Tottenham Hotspur 2, Burnley 1: Mauricio Pochettino shrugs off Sean Dyche’s complaints after Danny Rose’s controversial winner
Tottenham Hotspur 2, Burnley 1
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino shrugged off the complaints of opposite number Sean Dyche after they claimed a hard-fought Premier League win over Burnley on Sunday.
Left-back Danny Rose struck a controversial 71st-minute winner to complete Tottenham’s comeback after midfielder Dele Alli had cancelled out an Ashley Barnes opening goal.
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Rose’s goal left Dyche fuming that the man responsible for the through-ball, Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko, had not been sent off moments earlier for a high challenge.
Dyche called Sissoko’s tackle on Stephen Ward “a blind challenge, a high challenge and simply a red card”. He added: “They are a top-class side but we do need the rub of the green.”
But Pochettino said: “The referee saw it better than me. The team played in a very good way and we fully deserved the victory.”
Spurs remain fifth, 10 points behind runaway leaders Chelsea, but moved to within one point of rivals Arsenal, who slipped to fourth with defeat at Manchester City.
“I think our position is good,” Pochettino added. “The Premier League does not finish tomorrow or in a few weeks; there is a long way to go.”
Barnes sprung a surprise midway through the first half when his strike gave Burnley the lead – and only their second away goal in the league this season.
Alli, who had already hit a post, brought Spurs level from right-back Kyle Walker’s low cross – his first top-flight goal for two months.
Sissoko, a £30m summer signing from Newcastle, enraged Dyche with a studs-up tackle on full-back Ward just minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Referee Kevin Friend deemed it worthy only of a yellow card, and France midfielder Sissoko duly set up Rose for the decisive strike with his next contribution.
The goal gave Tottenham consecutive top-flight wins for the first time since 2 October and underlined Burnley’s travelling frailties.
The Clarets, who sit 16th, three points above the relegation zone, have just one points from their eight away fixtures this season.