Danny Rose scored the winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat Burnley in controversial circumstances in the Premier League.
Substitute Moussa Sissoko was given only a yellow card for a high, late tackle on Stephen Ward, before putting Rose through on goal in the next move, as the full-back smashed home at the near post.
“It was a blind challenge, a high challenge and simply a red card,” said Burnley boss Sean Dyche.
Spurs were punished for a sloppy start as they failed to clear the ball, allowing Ashley Barnes to poke in the opener.
Prior to the goal, Dele Alli had struck the post from close range, before the midfielder restored parity by converting Kyle Walker’s low cross.
Sissoko’s contentious cameo
- 62 minutes: Replaces Mousa Dembele.
- 69 minutes: Catches Ward on the knee with a right-footed, studs-high challenge.
- 70 minutes: Breaks clear to the edge of the box before feeding Rose for the winner.
Burnley will rightly feel aggrieved as they were hanging on for an away point, with Spurs struggling to break their defence down in the second half until Sissoko’s intervention.
Dyche added: “I don’t want go on about the referee but Sissoko has to go off and he sets up the second goal – obviously I am very disappointed about that.”
As referee Kevin Friend saw the incident and took action, no retrospective disciplinary case can be brought against the Frenchman by the Football Association.
Full-backs show the way forward
Despite falling behind, Mauricio Pochettino’s side dominated a match in which they had 30 shots at goal, forcing Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton into seven saves.
The England international stopped well from Harry Kane and Victor Wanyama, and dived full stretch to his left to keep out Christian Eriksen’s drive.
Tottenham continued to pressurise their opponents down the flanks, and it was the home side’s two full-backs who proved to be the difference.
Walker got forward to provide the assist for Alli’s equaliser, while Rose – who put in more crosses than any other player on the pitch – found himself in the opposition area for the second goal.
Rose told BBC Sport: “The gaffer does not like us both being high up the pitch at the same time but we changed that today. The manager got his tactics spot on.”
Victory leaves Spurs in fifth place in the table, but only one point behind rivals Arsenal, who lost 2-1 at Manchester City.
Source: BBC
