Defoe, though, was the biggest danger, striking Howard’s legs after being freed by Tom Huddlestone, sending an improvised volley over from Niko Kranjcar’s cross and sweeping an inviting effort wide after incisive pass from the same source.

On the backfoot for the most part, Moyes’s side enjoyed a purple patch midway through the half. Moments after Coleman’s low cross caused consternation in the Spurs’ penalty area, Rodwell clipped a ball into the box towards Jo, who swivelled and dragged a shot narrowly across the face of goal.

The striker, though, should have done a lot better with Steven Pienaar’s right-wing cross to the near post, failing with an elaborate left-footed flick when a simple finish with the right foot would have sufficed.

Tempers flared eight minutes before the break when, after bumping Marouane Fellaini off the ball, Benoit Assou-Ekotto appeared to rake his studs down the back of Cahill’s head after the pair tumbled to the ground.

Fellaini, still unhappy with the earlier challenge, raced to confront the Tottenham left-back and, after a brief handbags session, the pair were booked by referee Andre Marriner.

That, however, riled Fellaini even further until the Belgian was physically dragged away by Pienaar before he could talk himself into a red card.

Home resistance was finally ended in the 47th minute, inevitably through Defoe. When Everton failed to properly clear Howard’s punch out, the visitors fed the ball to Lennon on the right who crossed to the near post where Defoe, having momentarily lost the attentions of Hibbert, did the rest.

It knocked the stuffing out of Everton, with Crouch just inches away from doubling Tottenham’s advantage with a shot Howard did brilliantly to turn behind – even if the save wasn’t spotted by the officials.

But Tottenham didn’t have to wait long for their second, which arrived shortly before the hour. After Huddlestone’s shot was deflected behind, Kranjcar curled the resultant corner to the far post where a dozing Neill allowed Michael Dawson to crash a diving header beyond Howard.

Substitute Gareth Bale and Crouch both came close to extending the lead before the dynamic of the game changed on 78 minutes when Coleman danced beyond Bale down the Everton right and crossed to the near post where Saha stabbed home.

Game on.

Saha came close with a spectacular overhead kick before Everton drew level three minutes from time, Coleman’s cross from the right reaching Baines on the opposite flank, the left-back driving a shot into the floor and Cahill stopping to head home from six yards.

But Everton’s comeback almost counted for nothing as, deep into injury time, Crouch nodded a long ball into the path of the incoming Wilson Palacios, who was barged off the ball by Hibbert inside the area.

Howard, though, guessed right and saved Defoe’s spot kick with his legs.

It was the little bit of luck Everton’s hard work had earned. They know more will be required at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.