Thomas Frank's set-piece magic touch working wonders for Tottenham

LONDON – Thomas Frank earned a reputation as a set-piece mastermind at Brentford, and the Dane's influence on his new club Tottenham Hotspur was clear for all to see as his side scored twice from corner routines in a 3-0 win at Everton on Sunday.

According to Sky Sports, 19 per cent of all Premier League goals this season have been scored from corners while the number of goals from long throw-ins into the area is also on the rise.

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven scored twice with close-range headers in the first half at Everton, the first from Mohammed Kudus' corner which was knocked back into the six-yard area by Rodrigo Bentancur beyond the back post and the second from Pedro Porro's wicked inswinger.

Pape Matar Sarr headed a late third to secure the victory that lifted Spurs to third in the table.

Frank's side also employed the long throw with Kevin Danso hurling in several deliveries that caused unease in Everton's defence.

Much of Tottenham's play was ordinary but they looked a real threat from set pieces and Frank said it was an area that he highlighted before the start of the season with Andreas Georgson, the set-piece coach he used to work with at Brentford.

"We focused on set pieces at Brentford but now all the big boys took it up, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in the last couple of seasons," he said.

"It's such a key element, you need to get it right all the time if you want to achieve something. You need to do well in all areas of the game, set pieces, defending high, low, attacking."

Frank also said that the revival of set pieces and direct football, after both were scorned in the era of intricate passing football, could lead to changes in the profile of players that clubs try to sign in the future.

"It could change the way teams recruit, depends on what you want from your team," he said.

"If you want to be good at set pieces you need a certain amount of physicality and heading ability and good deliveries, you need to get the right mix."

Everton manager David Moyes is an exponent of set plays so it was frustrating for him to watch his team undermined by two corners on Sunday, although he praised Frank's methodology.

"We were undone today by set pieces, we don't usually concede from corners but you have to praise Tottenham, good deliveries and Thomas has always done that wherever he's been," he said.

Premier League leaders Arsenal have scored nine of their 16 goals this season from set pieces, adding another one to the collection on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira called for unity at Molineux after confronting furious fans following Sunday’s damaging 3-2 defeat against Burnley.

Pereira’s side are the only Premier League team yet to win this season and they sit bottom of the table.

“What I said is, we worked a lot and need to fight together. The team gave everything on the pitch to win,” he said of his post-match talk with the fans.

“We understand the frustration of the supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets. Without them it is impossible.” REUTERS