Everton recorded a vital 2-1 home win over top-four Tottenham on Wednesday night.

The Toffees took an early lead through Louis Saha before Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart got things back on track in the 11th minute but the home side were served by a 75th Seamus Coleman winner to push them further away from the drop zone.

The loss would not be welcomed by Spurs but did nothing to push them out of the top four where they remain after Chelsea lost at Wolves.

Everton: 2 (Louis Saha 3', Seamus Coleman 75') Tottenham Hotspur: 1 (Rafael van der Vaart 11')

Venue: Goodison Park, LiverpoolCrowd: 34,124 Referee: Lee Probert Yellow cards:EV - Phil Neville 57' TH - nil

GOAL The home side got the tonic they needed without leading scorer Tim Cahill when Louis Saha received a pass from Leighton Baines outside the area before whipping a right-footed shot past Heurelho Gomes in Tottenham goal and into the bottom left to kick off the scoring.

GOAL But Spurs soon restored parity through Rafael van der Vaart who headed home in the 11th minute after Peter Crouch found him with his head. It was the Dutchman's ninth league goals of the season.

There was plenty of action in front of goal with both sides looking menacing and it was Everton's Mikel Arteta who had the next best chance when his 31st minute shot was blocked by Gomes before Tottenham rallied late in the half, enjoying more possession and getting forward a higher number of occasions than their opponents.

Tottenham were almost ahead just before half-time when Gareth Bale pounced on a Louis Saha error in midfield, advanced with the ball, before playing a perfect ball for Crouch who finished with ease but was called back for off-side in what was a huge let off for the Toffees.

GOAL The Toffees grabbed a second in the 75th minute when Saha's shot from way outside the area rasped the gloves of Gomes but only bounced into the path of Seamus Coleman who sent it home with a diving header for the win.