PREMIER - Tottenham struggles at goal as they draw against Everton

Spurs struggled to a 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday, giving Antonio Conte an early indication of the massive task ahead of him if he is to return to the Champions League.

With a controversial VAR intervention to overturn the decision to award Everton a second-half penalty, a game devoid of clear-cut chances could easily have resulted in Tottenham's sixth defeat in eight league outings.

Everton had to play out stoppage time with a man down after Mason Holgate's straight red card. Giovani lo Celso nearly snatched all three points for Spurs when his shot hit the post late on.

Since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this week, Conte can count to a first clean sheet in the league since August as the first evidence of progress.

However, their goal-scoring woes continue, as Harry Kane has only scored once in the Premier League all season.

Tottenham has climbed to ninth place, four points behind the top four, while Everton has slipped to 11th place, a point below Tottenham.