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

Micky van de Ven celebrating

The Dutch defender emerged as the first backline player to score two goals in a Premier League match for Spurs since the Belgian defender in March 2013.

At a glance

  • The Spurs defender heads home twice in opening period

  • Everton's Jake O'Brien has equalizer ruled after video check

  • Senegalese midfielder nets final goal in 89th minute

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

Micky van de Ven scored on two occasions as Spurs prolonged their unbeaten run on the road in the Premier League and handed the Toffees their initial loss at their new home.

Everton were undefeated in their last five matches at their recently opened stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, having left their historic home behind after more than a century at the conclusion of the previous campaign.

But Spurs captain Van de Ven struck on two occasions from corners in the opening 45 minutes to place their strong form at risk, and they were failed to mount a comeback before Pape Matar Sarr - set up by ex-Everton forward the Brazilian - nodded in a final goal to put the game to bed.

The Everton defender thought he had equalized the scores five minutes after the defender's opener, directing a bullet header past Guglielmo Vicario from an set-piece.

The Portuguese striker, meanwhile, failed to convert a handful of opportunities, while the Italian goalkeeper made a series of excellent saves to ensure the London club went five away games without defeat in the English top flight.

But the VAR stepped in, instructing Craig Pawson to check the score on the screen and the official decided that Jack Grealish and the attacker were in offside positions and had interfered with the Spurs keeper.

This victory moves the manager's team into third place in the division, a handful of points off local foes and leaders the Gunners.

Everton remain in 14th position and are six points clear of the drop zone.

Tottenham analysis: Van de Ven excels in duties at each end of the field

After a drab midweek display in the European competition against the French side, where they managed a mere attempts on target, the manager opted for the French striker up front instead of ex-Everton forward Richarlison.

The new arrival was unable to make much of an impact before being replaced for Richarlison after 60 minutes on the field, but it emerged he wasn't needed in the final outcome.

Centre-back Van de Ven transformed into an offensive threat to be reckoned with.

Spurs' opening strike came from a well-worked set-piece play, with the midfielder heading the ball toward the six-yard box for an free Van de Ven to score.

And the captain - stepping up as skipper in Cristian Romero's unavailability - added his second in added time as he outjumped Jordan Pickford to nod in.

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

Everton analysis: Toffees missing striker's instinct

The club's recent stadium had been a happy hunting ground, but it appears the freshness may have faded slightly and supporters flocked to the exits after Sarr's final goal for Spurs.

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

Beto and the other striker - the Toffees' pair of established centre-forwards - had netted only one league goal combined before the weekend's outing.

And they were failed to add to that poor record on a wet and gloomy evening on Merseyside.

The striker's performance was epitomized when he opted to bicycle-kick a clear chance from near the goal, even with having room and time to reposition for a more conventional shot that would have tested Vicario.

The substitute, too, was unable to make an impact after replacing Beto in the 65th minute.

It wasn't for a shortage of opportunity. The majority of the home side's attacks came through Grealish and Ndiaye, who tirelessly delivered dangerous crosses into the Spurs penalty area.

What next for these two sides?

The Toffees: Moyes' men head to the Stadium of Light in the Premier League on early November at 20:00 GMT.

Spurs: The London club travel to Newcastle's ground on Wednesday, 29 October for their fourth-round League Cup match against the Magpies.

Brandon Carpenter
Brandon Carpenter

A passionate software engineer with over a decade of experience in full-stack development and a love for teaching coding concepts.