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Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Gareth Bale, Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle, Jurgen Klinsmann and Paul Gascoigne. And now . The record of Tottenham’s high scorers in seasons is distinguished certainly however there’s an anomaly in the mean time, a Dutch defender within the territory beforehand occupied by Teddy Sheringham, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Clive Allen, Martin Chivers, Bobby Smith and Heung-Min Son.

Van de Ven could also be an intrepid interloper within the scoring charts, however he was additionally a fearless traveller: to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, as Tottenham turned the primary guests to win, and to the penalty field to attain twice. The Dutchman shocked even himself. “It’s loopy, I by no means rating two targets in a single sport,” he mentioned. “It all the time goes by means of your head that I’d get a hat-trick.” That will not be a phrase he has uttered earlier than his brace, together with a Pape Matar Sarr clincher, earned a victory that made the Hill Dickinson look much less like a fortress by the Mersey and Tottenham extra like a workforce.

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A triumph constructed on a clear sheet and two targets from corners? It was scarcely Angeball. However then Ange Postecoglou took Tottenham to seventeenth within the Premier League. These are early days, however his successor’s facet are third. Postecoglou may appear to have disdain for set-pieces. Frank doesn’t. Brentford have been such dead-ball specialists their set-piece coach turned Frank’s substitute as supervisor.

Micky van de Ven, proper, scores his and Tottenham’s second objective (Peter Byrne/PA)

And Van de Ven could be the face of this Spurs. Promoted from the ranks, he’s captaining them whereas Cristian Romero is out. Newly prolific, he’s compensating for the absence of extra apparent scorers like Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison; after solely discovering the online seven instances in his membership profession, he now has 5 targets this marketing campaign. Whereas Postecoglou’s groups have been porous, Frank’s Spurs have a defensive file bettered solely by Arsenal. It could assist, too, that Van de Ven’s hamstrings are put below much less stress, with Frank’s line of defense set deeper than Postecoglou’s.

There was a practical really feel to this, however pragmatism is now not a grimy phrase for Tottenham. Their xG from open play was simply 0.78, however Romero’s understudy Kevin Danso amassed 18 clearances and, together with his lengthy throw, added to their set-piece armoury. “We now have a clean-sheet mentality,” mentioned Frank. It could be one thing he has introduced. “The second half was a dogfight,” he added. It was earthy and gritty however Tottenham confirmed why they possess the Premier League’s solely unbeaten file on the street. They could not have an extra of creativity at residence however they have been strong and streetwise and that may be a high quality foundation.

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“Set items are so essential,” Frank mentioned. “Proper now, Arsenal is on observe for the title from set items.” Spurs are on the right track for a high quality season themselves, and David Moyes famous: “We do not concede lots from corners, and I’ve to reward Tottenham. Thomas Frank works lots on it.”

That coaching floor work yielded two targets. Van de Ven’s first was a well-worked set piece, the centre-back operating from behind the far publish to the goal-line, Rodrigo Bentancur circling round to seem on the turf he vacated and assembly Mohammed Kudus’ deep nook with a header throughout the field for the Dutchman to nod in. His second appeared easier, Van de Ven simply outjumping Jordan Pickford to go in Pedro Porro’s nook. “Micky once more,” chorused the travelling followers. “At first of the season, I mentioned, ‘You’re a centre-back and you must rating extra,’” mentioned Frank. Van de Ven responded. “The best way he attacked the ball and acquired in there the place it hurts” impressed his supervisor.

Micky van de Ven is Tottenham’s unlikely high scorer (Peter Byrne/PA)

Maybe at fault for Van de Ven’s second, Pickford went on to make a high quality save from his former teammate Richarlison. Everton might have been relieved a participant who tended to attain on his returns to Goodison Park was solely a substitute. Richarlison as an alternative recorded an help, organising his fellow substitute Sarr. It was the cue for the Hill Dickinson to empty.

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Everton may replicate on two moments when it might need been totally different. Porro made a superb block on the goal-line within the third minute to thwart Jack Grealish. Everton celebrated an equaliser from one other nook, Jake O’Brien heading in. However replays confirmed Iliman Ndiaye and Grealish offside and round Guglielmo Vicario. “I feel it was the precise determination,” mentioned an admirably trustworthy Moyes.

Vicario, carrying on the place he left off in Monaco, made a terrific save from James Garner and a nonetheless higher one to repel Beto’s overhead kick. He did properly to maintain out Ndiaye’s deflected effort. One other shutout owed a lot to the goalkeeper. “He was man of the match in Monaco,” mentioned Frank. “Micky was man of the match right this moment. And we shouldn’t neglect Kevin Danso, who has completed very properly to step in.”

So has Frank since his appointment. The excellent news for Tottenham is that they’re third. The dangerous information, after all, is that Arsenal are first.