Spurs' dominant aerial prowess under Thomas Frank sent the home side crashing back to earth at their new ground. The visitors handed Everton's first defeat at their new home courtesy of three headed goals, a double from the outstanding defender, to climb to third in the Premier League and continue their dominant performances away from home.
Set-Piece Mastery Secures Victory
The disconnect at the home ground is sharply different to the clinical effectiveness of the London club on their travels. The Dutch defender converted two corners before substitute Pape Matar Sarr ended any prospect of an comeback with another close-range header in the 89th minute. Considering the glaring absence of a quality striker in David Moyes’ squad, the prospect of an Everton comeback was unlikely despite the efforts of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. That makes 13 points collected from a available 15 for Tottenham on their travels so far this campaign.
Match Key Moments
The match was shaped by set-pieces and the defender's domineering presence at each end of the pitch. Everton equalled Tottenham for enterprising approach work but had no solution to the excellence of the visitors’ dead-ball crosses or their captain’s aerial strength. Jeers that met the interval were aimed squarely at the match official, however.
The winger almost started where he left off previously at Hill Dickinson Stadium by giving his team the lead from in the box. The superb Iliman Ndiaye raced past the full-back to create a chance for the striker but, after the hapless forward failed to connect, Grealish arrived at the back post and saw a shot on target blocked in front of the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall blazed the loose ball over the bar.
The midfield duo both troubled the backline as an end-to-end game allowed the respective midfields to impress. But it was a centre-back who stole the show. From a the winger's corner delivered loftedly to the far post, the Uruguayan directed the ball into the mixer with his upper body for the defender to head home from point-blank range.
It was the first goal Everton have conceded from a dead-ball situation all season and Tottenham's first attempt on target. It became two set-piece goals in added time when the away side's accuracy under Frank punished Everton once more. Pedro Porro was the provider, now from the left flank with a excellent, dangerous corner that demanded a finish. The defender applied it once the inswinging delivery flew over the centre-half and before the goalkeeper's fists could reach it. His two first-half headers must have come from a total range of two yards out.
Debatable Call and Late Strike
Spurs’ second came during an extended period of time added on mostly for the ruling to disallow a powerful nod by the defender shortly after the first goal. O'Brien believed he'd scored from another fine corner, taken by the midfielder, and a header that gave Guglielmo Vicario no chance in the Tottenham net. The home fans' joy were diluted when the VAR advised the referee to check the screen.
They were spoiled completely when the referee deemed that Ndiaye and Grealish were both offside and impeding the goalkeeper. The pair were obviously in an illegal spot when O’Brien made contact but the degree to which they interfered with the goalkeeper was very questionable. The official's reasoning was inaudible amid the boos that overwhelmed him.
Everton reacted positively to the blows, especially after the restart. The forward, who failed to read an excellent delivery along the six-yard box from the attacker in the opening period, nearly made amends with an overhead kick from the winger's cross. The keeper produced an excellent reflex save to prevent the No 9. Tottenham's dedication to a shut-out was shown by João Palhinha putting his body in the way of the midfielder's volley in the latter stages. The Brazilian could have extended the visitors’ lead when a lobbed pass caught out Tarkowski and left him one-on-one, but Pickford made himself big to stop the ex-Toffee.
He was heavily involved in Spurs’ final strike, however, directing a nod from another accurate Porro centre into the danger area for Sarr to head past the keeper.
