DELIGHTED David Moyes heaped praise on Seamus Coleman after the youngster’s sparkling Premier League debut.
The 21-year-old emerged from the bench as an early replacement for Joseph Yobo and helped Everton fight back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
Coleman crossed for substitute Louis Saha to spark the comeback with a 78th-minute strike and was involved in the build-up for Tim Cahill’s equaliser three minutes from time.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 international made his first senior appearance for Everton in the unaccustomed position of left-back in the 5-0 Europa League thrashing at Benfica in October.
But, having also played a part in the 1-0 win against AEK Athens in Greece last Wednesday, Coleman – a £150,000 summer arrival from Irish side Sligo Rovers – was hugely impressive in his normal role at right-back yesterday.
"Seamus was fantastic," said Moyes. "He played really, really well. He got forward for us and made a difference. Good on the youngster.
"There was a doubt about how he would cope after the difficult night he had in Benfica, but today he’s played in his right position at right-back, and showed what he is all about."
The draw edges Everton one place up the Premier League table to 15th, with Moyes convinced the tide is beginning to turn after a rough few months for his injury- hampered team.
"It could be an important point for us," said the Goodison manager. "The players are beginning to see that we are going to have to work really hard and stick together. There’s a real spirit among them and because of that there’ll always be hope. That spirit will help us until we get the numbers back.
"With what we had out there today, and to be 2-0 down and to get a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, that’s an unbelievable result. Peter Crouch had a chance to make it three and they had a penalty as well, but at 2-2 we’d made it a game and we did really well.
"I thought when it went to 2-2, if anybody was going to make it 3-2 it was going to be Everton.
"But it was a game when there were a lot of missed chances and half-chances, especially for Tottenham. But I thought we deserved our luck at the end."
