Spurs survive final day tension to complete Roberto De Zerbi’s improbable rescue mission

Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1 v Everton (0) 0

João Palhinha 43

By Kaz Mochlinski at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Premier League

Matchweek 38

Tottenham Hotspur dramatically clung on to their Premier League status on the final day of the domestic season as they just about accomplished what they needed to do in getting a positive result against Everton to relegate West Ham United instead.

On a nerve-shredding Sunday afternoon of almost unbearable tension, under cloudless skies in sun-baked North London, João Palhinha proved to be the Spurs match-winner, scoring the only goal of the game from a corner two minutes before half-time.

The former Fulham midfielder had similarly struck the decisive goal for a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last month to start Spurs’ improbable late recovery under Roberto De Zerbi from having appeared to be near-certainties for relegation.

After picking up eight points in his first six matches in charge, Tottenham only required one more to be sure of staying up, but, having taken a lead into the break, they held on to it tenaciously to dissipate some of the day’s anxiety.

Backed by an unceasing white noise around their spectacular home stadium, with an unequivocal vocal support which had been mostly missing until the last five weeks, De Zerbi’s side dominated possession and territory from the outset.

However, they were repeatedly guilty of snatching at promising half-chances and missing the goal, a wastefulness that so often subsequently gets punished with the opposition striking at the other end.

Yet Spurs managed to eventually score from their first attempt on target, although even then João Palhinha had to have two tries at it before converting and sending the stadium into a frenzy of delight mixed with relief.

Mathys Tel curled over a right-footed corner from the left to the far post, where João Palhinha rose unmarked for a free header that hit the upright, fortunately rebounding straight back to him to fire in a low, first-time shot left-footed.

His second effort brought the first save of the game from Jordan Pickford, but the Everton goalkeeper only deflected the ball with his right leg across the goalline and Thierno Barry’s last-ditch clearance could not stop it from going in.

1-0 with a set-piece goal from a corner, it could almost have been copied exactly from the title-winning playbook of Tottenham’s North London neighbours and rivals, Arsenal, on the day that they were receiving the Premier League trophy elsewhere in the city.

Spurs nearly stretched further ahead immediately after the interval, when Djed Spence, playing on the right wing, cut inside onto his left foot for a low shot that Pickford got down to save at his near post but then spilled again awkwardly from his grasp.

It was to be the last time that England’s number one was troubled, as Tottenham did not produce another attempt on goal thereafter. In Thomas Frank’s time as head coach, that would of course have been furiously condemned by the home fans.

Under De Zerbi’s rescue mission, defensive solidity and keeping possession were now deafeningly roared on, as the not-inconsiderable value of avoiding defeat finally dawned on the Spurs supporters. The irony was unavoidable.

Likewise very perversely West Ham followers were desperate for a huge favour from David Moyes, whom they had previously considered not good enough to remain as their own manager, with an Everton win potentially sending Spurs down.

In truth, Moyes’ team were ideal opposition for Tottenham this time. Everton were very flat, listless and lacking in energy, as they finished their season without a victory in any of their last seven matches, going back to 21st March, losing four and drawing three.

The Toffees’ end-of-season drop-off, taking just three points from a possible 21 in April and May, easily superseded Tottenham’s terrible home form in N17 where they had failed to register a league success since 6th December.

Ultimately, when they had to dig in and hold out, Spurs comfortably kept any threat from Everton subdued, not allowing the visitors a shot on target until the 99th minute, before substitute Tyrique George came in off the left wing for a fine curling effort.

The Chelsea academy product, who has been on loan at Everton since February, brought the first and only save of the afternoon out of Antonín Kinský, flying at full stretch towards the far top corner to brilliantly tip the ball away.

It secured Tottenham’s first home win of 2026 in the Premier League, and just their third all season, with the eventual limited list of beaten opponents being Burnley, Brentford and Everton out of the 19 in total who visited the ground.

For De Zerbi, this was a third victory overall, and his first at home, where he has begun with a little unbeaten run of three games. “Tottenham’s going nowhere!” sang the Spurs supporters, meaning that they were staying up, but the words could be misinterpreted.

“We suffered too much” acknowledged De Zerbi. “I suffered a lot. But I think the fans, the club, the board, the players - they suffered too much. We are Tottenham, and we can’t suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.”

Emphasising that “we have no time to go on holiday” as he wanted to commence the rebuilding work right away, he added that, in his opinion, “we have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay” - and to form the basis of a new squad.

Very interestingly, De Zerbi spoke about the extremely encouraging bond which he had quickly developed with his captain, Micky van de Ven, but he pointedly did not mention the club captain, Cristian Romero, at all.

Romero had been planning to miss the match against Everton after travelling home to Argentina to nurse a knee injury. With an understandable outcry having been provoked, at the last minute he managed to make it over to North London to join his teammates.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Kinský - Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie (Drăguşin 90) - Bentancur (Gray 82), João Palhinha - Spence, Gallagher (Maddison 82), Tel (Pape Sarr 73) - Richarlison (Kolo Muani 73)

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford - O’Brien (Armstrong 62), Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko - Garner, Iroegbunam (Coleman 84) - Röhl (George 62), Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz 84) - Barry (Beto 84)

Attendance: 61,876