Robbie Keane scored the penalty which kept Tottenham's noses in front in the race for Champions League football.

Everton were outplayed and outmanoeuvred for long spells of this game but mounted a characteristic late charge and could have grabbed an undeserved point with a barrage of long balls.

But it would have been a travesty. Arsenal winning at home to West Brom heightened the need for Spurs, with a four-point lead over their north London neighbours in the race for fourth place, to show backbone and to hang onto their slim lead.

They should have scored more but they had to rely on Keane's 15th goal of the season to see them home.

Everton boss David Moyes had pleaded for Sven-Goran Eriksson to watch Phil Neville and James Beattie in action and the England coach duly obliged. But the Swede would have been far more impressed by the performances of the clutch of England stars in the visitors' ranks.

Everton spent much of their time trying to contain Spurs' movement and passing. Jermain Defoe, in for the injured Mido, must have been delighted that Eriksson was watching and his link play with Jermaine Jenas particularly impressed.

Spurs started well and got the better of the first half. They had plenty of possession and it cost Lee Carsley a 10th-minute booking.

The Republic of Ireland international chased down three successive Spurs players and finally caught Anthony Gardner with a late lunge as the ball eluded him. That was very much the order of the day for Everton who were made to run and run to keep Spurs in check.

Gardner, Michael Carrick and Keane all had chances to score which kept home keeper Richard Wright busy and he also made a fine instinctive save from Teemu Tainio's header.

Aaron Lennon, another out to impressed the England coach, gave Gary Naysmith a torrid afternoon.

The visitors made the breakthrough after 33 minutes. Lee Young-Pyo pulled a cross into Keane's path and, as the Irish striker surged into the box, he was pulled down by Alan Stubbs. Keane got up to blast home the penalty himself.

Neville was booked for a foul on Gardner with the Spurs defender also being cautioned for his reaction to the challenge.

Everton needed more drive about their play, and they were much better after the break. Tim Cahill got into a good position only for Ledley King to block the effort.

But Spurs hit back with substitute Danny Murphy, on for Tainio, firing in a cross which put Jenas in with a chance only for Wright to make a fine save to his right.

The Everton keeper made an even better stop seconds later when Naysmith's poor chested back-pass found Defoe a couple of yards out, but somehow Wright managed to block the effort.

Murphy then set up Keane in the box, but Spurs' top scorer lifted his effort over the top.

Lennon and Jenas ran Everton ragged and Stubbs hurt himself stopping one Jenas run. He was replaced by Matteo Ferrari.

Lee then made another chance for Keane but again Wright got down to save.

Duncan Ferguson arrived to give his own brand of attacking power to Everton after 65 minutes, replacing Simon Davies.

Spurs continued to waste chances, Defoe curling an effort against the angle on 71 minutes and somehow Everton were still in the match.

With that in mind, Spurs sent on defender Calum Davenport for Lennon with eight minutes left.

Everton replaced Naysmith with Kevin Kilbane two minutes later as the Toffees battled for an unlikely point. Carsley saw a free-kick deflected wide and Beattie nodded a free-kick past a post.

But Spurs held on and deservedly claimed three more points as they plot a course for European combat.

Teams:

Everton Wright, Neville, Yobo, Stubbs (Ferrari 59),Naysmith (Kilbane 84), Osman, Carsley, Cahill,Davies (Ferguson 66), McFadden, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Turner, Weir.

Booked: Carsley, Neville.

Tottenham Robinson, Stalteri, Gardner, King (Davids 90), Lee,Lennon (Davenport 82), Carrick, Jenas, Tainio (Murphy 45),Keane, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Barnard.

Booked: Gardner.

Goals: Keane 33 pen.

Att: 39,856

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).