Tottenham's impressive aerial ability under Thomas Frank brought Everton crashing back to earth at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Tottenham handed Everton's initial loss at their new home courtesy of a trio of headers, a double from the outstanding defender, to climb to the top three in the top flight and continue their dominant performances on the road.
Set-Piece Dominance Secures Victory
A clear gap at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stands in stark contrast to the clinical effectiveness of the London club away from home. The Dutch defender scored from a pair of set-pieces before substitute the Senegalese midfielder ended any prospect of an comeback with another near-post nod in the dying moments. Considering the glaring absence of a quality striker in the Everton squad, the prospect of an Everton comeback was always remote even with the probings of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. It is now 13 points from a possible 15 for Frank’s side in away matches so far this campaign.
Game Key Moments
The contest was shaped by corners and Van de Ven’s domineering presence at both ends of the pitch. Everton equalled Spurs for enterprising approach work but had no answer to the excellence of the away team's dead-ball crosses or their skipper’s aerial strength. The boos that greeted the interval were directed firmly at referee Craig Pawson, though.
The winger almost started where he left off previously at the venue by giving Everton ahead from in the box. Excellent Ndiaye scorched past the full-back to set up the striker but, after the unfortunate centre-forward failed to connect, Grealish appeared at the back post and saw a goal-bound drive blocked on the line by the defender. Dewsbury-Hall sliced the loose ball over the bar.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons both tested the backline as an end-to-end game allowed the engine rooms to shine. But it was a centre-back who took centre stage. From a the winger's corner swept high to the back post, Bentancur directed the ball back across goal with his shoulder for the defender to nod in from a yard out.
That marked the initial strike the team have conceded from a set piece this term and Tottenham's first attempt on target. They then conceded two set-piece goals in added time when the visitors’ accuracy from set-plays punished Moyes’ team again. Porro was the assister, this time from the left flank with a excellent, dangerous corner that cried out for a conversion. The defender provided it once the inswinging delivery flew over the centre-half and before the goalkeeper's hands could reach it. The defender’s two first-half headers must have come from a combined distance of very close range.
Debatable Decision and Late Goal
Tottenham's next goal came during an extended period of stoppage time mainly for the ruling to rule out a powerful nod by Jake O’Brien moments after Van de Ven’s opener. O'Brien thought he had equalised from another fine corner, delivered by Dewsbury-Hall, and a headed effort that gave the keeper little hope in the Tottenham net. Everton celebrations were cut short when the video assistant referee instructed Pawson to check the pitch-side monitor.
The joy turned to dismay when the match official ruled that two attackers were both offside and impeding the goalkeeper. Both players were obviously in an offside position when O’Brien connected but the degree to which they affected the shot-stopper was very questionable. The official's on-field explanation was inaudible amid the jeers that drowned him out.
Everton reacted positively to the setbacks, particularly after the second half began. Beto, who missed an inviting cross across the face of goal from Ndiaye in the first half, nearly made amends with an overhead kick from the winger's cross. Vicario produced an excellent reflex save to prevent the striker. Tottenham's dedication to a shut-out was shown by the midfielder putting his body in the way of the midfielder's volley late on. The Brazilian could have increased the visitors’ lead when a long ball caught out the defender and put him through on goal, but the England keeper spread himself well to stop the ex-Toffee.
Richarlison was heavily involved in Spurs’ final strike, however, directing a nod from another accurate Porro centre into the danger area for Sarr to nod beyond the keeper.
