Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said today's win over Burnley was 'important' for Erik Lamela

Published: 20 December, 2014
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 2, BURNLEY 1

SPURS kept up their good run of form with a hard-fought 2-1 home win against Burnley today (Saturday) at White Hart Lane.

While hardly an emphatic result against a side that started the day in 18th place, Mauricio Pochettino's side showed quality when it was needed.  

Striker Harry Kane bagged his 14th goal of the season and victory was secured by a wonder strike from Erik Lamela.

Lamela, a club record signing from Roma in 2013, had gone 25 games without a Premiership goal, and speaking after the match, head coach Pochettino said: “It was important for him.

“Erik is still young. He has a big talent but last season was so difficult. He was injured, he was learning a new language, but now he is finding his feet. It was a question of time. Today will help build his confidence further.”

Spurs started well, peppering Burnley with pot-shots in the opening exchanges. Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane and Ryan Mason all went close from distance.  

Burnley, in return, offered a real physical presence and Spurs' back line of Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen were kept busy in the air.  

The breakthrough came on 20 minutes and was down to Kane's quick thinking. His hastily-taken free-kick set Chadli clear down the left. Kane bombed forward into the box to look for a return, Chadli chipped a ball over and Kane nodded home.  

Burnley pulled level on 26 minutes in spectacular fashion. Spurs, who had been guilty of some wayward passes, lost possession cheaply in a central position and Burnley's Ashley Barnes hit a peach into the top corner from distance.  

It was a wake-up call.

Pochettino's men turned on the style and in one flowing move regained the lead on 35 minutes. Mason spread the play out to Lamela on the right and the Argentine stepped inside, looked up and planted the ball home from outside the box.  

It would prove to be enough. Spurs huffed and puffed in the second period, with the team's third game in six days beginning to tell. The best chances fell to Kane, who nearly got on the end of a low cross provided by Chadli, and had an effort ruled out after being caught fractionally offside.

At the other end, Hugo Lloris demonstrated his powers of concentration to fly across the goal and turn away a well placed free-kick.

It was enough. Spurs now move up a place to sixth, four points away from West Ham in fourth.  

SPURS: Lloris, Vertonghen, Walker, Davies, Fazio, Mason (Stambouli, 43), Bentaleb, Lamela, Eriksen (Rose, 90), Chadli, Kane (Soldado, 83).
Subs: Vorm, Rose, Chiriches, Soldado, Townsend, Dembele, Stambouli.  
Attendance: 35,681

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Five points from today:

Who would have thought, at the start of the season, losing Ryan Mason to injury, coupled with Nabil Bentaleb heading to the African Nations, would mean Pochettino may be without his first-choice centre midfielders for a few weeks?

Kyle Walker's return after eight months gives Spurs a new sense of pace and width.

Pochettino must consider giving some tired limbs a rest for the Leicester game on Boxing Day. With Manchester United visiting on December 28th and Chelsea on New Year's Day, it is time for squad players to step up.  

Earlier this season, it would have been no surprise if Spurs had struggled to break down Burnley. But they showed intensity when it was needed and while the scoreline wasn't empathic, it felt like they were playing well within themselves.  

Lamela's strike was an example of the natural ability he possesses. Poch's challenge is to find a way of making sure it is applied in every game and the Argentine cuts out the fancy stuff.  

Hugo Lloris proved once again that a matchwinner doesn't always have to be found in the silken boots of our number 23. He was alert when teammates were tiring. He made one sprawling save late on from a free-kick that was classic Lloris.