Set-piece threat has always been there

EVERTON manager David Moyes has been discussing the current Premier League trend for set-pieces, but he reckons there is another factor that is just as in vogue.

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

The Blues were the last team in the English top flight to concede from a dead ball situation this season before both of the first goals from Tottenham Hotspur came from corner-kicks to inflict a 3-0 defeat on Moyes’ men last Sunday in what was their first loss in a competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

A record 19% of all Premier League goals this season have been scored from corners (45 of 241), the highest share in the competition's history, while 67 goals have been scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties) at a share of 28%, the second highest seen in the Premier League and a significant increase on any season over the past decade.

Asked about the upsurge by Sky Sports, Moyes, who has now managed more Premier League games than any manager other than serial title winners Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal, said: “I don’t think it’s ever gone away if you ask me. I think it’s always been there.

“Over my years, we always took care of trying to do well at set-pieces, whether that was defending from them or whether that was scoring from them.

“I actually believe that all the managers do that as well.