As Tottenham players ran around like headless chickens against Everton on Monday night, it seemed like Antonio Conte's dismissal never really happened.

For all the optimism generated by the appointment of Cristian Stellini as the club's interim manager, there was familiar frustration as Tottenham still looked like a shadow of their former selves and struggled to break down their organized opponents. 

Stellini's side approached this showdown with the same old timidness and carelessness on and off the ball, which felt ominously similar to Conte's stint at the English powerhouse. They never truly looked like scoring until near the hour mark when Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure was given a straight red card after petulantly hitting Harry Kane in the face.

Tottenham's luck did not stop there as moments later another Everton defender Michael Keane foolishly fouled Cristian Romero to concede a penalty. Kane duly converted the spot kick with ice cold composure, and Spurs had everything they required for a bright start in the post-Conte era. 

However, Spurs have developed a habit of turning a promising position into a missed opportunity. They passively sat back and invited pressure from Everton. And then everything unraveled. Lucas Moura was sent off for a nasty challenge on Keane, which saw the visitors reduced to 10 men too.  

With only a few minutes to go, Keane went on a solo run from the back to unleash a sensational shot into the top corner, salvaging a precious point in Everton's bid to avoid the relegation.

The draw was no more than Sean Dyche's plucky and resilient team deserved. The Everton manager declared Tottenham were fortunate to escape with a point if not for Doucoure's red card, adding it was Kane who instigated the chaotic scene by tackling the midfielder. 

"The sending-off, you cannot raise your hands. It is as simple as that. All I would say is that I couldn't understand why Harry went for the challenge," said Dyche. "The referee had blown the whistle, so it ended up making a moment out of something that wouldn't have been a moment. Doucoure responds to that, but the actual outcome you cannot do that." 

Stellini, meanwhile, admitted Spurs had only themselves to blame for another meltdown. "We didn't lead the game with the ball after the red card. We had the chance to control the game better than we did and you have to do it with the ball because you have one extra player," he told reporters.

"After the red card they were much more aggressive than us. We were rushed and frantic and we have to improve in this aspect. It is a long process and we don't change in one night." 

For whatever it's worth, Stellini had decided to stick with the tactical system that had been fostered under Conte, and they have now failed to win their last six games away from home.  

Perhaps for Tottenham, the worst is yet to come.