Turf at the top... and yet again, Spurs failed acid test MULLOCK

SIMON

IT was always likely that Tottenham’s Premier League dream would perish on a northern field.

But the acid test for Mauricio Pochettino’s title bid was supposed to come on Merseyside next month and Manchester in April. Not at Turf Moor.

Is there anything more Spurs than being beaten by Burnley?

A victory would have taken Pochettino to within two points of the top. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would have felt his breath on the back of their necks.

But in the end, even the return of Harry Kane from an injury almost a month ahead of doctor’s orders didn’t matter.

Kane, of course, did what he always does – with a fabulous finish to bring his side level.

But instead of using their talisman’s 21st goal of the season as a platform to crank up the pressure on the top two, Tottenham slumped to a seventh league defeat of the season.

They ain’t going to win it from here.

England boss Gareth Southgate was in the crowd to cast an eye on Kane with European qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro looming.

He would have been delighted to see his skipper back on the scoresheet after a sevengame absence with an ankle injury.

The performances of Burnley keeper Tom Heaton and centre-back James Tarkowski gave him more reasons to be cheerful. One Heaton save – to tip over a 35-yard drive from Kane that threatened to break the deadlock – was simply sensational.

Burnley have now collected 18 points from eight games since a Boxing Day beating from Everton had brought the spectre of a relegation fight into full focus.

Sean Dyche doesn’t have a master craftsman like Kane leading his line.

But in Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes he has two forwards who defend from the front and aren’t afraid to get their retaliation in first.

Both Burnley forwards beat Hugo Lloris from close range to claim a victory as priceless for their club as it was devastating for Spurs. Wood’s opener, a meaty header in the 57th minute that owed much to the brilliant corner delivery of Dwight Mcneil, brought an instant response.

On came Fernando Llorente for Harry Winks before Kane struck the equaliser just after the hour. Yet it was Burnley who then had the courage to win it with seven minutes left.

Barnes, known to be as hard as a coffin nail, got in at the far post to convert a mis-hit Clarets shot.

Coffin nail is right.