Tottenham 2 - 1 Everton

Tottenham's Roberto Soldado scored his first Premier League goal of the season with the winner as Spurs beat Everton 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

The hosts had fallen behind early on to a brilliant Kevin Mirallas strike.

But Christian Eriksen equalised six minutes later before the Spanish striker grabbed what turned out to be the deciding goal.

Everton, who had a late penalty claim for handball ignored, drop into 10th place while Spurs go seventh.

Defeat for Roberto Martinez's side ended an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, while counterpart Mauricio Pochettino finished a satisfying seven days that reaped three victories across domestic and European competition.

This season the Londoners had lost four of their league matches that, like this, followed on from a Europa League fixture on a Thursday but they showed few signs of tiredness until late in proceedings.

Spurs were energetic and combative from the outset but fell behind to superb piece of skill.

Mirallas followed up his match-clinching goal against Wolfsburg in the Europa League on Thursday with a sublime effort, bent in off the underside of the crossbar from outside the area after the Belgian had evaded Soldado following a free-kick.

The hosts hit back quickly when Harry Kane's shot on the run was pushed out by Tim Howard into the path of Eriksen, who guided the ball in past Gareth Barry on the goalline.

Kane was then instrumental in Spurs taking the lead, robbing Barry near halfway to set up Aaron Lennon.

The England international fed Soldado, who pushed forward before driving the ball past Howard for only his fourth goal of 2014.

Having taken a grip on proceedings just before the break, Spurs kept up their momentum when the match resumed with the impressive Kane bending in a shot that forced Howard into action.

Federico Fazio was close to getting a touch to a teasing cross from Eriksen, while Everton had offered little to test the Spurs defence in the wake of Mirallas' goal.

Hugo Lloris dived at the feet of Seamus Coleman to deny the Irishman following a perceptive pass from Ross Barkley, but for all their growing pressure, Everton did not look threatening until late on.

The ball appeared to brush the hand of Fazio in the area after Leighton Baines had swung in a free-kick, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the Toffees' claims.

Oliver also ignored Spurs' own shout for a spot-kick when Kane went to ground deep into stoppage time, leaving the scoreline to remain for a result that means Pochettino's side have won all but one of their last seven outings.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino:

"Our mentality and our spirit today were fantastic. This is what we want. We need to keep this feeling.

"It is impossible always to win but with the spirit and mentality we showed today, it will be easier to win games.

"Everton have a very good squad and for us it is a little bit more than three points. It is important to grow and build on the victory."

Everton manager Roberto Martinez:

"I'll never blame a decision like that [not being awarded a late penalty] for not getting a result, it happens, it's part of the game.

"But I'm disappointed because Michael Oliver is a really good referee and when the ball contacted the arm he wasn't in an obstructed view. I think it should have been spotted.

"I would never blame a third party for us not getting a result though. We should be good enough to come to White Hart Lane and get a result."

(BBC)

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