Tottenham 1 Burnley 0: Eriksen snatches victory at the death

Tottenham was frustrated by Burnley until second-half stoppage time, when Christian Eriksen struck the winning goal.

Published : Dec 15, 2018 22:43 IST

Christian Eriksen celebrates after giving Tottenham the lead against Burnley.
Christian Eriksen celebrates after giving Tottenham the lead against Burnley.
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Christian Eriksen celebrates after giving Tottenham the lead against Burnley.

Christian Eriksen struck in injury time to give Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 Premier League victory over Burnley on Saturday.

Sean Dyche's men withstood the pressure in front of a sparse crowd at Wembley, thanks partly to two excellent saves from goalkeeper Joe Hart, until substitute Eriksen scored in the 91st minute.

Mauricio Pochettino made five changes to the team that drew with Barcelona this week, handing a first Premier League start to 18-year-old Oliver Skipp, and his side certainly lacked its customary cutting edge against a rigid Burnley rearguard.

READ | Manchester City 3 Everton 1: Jesus at the double as City goes top

However, the introduction of Eriksen proved crucial as Spurs moved back to within five points of league leader Manchester City.

Lucas Moura, who scored the crucial equaliser against Barca, was among those restored to the starting line-up and almost broke the deadlock with an improvised effort from Erik Lamela's long ball.

Harry Kane had shouts for a penalty waved away but it was 30 minutes in until the first effort on target, which saw Lamela denied by some good work from Hart.

Burnley had barely threatened early on but could twice have gone ahead, with Ashley Barnes heading over after an error from Hugo Lloris and then seeing a goalbound volley blocked.

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The visitor's time-wasting tactics were beginning to irritate the Spurs fans and players, but when Lamela finally had another clear opening 16 minutes from time, Hart again responded with a fine one-handed save.

Substitute Son Heung-min scuffed a shot wide and Dele Alli failed to convert his cross with the goal gaping, but Eriksen eventually proved the hero, side-footing home Kane's pass to break Burnley hearts.

What does it mean? Spurs clings on in title race

With City having beaten Everton earlier on Saturday, Spurs really needed to seal three points in London to keep the pressure on the leader and Liverpool, which faces Manchester United on Sunday.

As it turned out, it looked lethargic after its Champions League heroics, even amid the changes in personnel, and offered very little consistent threat to Hart's goal despite having 71 per cent of the possession.

However, Eriksen once more proved the difference, moving his side five points above Chelsea and Arsenal, having played a game more. Burnley, meanwhile, stays two points outside the relegation zone.

Hart heroics deserved better

Tottenham only managed three efforts on target: two of them were saved expertly by Hart, and the third was a goal he could do little about. The England goalkeeper did not deserve to be on the losing side.

Frustrated Kane kept subdued

Kane took exception to some of Burnley's delaying tactics, and his frustrations were reflected in a poor display at the spearhead of the attack, even if he did manage an assist.

What's next?

Spurs now turns its attention to a derby trip to Arsenal in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, before it resumes league duties away at Everton. Burnley has a week off ahead of its own visit to the Gunners.

Other results:

Newcastle United beats Huddersfield Town 1-0

Crystal Palace beats Leicester City 1-0

Watford beats Cardiff City 3-2

 

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