FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – Tottenham have been up their standard methods at dwelling in Saturday’s go to of Burnley.
It adopted the same old playbook of video games you’d count on them to win with out an excessive amount of of a fuss. Go behind on account of their excessive line, frustrate the group slightly, save the day earlier than oblivion with a late comeback.
Contemplating Spurs went into this one off the again of 4 straight losses – all in opposition to opposition they need to be attempting to rival – they may take simply getting again within the win column and firming up a spot in Europe. The way of victory was a reminder of the progress they nonetheless have to make to really problem for main honours once more.
Burnley travelled south needing a win to face any likelihood of Premier League survival. Even a reputable draw would not have been sufficient to maintain them up.
As such, the Clarets got here out with the intention to play, to go toe-to-toe with Spurs even after being thrashed by them earlier within the season with the same strategy.
On the flip aspect, Tottenham actually seemed a crew who had taken zero factors from the final 12 obtainable to them. The openings have been there due to how Burnley wanted to arrange, however the hosts have been usually caught between selections in their very own heads.
Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min have been all painfully blunt within the first half and for the beginning of the second. Behind them, James Maddison was pulling the strings in a return to kind, although Tottenham’s attackers merely weren’t their most potent menace in assault.
In actual fact, it was right-back Pedro Porro who hauled them stage with a ferocious drive not too dissimilar to his rocket winner on this fixture within the FA Cup third spherical. Late within the day, Micky van de Ven marauded ahead and rolled the ball into the nook to seal the three factors.
On a person stage, Spurs’ beginning backline – Porro, Van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Future Udogie and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario – have all loved wonderful seasons. And but Tottenham have conceded a staggering 59 objectives. They’re an thrilling attacking crew, however they ship possibilities and objectives like a wonderful artwork.
Tottenham’s final-third struggles have been vastly helped by their defenders bailing them out, too – that favoured foursome have contributed a fairly spectacular 12 objectives between them. They’re extremely rated for a purpose however they’re drowning in a sea of stress because of the ways of Ange Postecoglou and people in entrance of them not placing video games to mattress.
If Spurs are to bridge the hole to the Premier League’s title challengers, then there are two clear options to try to enact – signal some forwards who do not mentally freeze upon moving into the ultimate third, and adapt to make sure the gaps behind them aren’t so eye-opening.
