfield in place of Allan, lost the ball in a dangerous area. Lo Celso took over, cut inside the Everton defence and curled a powerful shot beyond Pickford from distance. Lo Celso was into his celebratory run when the ball cannoned off a post to safety.

A pitch-side review cost Everton again when Kavanagh was advised to re-assess the yellow card he had shown to Holgate for a foul on Hojbjerg. It was upgraded to a straight red for serious foul play when the match official had a clear view of the reckless defender’s dangerous follow-through on the midfielder. He could have no complaints. In the dying moments against ten men there was no sign of a breakthrough from Spurs. Their wait for a shot, and Everton’s for a win, continues. - Guardian