NOU KIDS ON BLOCK
Late great Eriksen channels spirit of Barcelona to break Clarets’ hearts
JUST LIKE in the Camp Nou, Tottenham found a way.
After the high of that dramatic Champions League, progress-sealing draw in Barcelona, Spurs were minutes away from a deflating setback against Burnley.
They were staring at a huge comedown that, as they used to say, would have been oh so Spursy.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s side are made of sterner stuff than the Spurs teams that earned the club that tag.
And, in some ways, when sub Christian Eriksen slammed in the injury-time winner against struggling Burnley, it was not as big a surprise as it might have once been.
Spurs have plenty of guts and character these days and have now underlined it twice in a matter of days.
Lucas Moura was their last-gasp hero in Spain on Tuesday and Eriksen stepped off the bench, replacing the Brazilian, and filled the role to deny Sean Dyche’s brave Burnley who had been so organised and heroic in their defending until then.
Pochettino said: “The mentality and character of the team was amazing.
“It could have been a frustrating afternoon if you don’t win the three points. We are very happy, relieved.
“After the massive effort in Barcelona to finish the week in that way, always it is so good.”
Pochettino celebrated at full-time with a double-fisted punch of the air and not just because it was his landmark 100th league win as Tottenham boss.
Eriksen’s last Spurs goal was a carbon copy winner against Inter Milan which kept their Champions League hopes alive and the Dane’s strike kept them third, five points behind Manchester City. They were down to the bare bones with one fit, recognised centreback as Jan Vertonghen joined Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth on the injured list with a thigh problem.
Pochettino was short in central midfield too and he showed his faith in youth again by starting Oliver Skipp, 18.
The Argentine has now handed debuts to 13 Spurs academy products since his 2014 arrival.
Eric Dier was also out ill so left-back Ben Davies partnered Toby Alderweireld playing in a role he has filled for Wales, albeit in a back three.
Spurs were up against a Clarets side whose intention, initially anyway, seemed damage limitation with Dyche switching from the norm and picking a back five. For a long time their frustration tactics worked. On a grim afternoon, the atmosphere was flat with Wembley only half-full again – the 41,645 attendance was Spurs’ second lowest in the league here – and there was little to cheer up a glum-looking Pochettino other than some promising glimpses from England Under-18s star Skipp, who was confident in possession and keen to get on the ball.
“He was fantastic,” added Pochettino. “He played like a 30-year-old man. When I was 17 going to play I was so nervous. That is the difference between a player that is going to be a top player and a normal player like me.”
Moura volleyed Erik Lamela’s chipped pass wide and then Harry Kane had a penalty appeal waved away after he tumbled over James Tarkowski’s challenge.
Pochettino said: “That should be a penalty and it can be a different game.”
Tottenham’s best first-half moment was a 30th-minute breakaway which Lamela should have finished but his heavy first touch allowed Joe Hart to race off his line and block.
Either side of the break Burnley threatened twice again, both through Ashley Barnes.
And they continued to frustrate Spurs with their time wasting, which earned Phil Bardsley and Robbie Brady bookings, as much as their determined defending.
The visitors’ defiance was typified by Hart’s stunning reaction save down low to his right when Lamela seemed certain to bury Spurs’ first real chance of the second half.
A minute later Heung-Min Son followed Eriksen into the action off the bench.
The chances kept coming for Spurs though but so did the misses from Dele Alli, Lamela and Son.
But Eriksen showed his team-mates how it should be done after Alli and Kane kept a hopeful late punt in the danger area and the Dane blasted the winner.
Dyche said: “The players are disappointed more that we get done by a lump down the pitch.
“We’ve given a performance that’s made it very tight today.
“Tottenham have had to work incredibly hard to get something.”