Micky van de Ven Brace Halts Everton's Run at Brand New Home Ground

Micky van de Ven celebrating

The Dutch defender emerged as the first defender to score two goals in a Premier League match for Tottenham since Jan Vertonghen in spring 2013.

At a glance

  • Micky Van de Ven heads into the net twice in opening period

  • The home side's Jake O'Brien has goal disallowed after video check

  • Senegalese midfielder nets final goal in 89th minute

  • This loss is the Merseyside club's initial at their new ground

Micky van de Ven found the net twice as Tottenham extended their unbeaten run on the road in the top division and handed the Toffees their initial loss at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees were unbeaten 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 conclusion of the previous campaign.

But Spurs captain the Dutchman struck on two occasions from set-pieces in the opening 45 minutes to put their impressive record at risk, and they were failed to turn it around before Pape Matar Sarr - set up by ex-Everton forward the Brazilian - nodded in a final goal to seal the victory.

Jake O'Brien thought he had equalized the scores five minutes after the defender's opener, glancing a bullet header past Guglielmo Vicario from an Everton corner.

Beto, in the meantime, failed to convert a handful of chances, while the Italian goalkeeper made a series of excellent stops to guarantee Tottenham went five matches on the road unbeaten in the English top flight.

But the VAR stepped in, advising Craig Pawson to review the goal on the screen and the official decided that the winger and the attacker were in an illegal position and had interfered with the Spurs keeper.

The win moves the manager's side up to third in the Premier League, five points off local foes and table-toppers Arsenal.

Everton stay in 14th position and are half a dozen points clear of the relegation zone.

Spurs breakdown: The defender excels in role at both ends of the field

After a uninspiring weekday performance in the European competition against the French side, where they mustered a only two shots on goal, the manager chose the French striker up front instead of ex-Everton forward Richarlison.

The new arrival was unable to influence the game before being substituted for Richarlison after 60 minutes on the field, but it emerged he proved unnecessary in the final outcome.

Defender the Dutchman converted into an offensive threat to be reckoned with.

Tottenham's opening strike came from a well-worked set-piece play, with Rodrigo Bentancur heading the ball back across the face of goal for an free Van de Ven to score.

And Ven de Ven - filling in as skipper in the Argentine's unavailability - notched his second in first-half stoppage time as he outjumped the England keeper to nod in.

Van de Ven was just as impressive in defence, partnering effectively with his defensive colleague as the duo dealt excellently with the numerous deliveries sent their way by the opposition.

Everton analysis: Toffees lacking striker's instinct

The club's recent stadium had been a fortress, but it seems the novelty may have worn off somewhat and supporters headed to the exits after the midfielder's third for Spurs.

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

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

And they were failed to contribute to that miserable record on a damp and dreary night on in Liverpool.

The striker's form was summed up when he opted to bicycle-kick a clear chance from close range, despite having space and time to readjust for a simpler shot that would have tested the keeper.

The substitute, too, was unable to influence the game after coming on for the starter in the second half.

It wasn't for a lack of chance. The majority of the home side's attacks came through Grealish and the forward, who relentlessly delivered dangerous crosses into the Tottenham box.

Upcoming fixtures for these two sides?

Everton: Moyes' men travel to the Stadium of Light in the top flight on early November at 8 PM.

Tottenham: The London club go to St James' Park on late October for their fourth-round League Cup tie against Newcastle.

Richard Calhoun
Richard Calhoun

Astrophysicist and science communicator passionate about making space accessible through engaging content and research.