Spurs are our bogey team. Fact. We've beaten them just twice since the Premiership began. Once in 1996/97 when a Gary Speed goal gave us the three points and then again in 2003/04 when three first half goals from Unsworth, Naysmith and Yobo saw us right.
The latter of these games is certainly the most memorable as it was one of those nights at Goodison where the atmosphere dictates that the opposition, no matter who they are, have absolutely no chance! It was an evening kick-off on Good Friday, the place was bouncing and as good a first half display as you will ever see ensured that we took all the points from that one. It was a bit like the Man United game last season.
We battered them again last season but, as was so often the case last term, we just couldn't score. They won through a header from Pamarot but the game will probably be best remembered for Jamie Redknapp trying to put Tim Cahill's knee cap into the main stand. And getting away with it!
Our record down there is even worse as the last time we beat them in the league was in 1986 when a Gary Lineker goal secured a rare Everton win.
And even when we've looked like we're going to grab a win down there we've always managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the last minute.
In 1992/93 we were beaten by a last minute goal from substitute Andrew Turner (who?!) then the season after we were leading 2-1 with about 30 seconds remaining when Teddy Sheringham and Darren Caskey (pictured below for those that don't remember) both scored to win the game for them!
wingnut
That's another thing with Spurs, they always seem to have some no-mark that comes in against us, has the game of his life and then completely disappears. Dean Marney now falls into this category (along with Messrs Turner and Caskey) after he tore us apart and netted two against us during last season's 2-5 malleting down there!
Oh yeah, and they've inflicted (arguably) our worst ever defeat on us as they webbed us 10-4 in 1958!
But talk of past meetings with Spurs just wouldn't be complete without a mention of the '95 semi at
"Gerrin there! I've just found me Everton beret!"
But that's all in the past and we must look forward to Saturday's game with a certain amount of optimism. Tottenham appear to be suffering from some fourth spot nerves at the minute, a bit like we were at this stage last season. They're clinging onto that final Champions' League position but their closest rivals are gaining on them and are in the semi finals of the competition. Hmmm, sounds eerily familiar!
The funny thing about it this year though is that, even if they do finish fourth, if Arsenal win the Champions' League then Spurs will have to make do with the UEFA Cup. And they'll blame us no doubt! But it would be sweet if they did blame us for it as we missed out on Europe in 1995/96 after England had had a European spot taken away because Spurs and Wimbledon (remember them?!) had fielded weakened teams in that year's Intertoto Cup. So there!
They also go into this game on the back of some seriously suspect away form as their only win in the last six away games was the 2-0 victory at
But they can't be underestimated as in Robinson, Davids, Keane and Mido (not to mention Jenas, Defoe and all the other boss players they've got) they've got a team capable of wellying us everywhere if we're not up for it!
The bad news for us is that Arteta has been ruled out of both of the weekend's matches as he injured his ankle in training. Andy van der Meyde is serving the last of his ridiculous three match ban and Nuno Valente is still injured. Matteo Ferrari will be in the squad though as he looks to have recovered from his thigh strain.
But if we're up for it, we're more than capable of beating them. If we're not up for it though, then we could have another
Sod it, 2-1 to the Blues. Beattie and Cahill for us, Keane for them.
Happy Easter y'all!