The best way for Tottenham to beat Burnley might not sit well with supporters
By Gary Pearson
The best way for Tottenham to leave Turf Moor on Wednesday with all three points is to soak up the pressure and hit Burnley on the counter.
Words that aren’t exactly novel or earth shattering, Tottenham are used to that very tactic, especially since Antonio Conte‘s arrival. However, it feels rather counterintuitive to deploy such a negative tactic against an inferior team, one that is reeling at the foot of the Premier League table.
The Clarets are coming off their first away win of the season, a surprisingly emphatic 3-0 victory on the south coast against Brighton. Don’t let that result fool you, though. It’s been a miserable campaign for Sean Dyche’s side, who have won just two of 22 matches.
Tottenham should have enough faith in their own ability to strut into Turf Moor, dominate possession and obliterate a team in serious jeopardy of being relegated. It would be nice to see Spurs do exactly that, and hopefully the momentum gained from the epic victory at the Etihad will translate to a confident, expansive and visually appealing display.
Unfortunately the words visually appealing and Turf Moor go together about as well as chugging tequila on an empty stomach after just turning 18. You have a perfect storm when you combine the Clarets defensive stubbornness with Burnley’s dire weather, mediocre pitch and vociferously voracious, passionate supporters.
No matter where Burnley sits in the standings, there isn’t a team in the Premier League that gets excited about the prospect of playing at Turf Moor.
So if Tottenham aren’t able to play an enterprising, expansive and appealing brand of football, Conte’s side will be best served battening down the hatches, defending well and countering with lethal potency, not unlike the way they acquitted themselves at the Etihad.
Obtaining all three points is the only thing that really matters at this time of the season, which might mean sacrificing the possession battle. Conte’s side is more adept at winning when the opposition dominates possession anyway, so it’s not too farfetched to conceive of Burnley, the division’s bottom feeders, seeing more of the ball on Wednesday night.
If it means escaping Turf Moor with all three points, so be it.