In much the same way as the players should, I won't dwell too long on Saturday's disappointment. What is done, is done and both the players and the fans need to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and prepare for what is now a game that holds much more significance. One thing that is definite in regards to Saturday's poor performance - we'll require a significant improvement if we are to get all three points from an Everton team who rubbed salt into our wounds in a similar situation last year.
On the injury front, it is likely that Michael Dawson will remain sidelined with the injury that kept him out at the weekend. It is expected that the reliable defender, who was an almost ever present last season, will be back in about two to three weeks. Bale, King, Assou Ekotto, Lennon and Lee Young-Pyo are also out. Everton are missing new signing Leighton Baines, influential midfielder Tim Cahill and forwards James McFadden and James Vaughan.
Though the corresponding fixture last season was one of the low points of the entire campaign, with a ten man Everton team humbling us during a 2-0 victory, recent history favours the men in white, with Spurs not having lost at White Hart Lane since February, and Everton failing to pick up all three points away from home since a similar time. Aside from recent form, however, this game has 'tough' written all over it.
Since taking over as Everton manager, David Moyes has steered the club up the table and they remain only one of two clubs to break the hegemony of the 'Big Four' since 2002. In Andy Johnson they have a potent goalscorer at domestic level and players such as Arteta and Lescott were very impressive last season. Arteta in particular is a player Tottenham sadly lack - a creative and direct attacking midfielder who has drive and a reliable end product. He represents the main threat in a side that are aiming to challenge Tottenham in their quest for Champions League qualification this season.
If Tottenham are to claim the three points for which they must surely aim on Tuesday night, Jol needs to be a lot more adventurous, attacking straight from the first whistle - a tactic that caused many teams a great deal of trouble at the Lane last season. Though injuries may hamper his attempts, he must at least try to balance the midfield, with a lack of wingers dictating that this may well be done by dropping wingers altogether and adopting a diamond formation, with Keane in the hole and Zokora dropping back to shield the defence from the threat of Arteta. With a less conservative outlook in mind, I feel it would be a perfect chance for Adel Taarabt and/or Kevin Prince Boateng to take a place on the bench, with a view to introducing them to stretch an Everton team that look short on pace in several areas.
There's little point in getting carried away by talking about 'must win games' so early in the season but tomorrows match is certainly important. With games against United and Arsenal looming on the horizon, a win and, almost as importantly, a good performance, against Everton would obviously be a great way to prepare for two such massive games, and a nice way of putting the disappointment of Saturday firmly behind us.
Key Player Dimitar Berbatov. Showed touches of class and guile against Sunderland but also showed an ugly side to his game. At times he seemed disinterested and unwilling to chase and harry. Hopefully the roar of the White Hart Lane faithful will be enough to wake him from his slumber.
Big Game For... Darren Bent. It's widely expected that Bent will play a much larger part against Everton than he did in Saturday's defeat. He'll want to get off the mark on his home debut as soon as possible and if the form he's been in this pre-season is anything to go by, I wouldn't bet against him. He has the strength and pace to cause Everton a lot of problems.
Prediction: 2-1 Spurs. I think we'll bounce back against Everton. The team will be fired up and I expect a reaction. Not many teams take points from the Lane and I expect that trend will continue this season, as Jol seems infinitely more confident and adventurous in front of a baying White Hart Lane faithful. Everton are a good side, however, and make no mistake, they will make it difficult. I expect them to score but for our forwards to have too much for them.