Everton 1 Tottenham 1
David Elleray sent off two men in an amazing three-minute spell to leave Spurs under immense pressure for the remaining 25 minutes at Goodison Park tonight.
Despite earning a point to move top of the Premiership, Everton failed to capitalise on the dramatic decisions and were left wanting at the final whistle as gutsy Spurs defending denied them three home points.
Everton had gone behind in the first half to a Darren Anderton goal, and equalised through Duncan Ferguson's penalty - the decision leading to Doherty's dismissal, soon to be followed by Poyet after his lazy lunge at Steve Watson.
Spurs attempted to play a more cultured style, then their opponents, but with mediocre passing from midfield they rarely troubled the homeside.
With the studs flying, an inhury was imminent. Thomas Gravesen was caught on the side of the shin by a cynical tackle from Mauricio Taricco and was carried off on a stretcher and substituted for Dave Unsworth.
That clearly unsettled Everton, and it was Spurs who took the lead a minute before half-time when Anderton forced his way through the middle. The ball broke for Iversen to have a shot blocked by Gerrard, only for the ball to fall for Anderton who tapped into the empty net.
Seconds later Alexandersson struck home from a left-wing cross, only for referee David Elleray to rule the effort out, seemingly for a foul by Campbell seconds earlier which only served to heighten the anger of the home fans who hurled a volley of abuse at Elleray as he went off at the break.
Spurs could have easily made it two after 48 minutes when Gerrard flapped at Taricco's cross and somehow Iversen failed to turn the ball home as he arrived at the far post.
Ferguson was booked for dissent a minute later, by now every decision by Elleray was being jeered and his night was soon to become immersed in even more controversy.
On 62 minutes Elleray was at the centre of more uproar when Doherty brought down Campbell in the box as the Everton skipper turned to shoot.
Spurs were enraged when Doherty was shown the red card, and Sheringham and Christian Ziege were booked for protesting before Ferguson drove home the spot kick on 63 minutes.
But there was more misery for Spurs two minutes later when Gus Poyet launched himself at Steve Watson, and he too saw red for Spurs to drop to nine men
But for the next 25 minutes Spurs defended doggedly. Joe-Max Moore and Idan Tal were thrown into the fray by Everton but the Merseysiders could not find the space to grab a winner.
PA