Player ratings from critical 1-0 Tottenham win over Burnley
By Aaron Coe
Tottenham Hotspur came into Sunday afternoon needing three points to stay alive in the top four race and did just enough in a 1-0 win over Burnley; here are Spurs’ player ratings.
Rating Spurs Defence
Having conceded only three goals in their previous seven matches facing a relegation-threatened side, goal one was keeping a clean sheet for Tottenham Hotspur. Playing for a second straight match without Cristian Romero, Spurs showed some depth and defended well.
Left-back – Ben Davies 7
Ben Davies did not have a ton to do defensively, spending most of his day pushing forward. Burnley preferred to attack down Spurs right, leaving Davies without a lot to do defensively. Davies finished the game at wing-back but could not connect on a big run forward.
Centre-back – Eric Dier – 6.5
Another defender who did not have a ton to do on the day, Eric Dier, did his part by helping to protect Lloris in goal. Dier was mostly a passer on the day, as Spurs dominated the ball and controlled possession. Dier had one cross that he failed to clear, but the ball deflected directly to Lloris, and the trouble was over.
Right-back – Davinson Sanchez – 7
Starting for the second straight match with Romero out, Davinson Sanchez had another solid outing. Although Burnley got behind him once, overall, Sanchez did his job and kept Ashley Barnes at bay. Sanchez’s most significant contribution was his flick of the ball that led to the Barnes handball and Harry Kane‘s decisive penalty.
Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris – 7
Unbothered for much of the match, Hugo Lloris was asked to make a couple of big saves. Burnley had the best opportunity in the first half as Maxwel Cornet was played in behind Sanchez. Cornet struck his shot well from a tough angle, but Lloris held his ground, making a big deflection. Lloris had a couple of claims outside of that save but was mostly a spectator for much of the match.