Toothless Spurs blank again as new era turns into a false dawn

· BBC-PL

Toothless Spurs' draw a blank again and are now in danger of seeing a brave new era turn into a false dawn, says chief football writer Phil McNulty.

On this evidence, there will be more.

It may seem early days for an apology to the supporters, but De Zerbi felt the need as he said: "I'm sorry to the fans. We are sorry to the fans.

> "They were fantastic, especially in the first part of the game because when they see the team is playing well, pushing to find the solution they were inside the pitch with my players. Then the reaction of the fans is normal. We have to say thanks all the time to them."

Everton could have actually made matters worse, but they are also short of attacking threat themselves - luckily for Spurs.

As the second half wore on, the resilient visitors actually missed the game's two best chances through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Brennan Johnson, while the mood became increasingly sour as nerves and anxiety grew.

When £85m summer signing Mateus Fernandes had Spurs' first shot on target after 46 minutes, the stadium rattled to the sound of ironic applause.

There was no irony when they played the ball around at the back with only seven minutes left, and when the final whistle sounded it was just like old times - or at least like last season - as jeers sent De Zerbi's players on their way.

He went through the card in an attempt to change this embarrassing barren sequence in front of goal, playing new signings from Manchester City , Omar Marmoush and Savio, in the attacking positions, with Dominic Solanke handed his first league start of the campaign.

As time went on and the tension mounted, Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison were sent on, but it was another substitute, Lucas Bergvall, who almost snatched victory with a late long-range effort, saved by Everton goalkeeper Pickford after he had gifted the Swede possession and an opportunity.

Watching it all from close quarters was a grim-faced Richarlison, the 29-year-old Brazil striker in dispute with the club over the remaining nine months of his contract.

He was left out of De Zerbi's Premier League squad after a proposed deadline-day return to former club Everton collapsed. A switch back to Brazil with Vasco da Gama has also failed to materialise.

Spurs still without a league goal after Everton draw

The 'xG' - expected goals - statistic suggests Spurs should have scored three or four goals this season, but their non-penalty xG per shot this season is just 0.066. It gives them an expected conversion rate of 6.6%.

In layman's terms, it means they are not very good when comes to creating an attacking threat.

De Zerbi, never someone to disguise his emotions, grew more animated and irritated as the game went on, marching on to the pitch at the final whistle for an exchange with substitute Mathys Tel.

When any side embarks on the sort of root and branch revolution the Italian presided over this summer, it is inevitable there will be teething problems and time required for understandings and relationships to form.

And the change is understandable after two successive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League. Indeed, Spurs' last league goal actually came against Everton on the final day of last season, courtesy of Joao Palhinha.

It kept them in the top flight, allowing them to make a fresh start for this campaign.

De Zerbi, who still has much work to do to rid Spurs of the aftershock of two poor seasons, said: "I think in the first 30 minutes we were very, good but we didn't find a goal. I think in that moment we suffer too much with confidence and this is another important part for us at the moment.

> "In the second half, I observed many players had a little less confidence and I don't like this. They have to be happy and understand we are in the right way.

> "The players are human and they have emotions and they think with their head. My position is to help them and stay focus on the improvement we have to do. If we play 90 minutes like we did in the first 30 minutes, I think we are going to win many games."

Spurs, however, have a toothlessness that must be a concern. It is certainly one for the supporters who watched their players either take too long over chances or, on many occasions, passed on the responsibility.

They also ran into a rugged Everton defence, with Jarrad Branthwaite magnificent as he stepped up his claims for a place in Thomas Tuchel's next England squad after injury troubles.

For Spurs, however, there were few positives as the wait for a first Premier League win - and goal - this season goes on.

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