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 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 almost then spilled again awkwardly.

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.