Spurs’ Historic Goal Drought Deepens After Everton Draw
Tottenham drew 0-0 with Everton at home, meaning they have now gone four Premier League games this season without scoring. According to the Guardian’s match report, this kind of run has never happened at the start of a league season in the club’s history – a grim footnote to a summer in which Spurs spent £300m overhauling the squad.
Bluntness in front of goal, again
There was at least an improvement of sorts: two shots on target this time, having failed to register even one in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest. Mateus Fernandes’ effort early in the second half was met with ironic cheers from the South Stand, which tells you most of what you need to know about the mood inside the ground.
Everton, unbeaten and full value for the point, had the better of the second-half chances through Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson. The report notes Spurs were undermined by wayward passing throughout, a familiar theme explored in the aftermath of the Forest stalemate and one that keeps resurfacing whatever the personnel. Archie Gray filled in at right-back for the injured Pedro Porro, with Destiny Udogie also missing at left-back, and Spurs’ only late sniff came when Lucas Bergvall’s low drive was comfortably saved by Jordan Pickford.
A familiar soundtrack
Spurs have won just one league game at home all year – against this same opponent on the final day of last season, in circumstances the Guardian describes as do-or-die. Since November 2024 their home record in the competition reads P35 W5 D10 L20, and the booing at full time suggested the pessimistic edge among supporters, referenced by the Guardian both before and after kick-off, has not shifted an inch.
Whether the answer lies in personnel, as some have argued regarding Dominic Solanke’s role up top, or in the sort of dead-ball detail covered in this look at Tottenham’s set-piece struggles, De Zerbi has more questions than answers after this one. The Guardian’s separate piece on the manager’s post-match remarks is worth a look for anyone wanting the fuller picture: De Zerbi says Spurs have ‘mental block’ after wait for league win continues.
