Tim Howard helps Everton to hard-earned point at Tottenham

Spotlight figure Stones made a key block to deny Ryan Mason at the other end before Kane missed a gilt-edge chance to give Spurs the lead midway through the first half.

Found by Mason breaking through the centre circle, England international Kane, who took up worryingly deep positions in the absence of Christian Eriksen throughout, saw the outstretched leg of Howard stop him from scoring when one-on-one with the Everton goalie.

Before half an hour, the Toffees needed their American keeper to deny Mason, found by Chadli in the left channel. A long-range Bentaleb strike then needed tipping away as Howard saw the effort late. Toby Alderweireld’s header from an outswinging Mason corner also needed helping on its way.

Either side of the interval, the two teams lost a player apiece. Cleverley came off before the break and after the interval Spurs saw Mousa Dembele twist an ankle. His replacement, Dele Alli, almost most the perfect impact off the bench, as he teed up Mason only to find Howard in the way yet again.

Another Kane shot was blocked and Chadli skied the rebound, before referee Mike Jones waves away hopeful home side penalty appeals when Stones’ sliding challenge caught the trailing leg of Alli.

Jan Vertonghen’s deflected effort needed fingertips from Howard, and the Toffees then went close to nicking it when all-action attacker Arouna Kone glanced Oviedo’s left-wing centre just wide.

Everton also saw their one spot-kick shout turned down when Kyle Walker appeared to lean into substitute Steven Naismith, as Gareth Barry nodded the ball down to him in the Tottenham box.

Spurs striker Kane had a poacher’s finish rightly ruled out for offside late on, so both sides had to settle for a point. With nine shots on target between them, Tottenham and the Toffees should be targeting more clinical displays in future.