Alli spot-kick strike spares boss Mour embarrassment

Make no mistake, Mourinho and Tottenham were on the ropes, almost punch-drunk and fortunate to go into the interval just 1-0 down.

The Portuguese was heading into unknown territory

– on his way to suffering a fifth successive defeat.

The Special One was in danger of becoming what he once cruelly dubbed his great Arsenal foe Arsene

Wenger, “a specialist in failure”. But he pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

Well two, actually – sending on Giovani Lo Celso and Lucas Moura,

Suddenly there was light at the end of a long tunnel in deepest, darkest Lancashire.

Within three minutes, Eric Lamela was brought down in the box. And Alli, mindful of Spurs’ FA Cup exit in their penalty shoot-out against Norwich, wasn’t to be denied.

Spurs might even have won it, with the energetic Lo Celso and Moura both going close.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche will rue a number of missed chances, while Eric Dier, taunted by the home fans for his off-the-field actions in midweek, was a rock at the back once Spurs settled.

Chris Wood fizzed a fierce attempt just over the bar as

Burnley came out all guns blazing, while Jay Rodriguez headed against the bar from an Ashley Westwood corner that had Spurs all at sea.

Hugo Lloris clutched a low drive from Jack Cork, but was culpable as the Clarets took a deserved 13th-minute lead.

Dwight Mcneil jinked down the left and there was a suspicion of handball before he controlled and crossed.

Dier’s attempted headed clearance fell to Rodriguez, lurking on the edge of the area, and his volley carried too much venom for Lloris, who spilled it, and Wood gleefully prodded in from close range.

Cue Mourinho slumping back in his dug-out seat, wondering if any more misfortune could befall