Branthwaite stuns Spurs to rescue Everton draw after Richarlison double

Ange Postecoglou’s despair was clear and justified. Tottenham were minutes from a valuable away win at Everton, holding a slender lead that should have been far greater, when they conceded from a set-piece for a second time to hand Sean Dyche’s side a precious point in their fight for survival. The Spurs manager shook his head and stared at the ground as Jarrad Branthwaite rejoiced, as well he might.

Two superb goals from Richarlison set Spurs on course for a sixth away win of the campaign but the defiance of Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal, the home side’s refusal to wilt and the visitors’ vulnerability at set-pieces resulted in a thoroughly entertaining draw at Goodison Park. Jack Harrison and Branthwaite capitalised to lift Everton out of the relegation zone.

A long afternoon seemingly beckoned for Everton when Richarlison returned to haunt his former club with four minutes gone. Destiny Udogie and Timo Werner carved open the home side’s right flank far too easily, with Ben Godfrey sucked out of position, and when the left-back crossed from the byline the unmarked Brazil international steered an emphatic volley into the roof of Jordan Pickford’s goal.

It was Richarlison’s eighth goal in his past eight Premier League appearances, maintaining the vast improvement from a striker who scored two in his first 39 league outings for Spurs, although there was not a hint of celebration. The ex-Everton favourite bowed in apology to the Gwladys Street stand, who added to the surreal scenes by applauding the opposition goalscorer.

Tottenham’s quick, fluid forward line continued to cause the Everton defence problems yet, to the hosts’ credit, they hauled themselves back into the contest by stepping up the intensity and aggression. A glaring lack of quality with their final delivery, touch and decision, however, left Everton totally reliant on set-pieces for a way back. Dyche’s deliberate ploy to pressure the Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario eventually told from a Dwight McNeil corner.

Vicario’s vulnerability at set-pieces had been exposed in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City. Everton surrounded the keeper at every corner and when he palmed one to the back post, with Harrison leaning into him, James Tarkowski headed back across goal for Harrison to get the final touch from a header by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Vicario was convinced a foul would be given against Harrison and re-set for a free-kick. In fairness, most people in the stadium probably expected the same outcome. But the referee, Michael Oliver, slowly pointed to the centre circle and VAR found nothing clear and obviously wrong with the on-field decision.

Richarlison scores his second goal of the game against his former club Everton. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

Everton merited the equaliser for sheer persistence. But Spurs carried the superior threat and individual options – even the contrast in the quality of the two benches was stark – and regained the lead through another immaculate finish from Richarlison. Werner prospered down Everton’s right again to find James Maddison, who instantly laid the ball into the path of the visitors’ number nine. From the edge of the penalty area Richarlison curled an unstoppable shot beyond Pickford’s reach and into the top corner.

Dyche’s team almost levelled for a second time from a corner when Godfrey met James Garner’s delivery with a towering header at the back post. Vicario saved on the goal-line with his legs and hacked clear before Harrison could convert the rebound.

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But for Pickford, Spurs would have wrapped up victory long before it slipped through their grasp. The Everton keeper saved well from Pedro Porro, Maddison and Richarlison as the visitors continued to stretch the home defence. At the other end, Micky van de Ven shone in the heart of the Spurs’ rearguard but in the fourth minute of stoppage time Everton rescued a point from another set-piece.

Dyche threw on every attacking option he had in pursuit of a precious point. Youssef Chermiti should have levelled from a Lewis Dobbin cross but shot tamely at Vicario when left unmarked on the penalty spot. A third substitute, Beto, had two penalty claims rightly dismissed by Oliver, who booked the Everton manager for his protests over the second collision with Radu Dragusin.

Dyche was still complaining when Garner whipped a free-kick into the Spurs area and the ball skimmed off Cristian Romero’s head to the far post. Branthwaite made no mistake with a close-range header and Spurs had fumbled another opportunity on the road.