Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur Refuse to Settle in 1-0 BPL Win Over Burnley

Much like the late heroics from Lucas recently in the Champions League, Spurs continue to change their narrative. Second-half substitute Christian Eriksen unlocked Burnley in injury time to give Tottenham Hotspur the 1-0 win and three points.

In a season where any dropped points means dropping down the table, a 91st minute winner from Christian Eriksen, off a strong team-based move, helps Tottenham Hotspur keep pace with Manchester City and the rest in an ultra-competitive Premier League.

In a game that had two remarkably similar halves, Tottenham Hotspur lacked the cutting edge demonstrated mid-week against Barcelona to take advantage of their chances to put Burnley to bed and left it late in the Day 17 Premier League match.

Tottenham’s Set-up

Tottenham Hotspur may not have signed anybody during the summer transfer period, but it hasn’t stopped Mauricio Pochettino from blending in new talent. We’ve seen big contributions this season from Paulo Gazzaniga, Juan Foyth, and Kyle Walker-Peters already. Today it was Oliver Skipp who was taking center stage, literally.

Playing in the center of the midfield, Skipp was asked to do his best Harry Winks impression and he did a superb job. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t man of the match, but the 18-year-old from Welwyn Garden City more than held his own and stayed within himself. We may even see more of Skipp, who is still technically part of Spurs U-18 team midweek against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. The in-form Moussa Sissoko supported the young Skipp, and Dele Alli, Lucas Moura, and Erik Lamela were running in support of Harry Kane up top.

Beyond the youth in the center of the park, Jan Vertonghen was given the day off and wasn’t even on the bench, so it was Ben Davies who stepped into the left-side center-half role with Davison Sanchez still injured. Davies played well and showed we have depth at the position beyond Juan Foyth and Eric Dier. Danny Rose and the returning Kieran Trippier rounded out the back, with captain Hugo Lloris in goal.

Spurs had again done some rotating while Burnley on the other hand was set up in what appeared to be a 5-4-1 formation.  The Clarets seemed determined from the kickoff to grind out a draw and, if they were lucky, maybe even a 0-1 win. So how did things go down?

Spurs v Burnley First Half

The early part of the game showed what to expect on the day. A tough, organized Burnley defense was prepared to sit back and stay between the ball and the goal and fight Tottenham off in the steady London rain. It took most of the first quarter of the game for Tottenham Hotspur to really come to life as the team found its shape and started to develop a rhythm.

It was in the 17th minute that Erik Lamela lofted a nice pass over the top of the defense to an onrushing Lucas Moura. Moura stretched out and got a soft touch on the ball as it came down. I jumped out of my seat, because the first TV angle looked so in. Alas, the ball went about 8 inches wide and Joe Hart was saved.

A few minutes later there was a moment of controversy as Harry Kane seemed to be fouled in the box after getting a touch on a layoff from Dele. Graham Scott had none of it and left his whistle down. The more I looked at the play the more I was convinced it was a foul and VAR may have given it. That said, Kane was a ways out near the corner of the box and not in an immediate scoring position. Given Scott stepped-up in the second half with a couple of yellow cards for time wasting and Spurs did win, I’m willing to cut him some slack here.

Shortly thereafter, Danny Rose sent a beautiful cross through the box but everyone looked like a statue as the ball bounced in front of the goal. Even after a quick restart which clearly surprised Burnley, Moussa Sissoko didn’t take his chance, as he played in Lamela, whose touched seemed to fail him and allowed Hart to make a save.

As the rain continued to pour the game continued to slog along until half. Tottenham controlled 70% of possession and held an 8-1 shot advantage as the half-time whistle blew. Three big chances, 340+ passes and four corners for Spurs hadn’t brought any results, was this to be the club’s first league draw this season?

Spurs v Burnley Second Half

As the second-half got underway, it was Burnley who had the first real chance from a free kick. This left Tottenham looking a bit unsure in the back. Just as the Clarets were seeming to gain some momentum, they upped their time-wasting game and seemed settle in for the draw.

First, Brady went down with an apparent head injury. After a minute or two of assistance from the trainers, Brady headed toward the sideline, not to walk off, but to give a handshake to Kieran Trippier who had been the second in the head incident. Then two feet from the touchline Brady turns and heads back to midfield. Finally, someone somewhere notices, and Brady comes off play restarts and 3 second later Brady is back on running.

