Micky van de Ven Brace Halts The Toffees' Unbeaten Streak at New Stadium

Micky van de Ven celebrating

The Dutch defender emerged as the first backline player to score two goals in a English top-flight game for Tottenham since the Belgian defender in spring 2013.

Match summary

  • Micky Van de Ven heads into the net twice in first half

  • Everton's Jake O'Brien has goal disallowed after video check

  • Senegalese midfielder scores third in 89th minute

  • The defeat is Everton's first at their new ground

The Tottenham defender found the net on two occasions as Tottenham prolonged their winning streak in away games in the Premier League and delivered Everton their first defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees were undefeated in their five previous fixtures at their recently opened stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, having left Goodison Park behind after more than a century at the end of the previous campaign.

But Tottenham's leader Van de Ven pounced twice from set-pieces in the opening 45 minutes to put their impressive record at jeopardy, and they were unable to turn it around before the midfielder - set up by ex-Everton forward the Brazilian - headed home a final goal to seal the victory.

Jake O'Brien believed he had equalized the scores a short while after Van de Ven's opener, directing a bullet header past Guglielmo Vicario from an Everton corner.

Beto, meanwhile, failed to convert a number of opportunities, while the Italian goalkeeper made a succession of fine stops to guarantee the London club went five matches on the road unbeaten in the Premier League.

But the VAR intervened, instructing the match official to review the goal on the pitchside monitor and the referee decided that Jack Grealish and the attacker were in an illegal position and had impeded with the Tottenham goalkeeper.

This victory elevates the manager's team into third place in the Premier League, five points off local foes and table-toppers the Gunners.

Everton remain in 14th position and are half a dozen points ahead of the drop zone.

Tottenham analysis: The defender excels in role at each end of the field

After a uninspiring midweek display in the European competition against Monaco, where they managed a mere attempts on goal, Frank chose Randal Kolo Muani in attack instead of ex-Everton forward the Brazilian.

The new arrival was unable to make much of an impact before being substituted for the substitute after 60 minutes on the pitch, but it emerged he proved unnecessary in the final outcome.

Defender the Dutchman converted into an attacking force to be reckoned with.

Tottenham's first goal came from a well-worked set-piece play, with Rodrigo Bentancur heading the ball back across the six-yard box for an unmarked the defender to score.

And Ven de Ven - stepping up as skipper in the Argentine's unavailability - added his second in added time as he outjumped Jordan Pickford to nod in.

Van de Ven was equally outstanding in defence, partnering effectively with his defensive colleague as the pair handled superbly with the 34 crosses sent their way by the opposition.

Everton analysis: Toffees lacking finishing touch

The club's recent stadium had been a happy hunting ground, but it appears the freshness may have worn off slightly and fans flocked to the gates after the midfielder's final goal for Tottenham.

The end in the team's unbeaten home run will not be a major worry for the manager, but their attacking woes will be.

The forward and the other striker - the Everton's two established strikers - had netted just a single goal between them before the weekend's match.

And they were failed to add to that poor tally on a wet and gloomy evening on in Liverpool.

The striker's performance was summed up when he chose to bicycle-kick a golden opportunity from close range, even with having room and time to reposition for a more conventional attempt that would have challenged the keeper.

Barry, too, was unable to make an impact after coming on for Beto in the 65th minute.

It was not for a lack of chance. Most of Everton's offensive moves came through the winger and Ndiaye, who relentlessly whipped dangerous balls into the Spurs penalty area.

Upcoming fixtures for these two sides?

The Toffees: The team head to the Stadium of Light in the Premier League on Monday, 3 November at 8 PM.

Spurs: Spurs travel to Newcastle's ground on late October for their fourth-round Carabao Cup match against Newcastle.

Pamela Ross
Pamela Ross

Elara Vance is a visual artist and photographer with over a decade of experience, specializing in light-based art and experimental photography techniques.