No way past Howard as Spurs are held at Everton

TOTTENHAM could find no way past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard - he set a new club record of 16 clean sheets - as two strong defensive units cancelled each other out in a dour Premier League encounter at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The game started in a sudden downpour but by the end the ground was bathed in glorious sunshine.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp ended up reshaping most of his team.

Injuries forced him into a tactical switch - opting for a five man defence with Vedran Corluka joining Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate at centre back, while Alan Hutton and Gareth Bale patrolled the right and left flanks.

Redknapp was forced to leave out Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios after the sad news that a body believed to be that of his missing brother Edwin had been discovered by police in his country.

Tom Huddlestone was drafted in to partner Jermaine Jenas while Jermain Defoe made his first start alongside Robbie Keane since the Irish man re-signed for the club.

Spurs' best chances of the opening spell saw a Keane shot blocked by Joseph Yobo and a twice-taken Bale free kick curl just over Howard's crossbar after Joleon Lescott had ended Hutton's marauding run just short of the area.

At the other end, Heurelho Gomes showed some fancy footwork from a back pass, outwitting compatriot Jo to clear his lines. King was on hand to block a goalbound Jo effort five minutes before the interval.

Goal-scoring chances were still at a premium after the break with neither keeper called upon to make a save.

Midway through the half Gomes punched clear a corner only as far as Dan Gosling, whose shot into the ground whipped up and clipped the outside of his right hand post.

A couple of minutes later Corluka and Jenas combined to feed Defoe on the edge of the penalty area. The England striker turned and unleashed a left-foot shot just wide of the target.

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