David Moyes marked his 300th game in charge of Everton with a Barclays Premier League victory over rejuvenated Tottenham, courtesy of Steven Pienaar’s deflected winner, though it came at a huge price as the Merseyside club lost striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu with a ruptured Achilles tendon that will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Pienaar, who caused a delay at the start of the second half as he was wearing the wrong shirt, found the back of the net six minutes after the restart when his shot cannoned in off Vedran Corluka.

It was Everton’s third win in a row at White Hart Lane and also meant a first home defeat for Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager.

Both sides have aspirations of challenging the top four but Spurs, despite Redknapp’s honeymoon period, are still in the trouble at the wrong end for the moment.

Yakubu, who was playing as a lone striker, was injured early in the game, falling awkwardly following a challenge with Ledley King. It was not until after the match that the full extent of the injury was revealed and it got worse for the visitors. Louis Saha was introduced as Yakubu hobbled down the tunnel with his right boot in his hand - but he in turn had to be replaced by Victor Anichebe after 70 minutes after injuring a hamstring.

Tom Huddlestone, who fizzed a drive across Tim Howard’s goal, had the first effort of the match but in general there was a lack of early goalmouth action.

Marouane Fellaini, who had drawn a foul from Benoit Assou-Ekotto that earned the defender a booking, sent in a dangerous cross from the left that required Heurelho Gomes to parry and Jonathan Woodgate to repel the danger. Gomes also leapt at Leon Osman’s feet to clear and then saved twice from Fellaini in the same move when the Belgium midfielder unleashed a shot from the edge of the area.

Aaron Lennon then was presented a promising opportunity when Spurs broke, but his ugly finish flashed wide and over the crossbar.

Spurs came closer when David Bentley curled in a free-kick and Phil Jagielka headed just past his own post. Darren Bent also found room on the edge of the area, latching on to a cross from the left by Assou-Ekotto, but his finish lacked power and was straight at Howard. When Tim Cahill crossed just before half-time, Saha was given a free header but his finish was straight at Gomes.

Pienaar delayed kick-off for the second period by wearing Osman’s shirt - then within six minutes he was whipping off his shirt when he celebrated the winner. The South Africa midfielder was fouled by Lennon, with Moyes instructing his big defenders to join the attack - but Mikel Arteta took the free-kick quickly. Pienaar’s shot took a wicked deflection off Corluka to wrongfoot Gomes, then the dreadlocked midfielder wheeled away to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.

Pienaar came close to a second and Gomes had to save his swerving effort from outside the area as Spurs defenders backed off. Redknapp’s response was bringing on Fraizer Campbell for Bent, then Lennon went on a run that ended in a foul and a yellow card for Fellaini.

Bentley put the free-kick into the Howard’s defensive wall, with home fans calling for a penalty for handball. Roman Pavlyuchenko almost levelled when he was found at the near post - but Howard dived sharply to deny the Russia striker.

Campbell almost grabbed an equaliser deep in stoppage-time but his effort deflected just wide.