Everton beats Tottenham 2-1

Everton beats Tottenham 2-1

Published Jan. 5, 2011 11:28 p.m. ET

Everton stalled Tottenham's English Premier League title hopes with an enthralling 2-1 win at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Seamus Coleman, who passed a late fitness test on a rib injury, hit the 75th-minute winner with a diving header to a rebound.

Spurs stayed fourth in the standings after Chelsea, one point behind, also lost. Everton improved to 11th, four points above the relegation zone.

''I'm pleased with that, I thought it was a really good game,'' Everton manager David Moyes told the British Press Association. ''Whoever plays Tottenham is going to have to play well to beat them because they are a really good side.

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''There was an edge to the players tonight - they played with improved vigor and determination.''

Louis Saha stunned Spurs after just three minutes with his first league goal in 11 months, but Rafael van der Vaart leveled in the 11th with a powerful header set up by Peter Crouch.

Crouch appeared to make it 2-1 just before halftime but he was ruled offside, then Van der Vaart fired over the crossbar from a free kick.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard kept Everton in the match in the second with two brilliant successive saves, the first of a point-blank shot by Van der Vaart, then palming over a long drive by Crouch.

Back on attack, Everton sent Saha into space, he cut inside and fired from long range at Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes, who could only block the shot. In place was Coleman, who dived to header in the winner.

Spurs star Robbie Keane, for whom Birmingham has started talks about signing, was sent on for the last 10 minutes but made little impact.

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