Everton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Michael Keane scores wonder strike in final the minute

Time was ticking away, fury was building in Goodison Park and two clubs were heading into significantly different directions.

Everton were losing 1-0, Harry Kane — public enemy No 1 after crashing to the floor from a push in the face by Abdoulaye Doucoure, for which the midfielder had been sent-off — had scored a penalty that had been awarded following a foul by Michael Keane.

Tottenham were on the cusp of getting the win they needed to ignite their Champions League push, Everton were staring down the barrel with relegation worries mounting. All seemed lost for them but Keane had moved forward after Tottenham had seen Lucas Moura sent off.

Then, with one swing of his right foot, Keane bent a drive in from 25 yards that secured a precious point, changed the atmosphere in this wonderful old stadium and sent the locals home buoyant. They are not going anywhere yet.

Just over 20 minutes earlier, Kane lay prone on the turf, as the rumpus erupted around him, looking like he had taken one on the chin from Anthony Joshua.

Michael Keane scored a superb last minute goal to grab a draw for Everton against Tottenham

Keane struck from 25 yards to grab a deserved equaliser for the Toffees at Goodison Park

Sean Dyche’s side battled back from 1-0 down with 10 men to snatch an unlikely point

A red card was coming for Doucoure, this was going to be certain. The Everton midfielder had raised his hands, stupidly, and connected with Kane’s face after the two men had jostled for the ball. Kane crumpled, a Tottenham medic ran on and you knew the course of a game was changing.

But then you saw the replay. Yes, there was a connection from Doucoure. Nothing could excuse his lack of discipline and referee David Coote was left with no option but what about Kane? TV replays showed you that he had, shall we say, gone to the ground in stages.

Fury raged around Goodison, a sense of injustice and the fear that an event of this significance could not only skew the way a keenly-fought contest was evolving but, also, have a detrimental effect on a campaign, too — until Keane’s strike rescued their team.

Having slithered back into the bottom three following the weekend’s results, the tension among Everton’s fans was palpable during the opening exchanges and nerves were certainly present among the players; everything felt rushed and impatient, there was no rhythm or composure.

Spurs lost their composure near the end when Lucas Moura was sent off for a straight red card

Moura had made a clumsy late challenge on Keane shortly before the defender’s goal

Abdoulaye Doucoure had seen red for Everton after raising his hand to Harry Kane’s face

The midfielder was sent off giving Spurs the incentive to push on for the lead in the second half

So the opportunity was ripe for Tottenham to exploit and whatever turmoil they had endured last week, it didn’t look to have any noticeable impact. Quite the opposite, in fact: as their fans in the corner of the Bullens Road squawked about wanting Daniel Levy out of their club, the players tried to show they wanted to stay in the top four. 

Typically, Kane was at the heart of it all. Never mind the goals, it shouldn’t be taken for granted what a fabulous footballer he is, gliding into deep pockets as if he was skating across an ice rink; his touch never fails him, his passing barely misses the target.

It was surprising, then, when he actually failed to score from 10 yards in the eighth minute. The ball dropped to his feet, back to goal in front of the Gwladys Street, but rather than spinning and ripping a shot into the net, he succeeded only in crashing his shot into Michael Keane’s midriff.

Such was the heightened level of emotion, you could almost see the relief spill out of people as Jordan Pickford gathered the rebound.

Shortly after Cristian Romeo was brought down by Keane to give Spurs a penalty kick

Kane sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to blast Tottenham into the lead at Goodison Park

Kane’s strike looked to have put Spurs into a commanding position to move up to third

Spurs dominated much of the ball but it was Everton who had more goal attempts – SofaScore

Kane slammed both his hands into the turf but he was even more frustrated in the 16th minute when a sweeping move, which began with Cristian Romero spraying a 60-yard pass from right to left, ended with Ivan Perisic crossing for Kane but all he could do was head wide.

Two warnings had been given: for Everton’s well-being, they needed to be heeded.

Fortunately, not everyone was affected. Dwight McNeil, for one, showed great composure to scoop another glorious cross from Perisic away as Pedro Porro was waiting at the back post for what would have been a simple conversion.

He apologised profusely but the game was crying out for someone in blue to put a foot on things and calm it all down. Fortunately, not everyone was affected and Dwight McNeil, for one, showed tremendous composure to scoop another glorious cross from Perisic away as Pedro Porro loomed.

Harry Kane looks on after missing a chance to head Tottenham in front in the early stages

Dejan Kulusevski (left) of Tottenham Hotspur and Ben Godfrey of Everton battle for the ball

Cristian Stellini was in charge of Spurs for the first time since Antonio Conte’s sacking

Spurs supporters protested against their club’s board from inside Goodison Park on Monday

On nights like this at Goodison, when it is raw and real, it only takes one little spark to create a furnace and you felt if Everton could just have a little spell, they would crash down the door. They should have done so immediately after half-time but Idrissa Gana Gueye wasted a glorious chance.

Rather than passing to the well-placed Demarai Gray, he took a shot on and, instead, sent it into the crowd. There were howls of anguish then but nothing to match what happened on the hour when Doucoure and Kane grappled.

You knew Kane would remain a central figure and so it proved when he sent Pickford the wrong way after Keane brought down Romero but still the drama was not done. Keane, just after substitute Lucas Moura had been sent off for a stupid tackle on James Tarkowski, atoned himself.

From 25 yards, he bent a drive past Lloris and took the roof off. Everton: they never stop fighting.