Tottenham ensured this week's virus at the club did not derail
their Champions League hopes as they beat Everton 2-1 at White Hart
Lane.
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his sixth goal in four games when
he netted the opener in Sunday's Premier League encounter at White
Hart Lane, then Luka Modric doubled the lead with a fine second
against David Moyes' men.
Harry Redknapp's side, however, had to survive a second-half
comeback from the visitors, who scored through Ayegbeni Yakubu and
then saw substitute Landon Donovan miss an open goal.
However, defeat dents the visitors' own top-four aspirations,
following recent wins over Chelsea and Manchester United.
Spurs are still in the hunt to join the elite but after
illness caused them to shut the indoor facilities at their training
ground this week, there were memories of four years ago when their
hopes were hit by a norovirus on the final day of the season.
On that day, Spurs players could barely make it onto the
pitch at West Ham - but against Everton they looked anything but
sluggish and did their damage in the first half.
Key performers for Redknapp were Gareth Bale, marauding down
the left from full-back, Wilson Palacios crashing into tackles in
central midfield and Modric pulling the strings cutting in behind
the forwards.
In Pavlyuchenko, Redknapp has a striker who wanted to leave
during the January transfer window but now looks like one of the
in-form strikers in the country.
He added to his tally in the 11th minute with the opener, set
up by strike-partner Jermain Defoe. Defoe chased Tom Huddlestone's
long ball down and Sylvain Distin failed to get close enough,
allowing the England striker to turn and set his sights on goal.
Whether it was a cross or a shot, Defoe's effort went between
John Heitinga and Tim Howard perfectly, allowing Pavlyuchenko to
tap in.
The visitors were almost handed an equaliser five minutes
later when Leighton Baines' corner was dropped by Heurelho Gomes -
Yakubu latched onto the ball but Michael Dawson blocked bravely on
the line.
It was a rare opportunity in the first half for Moyes' men,
who did not have Louis Saha in the matchday squad and saw Yakubu
and Victor Anichebe struggle to impose themselves on Spurs'
defence.
Spurs continued to attack after the opener, with Howard kept
busy with further efforts from Pavlyuchenko and Niko Kranjcar
before Modric struck.
Modric's goal, just before the half-hour mark, was a fine
finish to cap off a slick move involving all three of Redknapp's
Croatia players.
It started with Modric interchanging passes with Vedran
Corluka. Kranjcar then fed Modric just inside the penalty area and
he curled an effort went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Jack Rodwell came close with a header for Everton just before
the break, while Bale had an effort deflected wide at the other end
to bring an end to an entertaining first half.
Moyes changed things at half-time, bringing on Phil Jagielka
for Leon Osman, then he saw Heitinga test Gomes with a powerful
drive just after the restart.
Huddlestone went close with a volley but he caught Heitinga
with his follow-through and was carried off on a stretcher after
appearing to hurt his shin.
With Younes Kaboul brought on, Everton pulled a goal back
shortly afterwards. Mikel Arteta's corner went to the far post,
Rodwell headed back across goal, with Anichebe holding off Gomes
and allowing Yakubu to tap in.
Everton could have been level a minute later when Rodwell
caught Phil Neville's cross with a first-time volley - but Gomes
was down sharply to save.
Sensing the game being there for the taking, Moyes took off
Anichebe and brought on Donovan.
Everton had an opportunity to level in the latter stages when
Palacios gave the ball away and Steven Pienaar raced on - but Gomes
was equal to the finish.
Donovan also embarrassingly missed his open goal, when he got
on the end of Rodwell's cross.
Palacios stuck the ball in the net at the death - but it was
after the final whistle.
