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Everton v Spurs
Oh for a striker who can put the ball in the net. Everton were by no means outplayed by Stoke but more missed opportunities and a somewhat bizarre own-goal from Phil Jagielka handed them their first away lose since the third game of the season. There are no doubts that David Moyes will be scouring the market for viable options after a first half of the season notably marked by an inability to finish off chances.
There will be no new faces for tonight's game so the manager will be hoping his side put in the kind of performance which has seen them beat Man City and Liverpool and earn draws against Manchester United, Chelsea and tonight's opponents, Spurs. Although Everton don't have the greatest recent record against the Londoners at Goodison Park they can look to that battling draw at White Hart Lane back in October to give themselves the belief that they can get a positive result here. The losses of Tim Cahill to the Asia Cup and Phil Jagielka to injury are blows, especially the nine goal Aussie. However this was never going to be an easy game but if Everton can defend as a unit and Phil Neville can shackle Gareth Bale as he did at White Hart Lane, then Spurs could find this to be a frustrating trip to Merseyside, where they've failed to win in their last six visits.
The 13/8 on the Everton win is far from fanciful, though you have to believe the Toffees will need a little bit of luck at both ends of the pitch to pick up their third home win of the season. 1-0 at 7/1 and 2-1 at 8/1 are the more realistic outcomes. The draw at 23/10 is certainly worth a look considering half of Everton's games this season have ended as stalemates, with score-lines of 0-0 at 8/1 and 1-1 at 5/1 again the most realistic given the respective home and away scoring records of the two sides.
As far as goal-scorers go, with no Cahill Moyes will be praying that Saha at 6/1 to score first, Yakubu at 13/2 or Beckford at 7/1 find something at least resembling a bit of goal-scoring form. Failing that, he has some attacking full-backs of his own who offer a goal-threat with Leighton Baines at 22/1 to score first and Seamus Coleman at 20/1 both capable of hitting the net.
Spurs haven't put back-to-back away wins together all season and coming in to this game unbeaten in their last nine in the league, they're surely due for a bad day at the office. If it comes at Goodison Park then Everton can take advantage and pick up a valuable three points. All they need to do is stick the ball in the net at least once. Is that too much to ask?
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