Tottenham Hotspur drew their second consecutive home game this season, as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Everton.
Facing a top class goalkeeper
If anyone doubted the abilities of USA goalkeeper Tim Howard, then this performance will remind people of his qualities. Howard denied Spurs on countless occasions and he pulled off his best save to start. It looked certain that Harry Kane was going to break his duck this season, as he got in behind the pushed up defence to be one-on-one with Howard after a great ball from Ryan Mason. However, Kane stuttered in front of goal and produced a tame effort which Howard saved with his feet.
That chance came around half way mark in the first period and another five minutes later Spurs called Howard into action again. It was good, direct play from the impressive Nacer Chadli down the left, who cut in and then played a great reverse ball onto the run of Mason. He hit it first time left-footed but once again Howard shut down the angle and saved with his feet.
Then, just moments later, the former Manchester United 'keeper used his hands to frustrate Spurs. An out-swinging corner from the right was won well in the air by Toby Alderweireld, who produced a back header which Howard back-pedaled to tip over one handed.
A more balanced second half
After pretty much dominating the first period, Spurs did not have it all their own way in the second as Everton came into the game more. However the hosts were clearly the better side and continued to carve out chances.
The best chance of the second half fell to Mason again just 10 minutes in, as he had another clear sight of goal. Substitute Delle Alli knocked the ball through to him, only for another first time left foot effort to be saved by an outstretched Howard to his right.
The only other real sight of goal for Spurs in the second half came in the form of two opportunities within seconds of each other. Chadli once again ran at the Everton defence and forced them to back off before passing to Kane, who saw his side-foot effort blocked. Although he did work it back to Chadli but he blazed over the bar.
The few scares
The Spurs defence can be happy that they kept some very good attacking players quiet for most of the game, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris only having one real save. A simple long ball was played forward and Kyle Walker slipped, allowing Tom Cleverly to pounce quickly and produce a decent right foot effort which Lloris clawed away high to his left.
After Kane's first half chance, the Toffees probably had the next best opportunity 20 minutes from the end as Arouna Kone glanced Brian Oviedo's right footed cross from the left just wide of the right post.
The wait for a first win goes on for Spurs as another decent performance was not capitalized on by the forward players; an area for improvement perhaps at the end of the transfer window.