Tottenham's dominant heading prowess guided by Thomas Frank sent the home side plummeting down to reality at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The visitors handed Everton's first defeat at the new stadium thanks to three headed goals, two from the outstanding Micky van de Ven, to climb to the top three in the top flight and maintain their dominant performances on the road.
Set-Piece Dominance Seals Win
A clear gap at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stands in stark contrast to the ruthless efficiency of Frank’s team away from home. The Dutch defender converted two corners before replacement the Senegalese midfielder ended any prospect of an Everton recovery with another close-range header in the 89th minute. Given the glaring absence of a quality striker in David Moyes’ squad, the prospect of an fightback was always remote despite the efforts of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. It is now 13 points collected from a available 15 for Tottenham in away matches this season.
Match Highlights
The contest was defined by corners and Van de Ven’s domineering presence at both ends of the pitch. The hosts equalled Tottenham for attacking intent but had no answer to the quality of the visitors’ set-piece delivery or their skipper’s aerial strength. Jeers that greeted the half-time whistle were directed firmly at referee Craig Pawson, though.
Grealish nearly picked up where he stopped previously at Hill Dickinson Stadium by putting Everton the lead from close range. Excellent Iliman Ndiaye raced past the full-back to set up Beto but, after the unfortunate centre-forward missed the ball, Jack Grealish appeared at the far post and saw a goal-bound drive blocked on the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sliced the loose ball high and wide.
The midfield duo both troubled the Everton defence as an open, flowing game let the respective midfields to shine. But it was a central defender who took centre stage. From a the winger's corner swept high to the far post, the Uruguayan guided the ball back across goal with his shoulder for the defender to nod in from point-blank range.
That marked the initial strike the team have conceded from a set piece all season and Spurs’ initial effort on target. It became two set-piece goals in added time when the visitors’ precision under Frank hurt Moyes’ team again. Porro was the assister, now from the left with a excellent, dangerous corner that cried out for a conversion. The defender provided it once the inswinging delivery sailed over the centre-half and before the goalkeeper's hands could connect. His two first-half headers must have come from a combined distance of very close range.
Debatable Decision and Final Strike
Tottenham's next goal came during seven minutes of time added on mainly for the ruling to rule out a towering header by the defender moments after Van de Ven’s opener. The Everton defender thought he had equalised from another fine corner, taken by Dewsbury-Hall, and a header that gave the keeper no chance in the Tottenham net. Everton celebrations were diluted when the video assistant referee instructed Pawson to inspect the pitch-side monitor.
The joy turned to dismay when the referee deemed that two attackers were both offside and impeding the goalkeeper. Both players were obviously in an offside position when the defender connected but the degree to which they interfered with the goalkeeper was highly debatable. Pawson’s reasoning was unheard amid the boos that drowned him out.
Everton reacted positively to the blows, particularly after the second half began. The forward, who failed to read an excellent delivery along the six-yard box 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 deny the striker. Tottenham's commitment to a clean sheet was shown by João Palhinha throwing himself in the way of the midfielder's volley late on. The Brazilian should have increased the away team's lead when a long ball caught out Tarkowski and put him through on goal, but the England keeper made himself big to stop the former Everton striker.
Richarlison was key in Tottenham's final goal, however, cushioning a nod from another accurate Porro centre into the danger area for Sarr to nod beyond the keeper.
