Tottenham vs Everton match report: Spurs make worst start to Premier League in seven years as Harry Kane fires another blank

Tottenham 0 Everton 0: Neither side is able to take advantage as goalless draw played out to leave Spurs down in 15th

Harry Kane missed a golden chance to score against Everton (Getty Images)

Harry Kane, scorer of 31 goals last season, has not treated his home crowd to one since his hat-trick against Leicester City in March. Mostly subdued by John Stones, who is apparently destined to stay at Goodison, and Phil Jagiela, Kane looked badly in need of the support which Tottenham's transfer dealings have left it late to provide. As a result they failed to secure a first win in a game of more blood and thunder than quality.

Everton, meanwhile, are another of those sides contributing to the imbalance between home and away results this season.

Tim Howard was apparently the League’s busiest goalkeeper in the opening three matches and there was more work for him as Spurs, who introduced expensive new signing Son Heung-min from Bayer Leverkusen before kick-off, found a way through following a dull opening quarter of an hour.

Kane, whose last goal anywhere won the away game at Everton on the final day of last season, missed the best opportunity of the first half. Ryan Mason, playing further forward than usual in Christian Eriksen’s absence, sent the striker well clear of a defence appealing for offside, but Kane, with almost too much time to think, eventually hit the goalkeeper’s legs.

Mason was also denied by Howard, who then turned Eric Dier’s header from a corner over the bar.

Ryan Mason has an effort on goal (Getty Images)

Everton, confident on the ball, were forced into a change before the interval when Tom Cleverley had to be replaced by Kevin Mirallas after having his right leg trapped in a tackle by Dier that was not deemed a foul. Their one chance in the opening period fell to Cleverley, after Kyle Walker lost possession woefully to him, but he could not beat Hugo Lloris.

As Tottenham continued to make most of the running after half-time, Howard rescued Everton again, when Mason set up Delle Alli, on for a home debut as substitute for the stricken Mousa Dembele. Kane, trying to place a shot with his right foot, then had it blocked and Chadli carelessly sent the rebound far too high.

After the ineffective Romelu Lukaku had been taken off, Arouna Kone’s header was too close for the comfort of the home crowd, whose frustration was compounded when Kane was clearly offside as he finally located the net after 75 minutes.

A rare clean sheet was small consolation for them.

Teams:

Tottenham Hotspur: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Bentaleb; Dembélé (Alli, 53), Mason (Pritchard, 85) Chadli; Kane.

Everton: (4-2-3-1) Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Oviedo; McCarthy, Barry; Koné (Deulofeu, 84’), Barkley, Cleverley (Mirallas, 44); Lukaku (Naismith, 69 ).

Referee: Mike Jones

Man of the match: Howard (Everton)

Match rating: 7/10