Howard’s howler rescues Spurs against Everton

A Tim Howard blunder helped Tottenham grab a 1-1 draw against Everton and move up to third place in the Premier League standings.

Everton, buoyed by their victory over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby last week, got off to a dream start after 17 minutes when Leighton Baines curled in a superb 25-yard free-kick to silence the White Hart Lane crowd.

But Spurs drew level almost immediately after a dreadful gaffe from Howard that was the stuff of nightmares for the American international goalkeeper.

There appeared to be little danger when Spurs fullback Alan Hutton swung in an innocuous-looking cross from the right.

Howard advanced off his line but instead of punching to safety could only graze the ball onto Peter Crouch, who guided back across the face of goal for in-form Dutchman Rafael Van der Vaart who hammered home the equaliser.

Yet despite enjoying plenty of possession for the remainder of the game, Harry Redknapp’s men were unable to penetrate a well-organised Everton line-up.

“They’re a good side. You don’t get an easy game with Everton, you never do,” Redknapp told Sky Sports afterwards.

“We had the better of the chances but I’m happy with a point … to come back from 1-0 down again shows tremendous character.”

Everton boss David Moyes was equally happy with a point earned by a starting line-up missing stalwarts Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell.

“Well before Liverpool and Tottenham if you’d given me four points I’d have certainly taken that,” Moyes said. “So give the players a lot of credit. They’ve worked really hard for the points.

“We’ve come here today without Arteta, Fellaini and Jack Rodwell — the boys that played did a great job today.”

Not for the first time this season, Spurs appeared to be suffering from a European hangover following their 4-3 Champions League against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Nowhere was that more evident in the performance of Gareth Bale, scorer of a hat-trick against Inter but largely anonymous against Everton.

The aerial threat of Crouch caused sporadic flutters in the Everton defence, and the tall striker had appeals for a penalty turned down midway through the first half when he was sandwiched by Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka.

Crouch also squandered a glorious opportunity to put Tottenham ahead on the stroke of half-time after being picked out by a wicked Hutton cross, only to direct his header straight into the arms of Howard.

The England international should have done better with a 70th-minute effort following a promising Spurs counter-attack but once again failed to test Howard, shooting tamely at the Everton keeper.

The draw saw Spurs leapfrog into third above Arsenal and Manchester United, who both play on Sunday. Everton moved up two positions to ninth.