Kane penalty for Spurs puts pressure on Arsenal in top-four race

HARRY Kane’s first-half penalty was the difference as Tottenham did ust enough to beat Burnley 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday and increase the heat on Arsenal in the race for fourth.

Spurs’ 3-0 north London derby victory over the Gunners on Thursday left ust a one-point gap between the two rivals in the table and, while Antonio Conte’s men disappointed during the visit of Burnley, Kane secured the desired result.

The relegation-battling Clarets initially did a fine ob of keeping Spurs at bay until conceding what they felt was a harsh penalty, with Kane converting his 23rd successive spot-kick for Tottenham.

Burnley then en oyed encouraging spells after the interval, with Ashley Barnes hitting the post, but Spurs - who saw Son Heung Min denied twice by Nick Pope - managed to cling onto another important win.

A dominant Spurs start did not yield many clear-cut chances, with Kane and Emerson Royal going closest when forcing straightforward saves from Pope.

Burnley grew as an attacking presence themselves and should have taken the lead when Maxwel Cornet shot straight at Hugo Lloris in a one-on-one situation.

Kane fired wide as Spurs looked to be heading into the break frustrated, but a VAR review subsequently spotted a handball by Barnes in the build-up to that chance, and Spurs’ talismanic striker was clinical from 12 yards.

Spurs’ start to the second half was sloppy, however, and Burnley almost capitalised.

Josh Brownhill headed agonisingly wide, before Barnes smashed against the post from 25 yards ust past the hour.

Son twice looked destined to finish Burnley off in the final 25 minutes, but Pope produced a fine save down low and then made a reaction stop to deny him late on - not that it mattered for Spurs.

Premier League Sunday Results Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 0 Aston Villa 1 Crystal Palace 1 Watford 1 Leicester City 5 Leeds United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

West Ham United 2 Manchester City 2 Wolverhampton 1 Norwich City 1 Everton 2 Brentford 3

(AFP) Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League match against Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday.