22 METROSPORT Monday, December 7, 2009 D Everton draw comfort from Howards late intervention Tim Howard saved Jermain defoes injury- time penalty as Everton fought back to draw with Tottenham at Goodison Park. The visitors led through defoes 13th goal of the season and michael dawsons header both scored early in the second half. However, strikes from substitute Louis Saha and Tim Cahill in the last 12 minutes, plus Howards spot-kick heroics, earned david moyes side a precious point. The result cost Spurs the chance of returning to third in the table but, despite the morale boost, also extended Evertons woeful run to one win in nine Premier League matches. The hosts, ravaged by a lengthening injury list, are just three points above the relegation zone. JosephYobo, who missed the midweek Europa League win at aEK athens with a hamstring injury, suffered another injury setback when he lasted just 15 minutes of this match to be replaced by republic of ireland Under-21 inter- national Seamus Coleman, making only his sec- ond league appearance. Spurs were ahead in the 47th minute when aaron Lennon whipped in a cross from the right and defoe nipped in at the near post to score. They doubled their lead when Lucas Neill al- lowed dawson to escape him in the penalty area and the centre-back dived low to score hot on the heels of his goal at aston Villa last week. moyes brought on Saha andYakubu and it was Frenchman Saha who got Everton back in the game when he clipped home a Coleman cross. Sahawent close late on with an overhead kick before Cahill equalised with a low header from Leighton Baines centre four minutes from time. Two minutes into added time Tony Hibberts challenge on wilson Palacios earned Spurs a penalty but defoe shot straight at Howard. EVERTON 2 TOTTENHAM 2 Everton: Howard, Neill, Hibbert, Yobo (Coleman 15), Baines, Pienaar, Rodwell (Yakubu 62), Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Jo (Saha 62). Booked: Rodwell, Fellaini, Baines, Cahill. Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Bassong, Dawson, Assou- Ekotto (Bale 46), Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios (Hutton 90), Kranjcar (Jenas 88), Defoe, Crouch. Booked: Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Bale. Ref: Andre MarrinerLeveller: Cahill Fall guy: Steven Pienaar of Everton is brought down by Tom Huddlestone Picture: Getty SOCCER PREmiER LEaguE By joHn STEvEnS Lesser sides more of an issue for Hughes Manchester city boss Mark hughes admits his team must learn to see off lesser sides after another victory over one of the Premier Leagues big guns. after a run of seven successive draws, citys victory over arsenal in their carling cup quarter-final last Wednesday and a 2-1 win against Premier League leaders chelsea on saturday provided a timely boost to flagging morale. they have now collected seven points against the big four, exactly the same number as their recent run of draws produced against the likes of hull, Burnley, Fulham and Birmingham. We know what it takes to win against the bigger sides, reflected hughes. Once we get the knowledge of how to beat the lesser sides we will be okay. the next test will come when city visit Bolton this weekend, and hughes knows it would be a major letdown if his team were to falter once more. We want to make the most of the results this week, he added. as i have said many times, you cannot have short cuts. at this level, if you dont put in the right level of work you will get beaten. We worked exceptionally hard to get this result because the challenge is there for us from the bigger sides. Better: Tevez and City Wenger reeling over latest Rosicky injury arsene Wenger admits he felt tomas rosickys devastation at the prospect of being sidelined for a month. Wenger was forced to withdraw the czech republic midfielder halfway through arsenals 2-0 Premier League win over stoke on saturday sealed with goals from andrey arshavin and substitute aaron ramsey. rosicky spent 18 months on the sidelines before making his comeback from a series of hamstring and knee injuries at Manchester city in september but has sustained a groin injury. Wenger has used rosicky sparingly since his return but is now facing the possibility of losing the 6.7million player until the new year. hes devastated and i am as well, said the gunners boss. Before the match i told myself hes played the whole game on Wednesday, should i take the gamble or not as it was such an important game?. But by half- time he was struggling. tomas has not played for 18 months. When you come back, your body has to get used to producing the energy levels again and its difficult. the first impression is that it wont be longer than a month but its a groin problem so we have to see the scan. Sidelined again: Rosicky Ancelotti to keep Frank on the spot FraNK LamPard will remain Chelseas penalty taker despite his miss at manchester City which consigned the Blues to defeat on Saturday. The 2-1 reverse at Eastlands saw manchester United close the gap on Carlo ancelottis side at the top of the Premier League to two points. Lampard had not missed from the spot for his club since September 2006 and ancelotti insists Lampards effort, saved by City goalkeeper Shay Given, was just a one-off. So, Lampard can miss a penalty, said the Chelsea boss. These things happen. it is no problem. He will take the next one. Emmanuel adebayor scored at both ends in the first half before Carlos Tevez scored the hosts winner but ancelotti insists he is unworried by the tightening of the title duel. we dont have any reason to be worried, he said. it will be a race until the end of the season but we are still top of the league so we do not need anything extra. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html