For the first time in eight years, Everton sit top of the Premiership. It may sound an unlikely scenario, but after a day when England's cricketers waltzed to victory over Australia, wonders may never cease.
Amidst a flurry of cards - five yellow and a pair of reds for the visitors - the Blues battered Tottenham last night and were unfortunate to only emerge with a point salvaged through Duncan Ferguson's second-half penalty.
While the visitors are a hotch-potch of new faces promising better times ahead, Everton's old injury jinx continues to undermine Walter Smith's efforts. By his own admission, the paltry size of his squad - stripped by the necessity to cost-cut - means the season hinges on a clean bill of health; already Tomasz Radzinski, the Polish-born Canadian international prised from Anderlecht for £4.5m, is hamstrung and unable even to limp on to the bench.
At least Smith has the luxury of being able to select his first-choice strike force. This was only the seventh time in just under a year Duncan Ferguson and his new captain Kevin Campbell had played together. The Scot signalled his intent with a booming early header from Steve Watson's cross which was gratefully claimed by Neil Sullivan.
The visitors found respite when Gus Poyet - a constant buzz of clever passes - slipped Steffen Iversen clear only for the Norwegian to fire beyond the far post. But the Uruguayan's occasional bursts of the sublime were soon drowned under a torrent of home pressure.
Thomas Gravensen's corner fell to Niclas Alexandersson and the Swede cracked a a first-time shot against the bar from the edge of the area. With Tottenham as shaken as the woodwork, Alan Stubbs forced Sullivan to claw a shot behind before the former Celtic centre-half's header was blocked inadvertently by Campbell, sprawled on the goalline.
The Londoners continued to struggle whenever Everton found width to cross and Mauricio Taricco's lunge at Gravesen reflected their jitters. The Dane collapsed a yard from the touchline and departed on a stretcher; his side, still fuming at the unpunished indiscretion, soon found themselves behind.
Teddy Sheringham's scrappy interchange with Darren Anderton prompted Iversen's shot. Paul Gerrard saved, but the ball ran loose for Anderton to ram home.
Alexandersson's volley, disallowed for Ferguson's foul off the ball, added to the home side's sense of injustice.
Their hackles raised, the Blues' pressure became increasingly frantic - attack after attack breaking down on Ledley King's calm head - until Doherty dragged down Campbell. The Irishman was dismissed; Ferguson sidefooted home the equaliser from the penalty spot.
But, while may have been Doherty unlucky to depart, the red mist had descended and Poyet - his rag long since mislaid - crashed into Watson. The resultant red card left the visitors with nine men.
EVERTON (3-5-2): Gerrard; Weir, Stubbs, Pistone; Watson, Alexandersson, Gemmill, Gravesen (Unsworth, 43min), Pembridge; Campbell, Ferguson.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (3-5-2): Sullivan; Doherty, Bunjevcevic, King; Taricco, Anderton, Poyet, Freund, Ziege; Iversen, Sheringham.
Referee: D Elleray
