Moyes in rage as AJ is the fall-guy

The Everton manager was so convinced officials were discriminating against Johnson last season that he compiled a video of incidents involving his £8.6million striker, against the likes of Chelsea, Fulham and Arsenal, and despatched it to referees' chief Keith Hackett.

It did him little good, just as his animated reaction to Tom Huddlestone's challenge on Johnson in the 34th minute could never have hoped to influence referee Andre Marriner, who waved away the penalty claims.

Everton forced the pace for much of a low-key first-half, but with new signing Jonathan Woodgate marshalling his defence with growing authority, Tottenham stood firm.

Tottenham welcomed two new faces in defence, in Woodgate, who went straight into the starting line-up after his £7.5m arrival from Middlesbrough, and Chris Gunter, who made his League debut at left back following a £4m move from Cardiff.

Gunter earned his chance after an impressive showing as substitute against Manchester United on Sunday, and he soon continued where he left off with a timely intervention that denied Johnson as the Everton striker lined up a shot from the edge of the area.

With Rangers right back Alan Hutton's signature finally secured, Pascal Chimbonda's Tottenham days look numbered. They looked painful, too, as he crumpled in agony under a Nuno Valente challenge in the 15th minute and needed lengthy treatment before continuing.

With Everton hanging on to fourth place, and Tottenham eager to make up ground on them after a recent revival under Ramos, there was a cagey feel about the first half as both sides adopted a safety-first approach.

When Dimitar Berbatov attempted to introduce some ingenuity to the proceedings, juggling the ball past two close markers in the 20th minute, it was ended unceremoniously by Phil Jagielka.

The left back swung his left boot at the ball and volleyed it 50 yards upfield in a way that summed up a largely featureless opening.

Even when Everton finally tested Radek Cerny in the 22nd minute, the Tottenham keeper scarcely needed to bother making the save. Leighton Baines' shot was drifting wide, but Cerny fell on it, anyway, just to play safe.

The sight of a belated attempt on goal, albeit off target, appeared to signing Jonathan Woodgate marshalling his defence with growing authority, Tottenham stood firm.

Tottenham welcomed two new faces in defence, in Woodgate, who went straight into the starting line-up after his £7.5m arrival from Middlesbrough, and Chris Gunter, who made his League debut at left back following a £4m move from Cardiff.

Gunter earned his chance after an impressive showing as substitute against Manchester United on Sunday, and he soon continued where he left off with a timely intervention that denied Johnson as the Everton striker lined up a shot from the edge of the area.

With Rangers right back Alan Hutton's signature finally secured, Pascal Chimbonda's Tottenham days look numbered. They looked painful, too, as he crumpled in agony under a Nuno Valente challenge in the 15th minute and needed lengthy treatment before continuing.

With Everton hanging on to fourth place, and Tottenham eager to galvanise Tottenham, as they replied in kind seconds later. Steed Malbranque's overhead kick looked spectacular enough, but Tim Howard saved it with ease.

Everton at last started warming to their task as they began to threaten Tottenham's goal, rather than rely on half-chances.

Baines, operating on the left of midfield, should have opened the scoring after a cutback from Victor Anichebe bobbled off Johnson and fell obligingly into his path on the edge of the six-yard area in the 27th minute.

The former Wigan left back almost seemed taken aback by his sudden opportunity and saw his scuffed shot hit Woodgate and bounce away to safety.

Seconds later, Everton fashioned a clear-cut chance from the best move so far. A slick exchange of passes, out of keeping with the mediocrity that had gone before, ended with Phil Neville crossing for Johnson to force a smart diving save with a quickly-taken shot on the turn.

Tottenham were coming under mounting pressure and might have conceded a 34th-minute penalty when Johnson latched on to a Neville through ball and outstripped Huddlestone, before going down in the area under a tangle of legs as the makeshift centre half tried to keep pace.

Johnson appealed to referee Marriner and his assistant, while manager Moyes had to be restrained by the fourth official after the spotkick claims were waved away.

There are television monitors everywhere these days, even in the press box, and replays appeared to show that Johnson tripped up without any assistance from Huddlestone.

Anichebe was inches away from applying a finishing touch for Everton in the 48th minute after Mikel Arteta reached the byline on the left and fired a low centre across the Spurs goal.

But Tottenham went close to taking the lead, against the run of play, after Neville carelessly rolled a pass into the path of Berbatov in the 50th minute. The in-form striker picked out Robbie Keane on the left of the area, and Howard had to dive to his left to keep out the Tottenham skipper's angled effort.

Cerny made amends for his howler at Old Trafford by denying Johnson after Manuel Fernandes sent the Everton striker clear in the 59th minute.