ERIKSEN KEEPS UP THAT BARCA BUZZ
TOTTENHAM ...... 1 BURNLEY ........... 0
JAVI GRACIA was finally able to celebrate signing that three-and-ahalf-year deal as Watford grabbed a much-needed first win in seven.
Poor Hornets boss Gracia must have wondered if he had not cursed his previously excellent reign by putting pen to paper on a contract extension last month – and then witnessing his side hit a miserable run of form and luck.
But three crackers from Gerard Deulofeu, Jose Holebas and Domingos Quina laid those doubts to rest yesterday – and fired Watford back up the table.
Yet the hosts’ joy so nearly turned to misery when two late Cardiff strikes from Junior Hoilett and Bobby Reid threatened the most improbable of fightbacks.
Gracia said: “I’m so pleased because we have played very well in recent weeks without getting results. I was not too worried at the end even if we suffered a bit by letting them back into the game.”
Cardiff showed spirit but it was way too little, too late. It didn’t stop boss Neil Warnock moaning about rookie ref Andrew Madley.
Warnock said: “Andre Marriner is standing next to me as the fourth official. I don’t know why we have such an inexperienced ref out on the pitch.”
JUST LIKE in the Nou Camp, 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 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 fourthbottom Burnley, it was not as big a surprise as it might have once been.
Spurs have plenty of guts these days and have now underlined it twice in a matter of days.
Lucas Moura was their last-gasp hero in Spain in midweek and Eriksen stepped off the bench, ironically 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
100th league win as Spurs boss.
Eriksen’s previous Spurs goal was a carbon copy winner against Inter Milan which kept their Champions League hopes alive.
The Dane’s first league goal this season kept them third and just five points off Manchester City.
The difficult circumstances for Spurs were also no doubt a reason behind Pochettino’s relief. They were down to the bare bones, with one fit, recognised centre-back and teenager Oliver Skipp making his full league debut.
Jan Vertonghen joined fellow centre-backs Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth on the injured list with a thigh problem. Eric Dier, one possible defensive stand-in, was also out ill so left-back Ben Davies partnered Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs were short in central midfield too and Pochettino showed his faith in youth again by starting Skipp, 18, the 13th academy product to reach the first team under the Argentinian. “He was fantastic,” Pochettino said. “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.”
Eriksen’s winner, which came after a long punt into the box that was kept alive by Harry Kane and Dele Alli, was tough on Burnley.
Dyche said: “The players are disappointed more that we get done by a lump down the pitch. We’ve made it very tight today. They’ve had to work.”