Van de Ven Brace Ends Everton's Unbeaten Streak at New Home Ground

Micky van de Ven celebrating

Micky van de Ven became the initial backline player to score two goals in a Premier League match for Spurs since the Belgian defender in March 2013.

Key points

  • The Spurs defender nods home two times in first half

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

  • Senegalese midfielder nets final goal in dying moments

  • This loss is Everton's first at their new ground

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

Everton were unbeaten in their last five matches at their new ground at the dockside location, having left Goodison Park behind after more than a century at the conclusion of last season.

But Tottenham's leader Van de Ven pounced on two occasions from corners in the first half to place their impressive record at jeopardy, and they were unable to mount a comeback before the midfielder - set up by former Toffees attacker Richarlison - headed home a final goal to seal the victory.

The Everton defender believed he had equalized the scores a short while after Van de Ven's opener, glancing a powerful header past Guglielmo Vicario from an Everton corner.

Beto, meanwhile, missed a handful of chances, while Vicario made a succession of excellent stops to guarantee Tottenham went five matches on the road unbeaten in the Premier League.

But the VAR intervened, advising the match official to review the score on the screen and the official decided that Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye were in offside positions and had impeded with the Spurs keeper.

The win moves the manager's team up to third in the division, a handful of points off local foes and table-toppers Arsenal.

The Merseyside club remain 14th and are six points ahead of the drop zone.

Spurs breakdown: The defender excels in duties at each end of the field

Following a uninspiring midweek display in the Champions League against Monaco, where they managed a only attempts on target, the manager opted for Randal Kolo Muani up front instead of ex-Everton forward the Brazilian.

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

Defender Van de Ven transformed into an attacking force to be feared.

Tottenham's first goal came from a cleverly executed set-piece play, with Rodrigo Bentancur directing the ball back across the face of goal for an unmarked the defender to score.

And Ven de Ven - stepping up as skipper in Cristian Romero's unavailability - notched his second in first-half stoppage time as he rose above the England keeper to nod in.

The Dutchman was equally outstanding in defence, combining well with his defensive colleague as the pair handled excellently with the 34 crosses thrown their way by the opposition.

Toffees breakdown: Toffees lacking finishing touch

Everton's recent stadium had been a happy hunting ground, but it seems the novelty may have faded slightly and supporters flocked to the exits after the midfielder's final goal for Spurs.

The end in the team's unbeaten home run will not be a major worry for David Moyes, but their striker situation will be.

Beto and Thierno Barry - the Everton's pair of recognised strikers - had scored only a single goal combined before Sunday's outing.

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

Beto's form was epitomized when he opted to bicycle-kick a clear chance from near the goal, even with having room and opportunity to readjust for a more conventional shot that would have challenged Vicario.

Barry, too, failed to make an impact after coming on for Beto in the second half.

It wasn't for a lack of opportunity. Most of the home side's offensive moves came through the winger and Ndiaye, who tirelessly delivered threatening balls into the Spurs penalty area.

Upcoming fixtures for these two sides?

The Toffees: The team head to Sunderland in the top flight on Monday, 3 November at 8 PM.

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

Eddie Reed
Eddie Reed

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and industry trends.