IT is very easy to criticise what has been an indifferent first season in the Premier League for Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

But when you cast your eye to the man who was at the opposite end of the pitch on Saturday, it tended to put things into perspective.

Gomes has been the butt of cheap jibes and gags all season long but as he panicked, fluffed and amused in equal measure over the weekend, the gulf in class between the Brazilian and Everton umber one Tim Howard never seemed so great.

As Gomes struggles for credibility at this level, 30-year-old Howard has not only established himself as one of the best stoppers in the division but has now etched his name into Goodison Park folklore with a club record.

To surpass the legendary Neville Southall’s clean sheet record of 15 in the league is a remarkable achievement, though it was done in rather low key circumstances.

Rightly Howard will take the limelight and plaudits this week, and no doubt for years to come, but the fact he and Gomes had no shots to save all match tells you something of the end of season lethargy that defined this match.

It would have been fitting if Howard had claimed the shut-out accolade in more spectacular fashion with a string of acrobatic saves and maybe even a penalty stop for good measure, but only once was he required to be at full stretch, covering Jermaine Defoe’s smart turn and shot that flashed just wide.

The chance was Tottenham Hotspur’s most enterprising effort of a second half which was controlled by Everton, who equally struggled to create much in the way of meaningful chances.

Dan Gosling’s improvised volley on 68 minutes struck the outside of the post after Gomes had haplessly flapped at Leighton Baines’ cross, gave the home faithful a brief moment of hope.

Likewise Tim Cahill’s neat control and first time half volleyed strike whistled past Gomes’ left-hand post and Steven Pienaar’s speculative volley narrowly cleared the crossbar on 72 minutes.

Indeed, the much praised partnership between Pienaar and Baines on Everton’s left was integral to the Blues’ second period surge after a first 45 minutes in which they were below par.

Pienaar was not supported sufficiently by the left-back in the opening half but after the break, Baines’ over-lapping gave Everton a new threat.

But for the improvement, goalmouth action was at a premium, the pairing of Marouane Fellaini and Jo failed to spark and at the other end, the much vaunted first time pairing of Robbie Keane and Defoe this season didn’t live up to its billing – much like Keane’s short stay at Anfield.