Tottenham Hotspur overcame Everton to secure the result they required to ensure Premier League survival on a day of nerve-shredding tension.
Spurs needed a point to avoid their first relegation from the top flight since 1977 and send West Ham United into the Championship instead, and only their third home league win of a dismal season ensured they sent their fellow Londoners down instead.
It was all about the result rather than the performance on Sunday and Spurs fully deserved the victory that meant they escaped what would have been the biggest, most humiliating relegation of this generation.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium unleashed the deafening sound of celebration mixed with relief when Joao Palhinha put them in front of 43 minutes, reacting first after his header hit the post, Everton striker Thierno Barry unable to stop the ball crossing the line.
The only anxiety for head coach Roberto de Zerbi’s side came from their own fears and anxiety as opposed to any threat from Everton, who were jaded and out of sorts as their season continued to peter out, barely threatening until late on.
Spurs’ one moment of serious concern came in the dying seconds, when keeper Antonin Kinsky produced a magnificent flying save from Everton substitute Tyrique George.
There were understandable scenes of joy at the final whistle of a game in which the start of the second half was delayed because of a problem with the officials’ technology.
But once the dust settles on a season that has, in large part, been toxic and embarrassing with three managers taking charge as De Zerbi followed Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, there will be a long inquest into why Spurs came so close to falling into the Championship.
Spurs analysis: No time for celebrations
Tottenham were finally able to put an end to a season of suffering and can now finally plan for next season as a Premier League club.
De Zerbi dragged enough of out the squad he inherited late in the season, fashioning three wins that were just sufficient to keep Spurs up.
Spurs’ fans played a huge part, with thousands greeting the team bus before kick-off and providing thunderous support throughout.
And there was another outpouring of emotion at the final whistle when safety was secured – but this can only be a brief reaction before the wreckage of a season that almost saw this giant club drop out of the Premier League must be pored over.
The fist-pumping celebrations were exuberance in the moment, but underneath there should be embarrassment, and club anthem “Glory, Glory, Tottenham Hotspur” sounded hollow in the extreme after this brush with humiliation.
This was no sudden decline. Spurs had a warning last season when they finished 17th, the cracks covered up by the Europa League win under Ange Postecoglou soon exposed when successor Thomas Frank proved out of his depth.
At least, when it mattered here, they showed determination and resilience against an Everton side that has looked out on its feet in the closing weeks of the season.
There will be the usual noises of how this must not happen again, but actions must now speak louder than words, both on the pitch and from a hierarchy, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who have got so much wrong this season
(BBC)
