Perhaps against the odds, both Everton and Spurs pulled themselves back into their respective UEFA cup games. Everton trailing two nil from the first leg at Fiorentina, pulled themselves level on aggregate in a pulsating 90 minutes of football in which Everton created chance after chance to seal the game.

The Everton goals came from Andy Johnson and Mikel Arteta, but a string of fine saves by the Fiorentina’s  goalkeeper Frey kept the Italians in the game, and forced extra time.

After another 30 minutes the sides were still equal and the cruel blow of a penalty shootout eventually put the Italians through. Everton will have every right to feel aggrieved after this performance, but must carry it on into the Premiership where they still have a very realistic chance of fourth spot.

Spurs were away to PSV Eindhoven and trailed 1-0 going into the game. In the first leg the Spurs fans were chanting ‘You’re just a small town in Belgium’, whether that was a wind up or down to a lack of geographical knowledge I am not sure, but they did manage to find their way to Holland for the second leg.

After a tense first half in which real chances were few, Ramos went for broke in the second half, introducing strikers first Bent and then Lennon for defenders Young-Pyo Lee and Ledley King.

It made for a gripping second half and Berbatov gave the Londoners some hope when he levelled the aggregate score with a tremendous volley from Chimbonda’s cross. Bent might have won the game in normal time, but ‘keeper Gomes was equal to his fine header, tipping the ball over the bar.

Extra time produced more chances at both ends, but ended at 1-1. Spurs losing out in the penalty shootout.

It was a sad night for both English teams who both deserved to go through last night.