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Spurs' impressive heading prowess guided by their manager sent the home side plummeting down to reality at their new ground. Tottenham inflicted Everton's first defeat at their new home thanks to three headed goals, a double from the excellent Micky van de Ven, to rise to third in the Premier League and maintain their strong performances on the road.

Dead-Ball Dominance Secures Win

The disconnect at the home ground stands in stark contrast to the clinical effectiveness of the London club away from home. The Dutch defender converted two corners before replacement the Senegalese midfielder ended any prospect of an comeback with a further near-post nod in the dying moments. Considering the obvious lack of a quality striker in the Everton squad, the chance of an fightback was unlikely despite the probings of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. That makes 13 points from a possible 15 for Tottenham on their travels so far this campaign.

Match Key Moments

The contest was defined by corners and Van de Ven’s commanding performance at both ends of the pitch. The hosts matched Tottenham for enterprising approach work but had no answer to the excellence of the visitors’ dead-ball crosses or their skipper’s aerial strength. Jeers that met the interval were aimed squarely at the match official, however.

Grealish almost started where he left off previously at Hill Dickinson Stadium by putting Everton the lead from close range. The superb Iliman Ndiaye raced past Djed Spence to create a chance for Beto but, after the unfortunate centre-forward missed the ball, Jack Grealish arrived at the far post and saw a goal-bound drive blocked in front of the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sliced the loose ball over the bar.

The midfield duo both tested the backline as an end-to-end game let the respective midfields to impress. But it was a central defender who took centre stage. From a the winger's corner delivered high to the far post, Bentancur guided the ball back across goal with his shoulder for Van de Ven to head home from point-blank range.

It was the first goal the team have conceded from a set piece this term and Spurs’ initial effort on target. It became two set-piece goals in first-half stoppage time when the away side's accuracy from set-plays hurt Moyes’ team once more. Pedro Porro was the provider, this time from the left flank with a brilliant, vicious corner that demanded a finish. Van de Ven applied it once the inswinging delivery sailed over James Tarkowski and before the goalkeeper's fists could connect. The defender’s first-half double must have come from a combined distance of two yards out.

Controversial Call and Late Strike

Tottenham's second arrived during seven minutes of time added on mostly for the decision to disallow a towering header by the defender moments after the first goal. The Everton defender thought he had equalised from a well-taken set-piece, delivered by the midfielder, and a header that gave Guglielmo Vicario little hope in the Spurs’ goal. The home fans' joy were diluted when the VAR instructed the referee to inspect the pitch-side monitor.

They were spoiled completely when the referee deemed that Ndiaye and Grealish were both in an offside position and impeding Vicario. The pair were clearly in an illegal spot when the defender connected but the extent to which they affected the shot-stopper was highly debatable. Pawson’s reasoning was inaudible amid the boos that overwhelmed him.

Everton reacted positively to the blows, particularly after the restart. Beto, who failed to read an excellent delivery across the face of goal from Ndiaye in the opening period, almost atoned with an overhead kick from the winger's cross. Vicario produced an excellent reflex save to deny the No 9. Tottenham's dedication to a shut-out was exemplified by João Palhinha putting his body in the way of Idrissa Gueye’s shot late on. Richarlison should have increased the visitors’ lead when a lobbed pass caught out the defender and left him one-on-one, but Pickford made himself big to thwart the former Everton striker.

Richarlison was heavily involved in Spurs’ final goal, though, directing a nod from a further precise cross into the danger area for Pape Matar Sarr to head past Pickford.