I know head injuries are real. However, if a player doesn’t know to come off after treatment, either they should not be on the field for clear brain injury or should be booked for time wasting. Everyone knows anytime someone comes on to aid in treatment the player must come off, this is not a new rule. Regardless the game did eventually continue

Tottenham’s best chance of the first hour came at the hour mark as Harry Kane seemed to mishit a cross which almost caught Joe Hart sleeping at the near post. It was so close to the post, Hart ran into the post upon making the save. A minute later Hart finally distributed the ball.

Just like the fans, a few minutes later Scott had seen enough of the time-wasting and the first card came out at 63 minutes. This was followed closely with a second at 67. That second card seemed to do the trick for the most part as the time wasting wasn’t as apparent the rest of the match. Imagine that card coming in the first half, how much more football we would see. Christian Eriksen came on for Lucas between the two cards.

Erik Lamela had a couple chances between the 74th and 78th minute, but none quite met the mark. Lamela’s double chance at the 77th minute was his last real chance of the game, as Fernando Llorente came on in the 81st minute for Lamela, just shortly after Heung-Min Son had come on to end the debut of the teenager Skipp.

The subs connected in the 85th minute as Llorente chested the ball to Son, who was on a tight angle, but not one so tight we haven’t seen him deliver before. Son made decent contact, but it bounced wide across the goal.

A couple minutes later nearing full time, Son was again coming in on an angle after Kane had played him in. This time, he danced around the diving defense and managed a cross. At the back post was Dele Alli, seemingly ready to pounce. However, a defender deflected the ball and Dele received a little shove in the back. Both changes being enough to put Dele off and his thigh couldn’t get the right angle.

Then it happened. Trippier played a long ball toward the top of the box from a few feet inside his own half. Fernando Llorente took a couple steps pulling two-defenders with him and jumped. None of the three got the ball as it bounced behind. Dele Alli then threw himself, seemingly chest first, again thanks to a little shove in the back. This time however, Dele’s contact was just right and the ball came off Dele’s chest into Harry Kane’s feet.

Kane was just outside the six with his back to goal. After a good first touch, Kane played a soft pass to his right to an onrushing Christian Eriksen. Eriksen who had yet to score in the league this year came running on and buried the shot. This was just as he did against Inter in the Champions League, when Spurs needed it most.

The Dane went running toward the corner, slid on his knees and jumped up with a pumping fist. When he turned to face his on running teammates you could see the emotion on his face. His first goal of the season had done it, Tottenham had snatched victory from the hands of the dreaded draw.

Now, down 1-0 Sean Dyche saw the mistake in the time wasting and tried to make a couple late subs to push on. It was far too little far too late for a Burnley side facing a relegation battle. A couple minutes later the whistle blew, and the victory was final for Tottenham Hotspur. It was heartbreak for Burnley and elation for Spurs as they continue to work to change the Tottenham Hotspur narrative.

Other Match Musings

Beyond Oliver Skipp’s start, Pochettino brought more youth to the bench. Timothy “TJ” Eyoma, an 18-year-old under-23 defender was on the bench today as was Kyle Walker-Peters.

It may have been Eriksen’s first goal in the league this season, but the midfielder does have 6 assists in his 14 games this year.

The third man running that was so apparent and effective against Barcelona midweek was missing today. Instead, we saw a more direct approach playing into the hands of an organized defense. The ball moved side-to-side and then long. Rather than forward, back, and then forward.

We saw two drop-balls in the first 28 minutes of the match. I can’t remember the last time I saw one, let alone two, with one being contested.

Hugo Lloris had his sixth clean sheet in league this season today. It was his 80th in the Premier League, making him sixth on the all-time list. Interestingly, he didn’t have any saves, but did have an excellent two-handed punch on a corner.

It appeared that Danny Rose got injured today. He wasn’t even able to take a throw in, after he was driven into the ground onto his shoulder in the first half. It would be a terrible blow to Rose and the team were he to be out again for any extended time. Tottenham needs what Danny Rose brings, as does Ben Davies who is not a machine.

Following the victory, Tottenham maintain 3rd place in the Premier League table, while Burnley stay at 17th just above the relegation zone. They no doubt are looking forward to Southampton’s game against Arsenal tomorrow. Regardless of other results, Tottenham will be in third place. The only question is how many points back they will be from first- Five or six?

Spurs have won three straight in the Premier League since the loss at Arsenal and six of seven since the loss October 29 to Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur have a short turn around, as they travel a few miles across town to the Emirates to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Spurs then travel to Merseyside on Sunday take on Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League.