Spurs 4-2 Burnley

A battling fightback saw us overturn an early two-goal deficit to defeat Burnley 4-2 at the Lane on Wednesday evening and book an FA Cup fourth round clash with Leicester City.

Burnley flew out of the traps and hit us with a brace inside just seven minutes through Marvin Sordell and a deflected free-kick from Ross Wallace, but we were level before the interval courtesy of goals from Paulinho and Etienne Capoue.

A quick-fire double at the start of the second half put us in control, Vlad Chiriches heading us in front for the first time in the game on 49 minutes, while Danny Rose added a fourth just three minutes later and we held on to line up a game against the Foxes, which will take place on Saturday, January 24, kick-off 3pm.

Team news

Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino restored Younes Kaboul and Capoue to the starting line-up, while Rose played in an advanced role down the left flank. Seventeen-year-old Josh Onomah was on the bench and was handed his first team debut, coming on for the final 14 minutes of the contest.

At Turf Moor in the original game nine days ago, neither side managed a shot in the first half but it was a very different story this time around as the game exploded into life and continued to sparkle throughout the first period.

Key action

Just three minutes were on the clock when the visitors stole the lead, Kieran Trippier’s long ball over the top finding Sordell in plenty of space and he hit a fine half volley from 20 yards which flew into the top corner past Michel Vorm.

And Burnley doubled their advantage four minutes later with a touch of fortune from a free-kick 25 yards out. Wallace took the set-piece and his left foot drive clipped off Roberto Soldado in the wall, wrong-footed Vorm and nestled in the back of the net.

We were shell-shocked but fortunately didn’t have to wait long to respond. The game’s third goal arrived after just 10 minutes as Capoue found Andros Townsend on the right, he delivered a cross which Soldado flicked on, Paulinho controlled on his chest and produced an acrobatic volley to fire past Tom Heaton from eight yards.

That gave us a timely boost and we looked threatening going forwards, with Townsend particularly lively down his flank. He was delivering a string of inviting centres, one of which almost reached Soldado only for Michael Duff to intervene and Benji Stambouli fired the loose ball over the bar.

The French midfielder then drilled wide from Rose’s lay-off on 26 minutes, while Wallace was off target at the other end as Burnley continued to carry a threat.

We had a golden opportunity to level a minute before the interval when Paulinho dispossessed Scott Arfield and was fouled by the Burnley man but referee Craig Pawson waved play on. That allowed Soldado to break forward, he laid off to Townsend on the right and the winger slid a delightful ball to the back post to Soldado, but he hit the crossbar from six yards out.

It wasn’t to prove too costly though as in first half stoppage time we did draw level. Ben Davies got to the byline down the left and clipped over a cross, Paulinho didn’t connect with a scissor kick but the ball fell kindly for Capoue who strode forwards and lashed a superb drive into the net for his second Spurs goal.

And there was no let up at the start of the second period, this time it was us on the front foot early and we were ahead on 48 minutes. Townsend’s ball inside the full-back allowed Chiriches to fire goalwards, the ball taking a deflection for a corner. Paulinho delivered the set-piece and there was the Romanian defender at the far post to nod home, also his second goal in our colours.

Just as Burnley hit a quick-fire double at the start of the game, so we did likewise after the interval! Only four minutes later, Stambouli hit a fine cross-field pass to Soldado wide on the right and he then sent over a perfect cross which Rose stabbed home at the far post to make it 4-2.

Nacer Chadli entered the fray just before the hour mark, replacing Rose and was quickly into the action, beating Trippier to get to the byline but his shot from a very tight angle fizzed across the face of the goal and away to safety.

Burnley had claims for a penalty when Kaboul tussled with Sordell in the area but their appeals were waved away, while at the other end Soldado showed great control to bring down a long ball and skip past a challenge 30 yards out but sent his shot just wide of Heaton’s far post.

There was almost another goal for Capoue on 76 minutes when excellent work by Chadli saw him lay the ball neatly into his path 20 yards out but the French midfielder’s goalbound shot was blocked. Moments later Onomah came on for his debut, the England Under-17 international replacing Townsend and showing some nice touches during his time on the pitch.

The game certainly lost its intensity in the closing minutes as we looked comfortable and our two-goal advantage was rarely threatened, while Soldado nearly added a fifth with a shot on the turn. Heaton saved this time, and the game drifted to its conclusion with our victory intact.

Mauricio Pochettino said 

“We showed good character,” said Mauricio. “It was a difficult start and important to come back into the game quickly to believe and move forward.

"We scored to get back to 2-2 before half-time and we deserved to go to the next round, we were better than Burnley. I’m happy with the result and to go into the next round.

“We’ve played more games than other teams in the Premier League this season and we’ve had a tough period.

“We have a strong squad and I’m happy for the players who had the opportunity to play. It’s good to have players who are pushing the squad and make my decision hard every week.”

Match data

Spurs: Vorm, Chiriches (Dier 80), Kaboul, Vertonghen, Davies, Stambouli, Capoue, Townsend (Onomah 76), Paulinho, Rose (Chadli 59), Soldado. Substitutes (not used): Lloris, Naughton, Dembele, Kane.

Burnley: Heaton, Trippier (Reid 68), Duff, Keane, Mee, Kightly, Arfield, Jones (Marney 76), Wallace (Boyd 89), Sordell, Vokes. Substitutes (not used): Gilks, Lafferty, Ings, Barnes.

Goals: Spurs – Paulinho 10, Capoue 47, Chiriches 49, Rose 52; Burnley – Sordell 3, Wallace 7.

Yellows: Burnley - Keane.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

Attendance: 24,367.