Set-pieces 'crucial' to Everton triumph, says Tottenham boss Frank
Tottenham moved up to third in the Premier League on Sunday as Micky van de Ven's headed brace sealed a 3-0 victory away to Everton.
Thomas Frank believed the influence of set-pieces proved crucial in Tottenham's 3-0 win at Everton on Sunday.
Frank watched on as his team inflicted Everton's first defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Spurs captain Micky van de Ven scoring twice in the first half.
Indeed, Spurs have now won four of their five top-flight away games this season (D1), just one fewer than they managed across the whole of the 2024-25 campaign (W5 D2 L12).
Frank is also the third Spurs boss to avoid defeat in each of his first seven away games in all competitions, after Arthur Rowe in 1949 (first 13) and Ange Postecoglou in 2023.
But the defining moments came from the head of Van de Ven, with the Dutchman opening the scoring in the 19th minute following Mohammed Kudus' inviting corner.
And Van de Ven doubled his and Spurs' tally in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, stealing in front of Jordan Pickford from a Pedro Porro set-piece.
Those two headers mean 19% of all English top-flight goals this season have come via corners (45/241), the highest proportion ever in a Premier League campaign.
"Very happy to be able to go here to Everton, and they've been very good at home. Any away match you win 3-0 in the Premier League is super impressive," Frank said.
"In the first half, we took control of the ball and passed more. The second half was more of a dog fight, which it can be in the Premier League. The season is very young.
"We won after the Champions League, and that is not easy to do.
"Set-pieces are so crucial. Right now, Arsenal is on track for the title from set pieces. We scored two very good goals, and the boys competed excellently in our box.
As well as his goals, Van de Ven starred in the triumph as he led Spurs in interceptions (three), completed passes (61) and touches (82).
Indeed, he became the first defender to score twice in a Premier League game for Spurs since Jan Vertonghen in March 2013, who also did so on Merseyside against Liverpool.
"Crazy. I've never scored two goals in one game. It is an unbelievable feeling," a surprised Van de Ven told Sky Sports.
"It is always difficult to play away from home, but we showed some great mentality.
"Every time we play away in the Premier League, we know it is going to be tough. Everyone showed great character. It was a top performance."
But while Spurs' success has largely been outside of north London this season, they return to home turf next Saturday against city rivals Chelsea.
They travel to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup in midweek before hosting Enzo Maresca's side.
"Newcastle away is always difficult and Chelsea at home is always crazy in our stadium," Van de Ven concluded.
