Eriksen summons last-gasp winner to keep Spurs on high
For Tottenham this week, it has been a case of the beauty and then the beast. After one of the finest European performances in their history against Barcelona on Tuesday, here they had to scrap past an obdurate Burnley side to secure a precious victory that effectively keeps them in the title race, five points behind leaders Manchester City.
If winning titles is about securing victories while playing badly, Spurs must be considered serious contenders for this season’s Premier League. In front of just 41,645 spectators – Spurs’ second-lowest home league crowd of the season – they were flat and uninspired at a wet and windy Wembley.
And, yet, they still found a way of hauling themselves over the line, with Christian Eriksen popping up in stoppage time to cooly finish past Joe Hart. “We are very happy; relieved,” said Mauricio Pochettino, who was celebrating his 100th league win as Tottenham manager. “It is a massive three points to keep our place after the massive effort in Barcelona, and to finish the week in that way is so good.”
It was a similarly late goal by Eriksen against Inter last month that kept Tottenham alive in the Champions League and Pochettino was asked whether this latest winner could spark a title challenge. “There are a lot of things you need to put into consideration,” he said. “But the most important thing is faith in the way you work, and if you give 100 per cent, all can happen.”
If Tottenham are to challenge City and Liverpool, they will need to play far better than this, but perhaps such a lacklustre display was inevitable given Tottenham’s emotional and physical efforts in Barcelona. They certainly began as if still feeling the effects of the Nou Camp, while five changes – including a full debut for 18-year-old Oliver Skipp and a defensive injury crisis that forced Ben Davies to deputise at centre-back – seemed to have disturbed their usual rhythm.
Pochettino felt Harry Kane should have been awarded a penalty in the first half when knocked to the ground by James Tarkowski, but Burnley also had chances and Ashley Barnes headed over Phil Bardsley’s cross after Hugo Lloris had given the ball away. Soon after half-time, Barnes’s goal-bound volley from former Tottenham midfielder Aaron Lennon’s cross was blocked by a combination of Kane and Toby Alderweireld.
It was not until the 65th-minute introduction of Eriksen that Spurs began to find space between Burnley’s massed five-man defence. With Eriksen on, Erik Lamela was denied by a magnificent Hart save, while Son Heung-min and Dele Alli both missed clear chances in the final few minutes.
Burnley’s organisation and timewasting – Robbie Brady and Bardsley were booked – had infuriated Tottenham and, as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, it very much seemed like being one of those days for the hosts.
With a damaging draw looking increasingly likely, Tottenham opted for the direct route. Former Burnley rightback Kieran Trippier thumped a long ball in the direction of substitute Fernando Llorente, who managed to distract two of Burnley’s centre-backs. Alli then worked the ball to Kane, whose lay-off was swept in by Eriksen.
For Burnley manager Sean Dyche, there was frustration at his side being undone by what was essentially routeone football. “We deserved something from the game,” he said. “The players are disappointed more in the fact that in the end we get done by a lump down the pitch. They ended up playing long a lot and that’s credit to our players. We limited them by their standards here.”
The defeat means Burnley remain two points above the relegation zone in 17th, while Tottenham have now won 10 of their past 12 league matches. They may also have unearthed another gem in midfielder Skipp, who is the 13th academy graduate Pochettino has given a debut to. He looked undaunted playing at such an elevated level and Pochettino was fulsome in his praise. “He was fantastic – he played like a 30-year-old man. So relaxed, trying to play forward and give the team what the team needs, plenty of energy. I am so proud of him.”