CONTEMPLATING his team’s recent poor form in his matchday programme notes, David Moyes was compelled to repeat an oft-quoted mantra.

"There’s a saying that ‘the harder you work, the luckier you become’," said the Goodison manager.

"Maybe we need to work harder and our luck will change."

The benefits of that approach were evident yesterday as a dazed Everton dragged themselves off the canvas to fight their way to an unlikely point and take another step forward on the road to recovery.

Two goals down after an hour with an already makeshift defence further stretched by Joseph Yobo’s enforced first-half exit, only some slack finishing from free-scoring Tottenham Hotspur kept a faint flicker of hope alive for Everton.

Moyes’s side could easily have thrown in the towel. But, invigorated by a bold double attacking substitution, they dug deep to make the most of their respite, as Louis Saha pulled one back before Tim Cahill celebrated his 30th birthday with a dramatic 87th-minute equaliser.

Even then, Tim Howard was forced to make an injury-time penalty save from Jermain Defoe to copper-bottom Everton’s fightback.

Seasons have turned on less. And Moyes will hope the penny has finally dropped with his players after a week from which everyone at Goodison should take great encouragement.

Yes, Everton have still not claimed victory at home in league since September 20, have won only two of their last 13 games in all competitions and stand a worrying three points off the relegation zone with Christmas on the horizon.

But, after gaining immense honour in derby defeat last Sunday and Europa League progress three days later, this was another welcome confidence boost on an afternoon Goodison rediscovered its voice.

And the fans could hail a new hero.

Everton’s chronic injury problems have opened a window of opportunity for a clutch of the club’s youngsters, and yesterday it was the chance for Seamus Coleman to impress on his Premier League debut as substitute for the hamstrung Yobo.

The Republic of Ireland under- 21 international suffered a harrowing experience at left-back on his first senior appearance in the 5-0 Europa League defeat at Benfica in October but, in his more accustomed role of right- back, he shone brightest here, playing a part in both Everton’s goals and a constant attacking menace throughout.

Saha’s goal-scoring knack remains undimmed – this was his 11th of the season on, curiously, his 100th appearance as a substitute since arriving in England – and when both he and Yakubu were introduced shortly after the hour, Everton began to ask questions of a Tottenham defence that all-too-readily crumbled under the pressure to cast doubt on their capability of breaking into the top four.

Of course, barely six months ago it was Everton who were the most likely to end the Premier League’s quadopoly. Circumstances have since changed, yet the evidence yesterday may well leave Moyes to ponder on what might have been.

There remain concerns for the Goodison manager, however.

The injury crisis shows no sign of abating, with both Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling sidelined yesterday by hamstring problems sustained in Athens.

After a honeymoon period, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is becoming an increasingly peripheral figure as he grows accustomed to the hurly-burly of the English game. And although ending a 12-game goal drought, Cahill received the unwanted birthday card of a booking that rules him out of Saturday’s assignment at leaders Chelsea.

Another game, another defensive line-up. Tony Hibbert started alongside Yobo at centre- back, but was soon joined by Lucas Neill, the Australian celebrating his 500th appearance in English football.

Such defensive disruption has become a depressing norm for Everton in the past two months, and no matter the commitment or determination of those filling the breach, that shortcoming will eventually be exposed.

And while it took Tottenham until the second half to find a way through, the warning signs had been there from as early as the eighth minute when Peter Crouch blasted over when put into space by Aaron Lennon.