Michael Keane scored a stunning long-range strike in the 90th minute to salvage a Premier League draw for Everton against Tottenham in a game that saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Defender Keane stepped up from the back to arrow a 25-yard drive into the top corner, the point taking Sean Dyche’s men out of the relegation zone.
Harry Kane had given Tottenham the lead in the second half from the penalty spot after Keane himself had fouled Cristian Romero in the area.
The game had been an uninspiring encounter up until the flashpoint on 57 minutes, when Toffees midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure was given a deserved straight red card after pushing Kane in the face off the ball.
The England captain’s goal looked like giving Cristian Stellini a winning start as interim manager in Tottenham’s first game since Antonio Conte exited the club by mutual consent.
Conte’s fate was sealed by a tirade towards the Tottenham squad after conceding twice late on to draw 3-3 at bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
But there was little sign of a fresh start as the visitors again threw away a promising position against a side fighting relegation.
Everton were lucky to escape as Kane missed two huge chances inside the first 15 minutes.
The England captain should have been full of confidence after becoming his country’s all-time top goal scorer during the international break.
But Kane’s scuffed effort gave Keane the chance to clear off the line with his first opportunity before he headed wide when completely unmarked from Ivan Perisic’s cross.
No side has scored fewer goals in the Premier League than Everton this season and the home side’s lack of a focal point up front without the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin was again exposed.
The home outfit did waste a glorious chance to take the lead when Idrissa Gueye selfishly blazed over from the edge of the box with teammates better placed to take the shot just after half-time.
A moment of madness from Doucoure appeared to have undone the endeavour of Dyche’s men for the first hour.
The French midfielder slapped Kane in the face after an altercation between the pair and could have no complaints at being shown a straight red card.
Everton’s self-destruction did not stop there as moments later Keane dived in foolishly on Cristian Romero to concede a penalty.
Kane coolly sent international teammate Jordan Pickford the wrong way for his 24th club goal of the campaign.
“The sending off changes the feel, but our mentality is growing all the time,” said Dyche.
“They’re pushing their own standards very high, even going down 11 v 10, we took the game on,” he added.
Tottenham failed to make the man advantage count for much of the closing stages as they invited Everton on in search of an equaliser even before Lucas also saw red for a rash challenge on Keane.
Spurs are on the same number of points as third-placed Newcastle United and fifth-placed Manchester United, but have played two games more than both rivals.
Everton climbed three places to 15th, but were only a point above the bottom three with nine games remaining in a tight race to avoid the drop.
“It is another step in the right direction,” Dyche said. “It is only a point, but is a meaningful point. The mentality is going from strength to strength.”
Play was paused midway through the first half so the three Everton players participating in Ramadan Doucoure, Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye could break their fast.
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