· Last season's game - Burnley 0 Spurs 2, 01.04.17
· This season's home game - Spurs 1 Burnley 1, 27.08.17
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premier League on Matchday 19 2016-17
· See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Full League Record of Spurs -v- Burnley
 
Prem          Pl   W   D   L   For- Ag  Pts
Home           4   3   1   0   10 -  3  10
Away           3   1   1   1    4 -  4   4
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Total(Prem)    7   4   2   1   14 -  7  14
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1)   34  17   7  10   75 - 44  41 
Away(Div 1)   34   6  10  18   44 - 74  22
==========================================
Total(Div 1)  68  23  17  28  119 -118  63
==========================================
Football Lge
Home(Div 2)   10   8   2  0    34 -  7  18 
Away(Div 2)   10   1   3  6     6 - 13   5  
==========================================
Total(Div 2)  20   9   5  6    40 - 20  23 
==========================================
Total(Prem)    7   4   2   1   14 -  7  14
Total(Div 1)  68  23  17  28  119 -118  63
Total(Div 2)  20   9   5   6   40 - 20  23   
==========================================
Grand Total   95  36  24  35  173 -145 100 
==========================================

Last Six Premier League results:-

Burnley    -    LWLWWD

Burnley    0-1    Arsenal
B'mouth    1-2    Burnley
Leicester  1-0    Burnley
Burnley    1-0    Watford
Burnley    1-0    Stoke
Brighton   0-0    Burnley

Spurs      -    DLDWWL
           
Spurs      1-1    West Brom
Leicester  2-1    Spurs
Watford    1-1    Spurs
Spurs      5-1    Stoke
Spurs      2-0    Brighton
Man City   4-1    Spurs

Pos           P  W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
 6. Burnley  18  9  5  4  16-12   4   32
 7. Spurs    18  9  4  5  31-18  13   31

It's tough at Turf Moor

So, we reach the half-way stage of this season's Premier league competition tomorrow with a tough game at Turf Moor. We haven't played Southampton yet this season (that comes on Boxing Day), and Burnley are the first team that we play for the second time this season.

We are on somewhat uncharted territory too, because it must be a considerable time since we have faced Burnley when we have been in a lower league position. Hopefully that will change tomorrow with a much-needed win, but we know only too well how hard it can be to beat Sean Dyche's team. With one of their recent 1-0 wins (there have been six of those so far this season), Burnley even crept into the top four.

The season started exceedingly well for Burnley with a surprise 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge on Matchday One. Chelsea beat us in our first league game at Wembley, and the week after that Dyche's team came to town and took a point with a late, late goal by their record signing New Zealander Chris Wood, who arrived from Leeds. The 90th minute equaliser was his first for his new club, and he has scored four more for his club, including one in the Carabao Cup against his old club, who progressed thanks to penalties.

That exit from the League Cup has enabled Burnley to focus fully on League games, and they have lost only two of their last 13 games, both away - to Manchester City and Leicester. Man City are the only team to have put three goals past the "Clarets", who have conceded just 12 goals so far. Spurs have conceded 18. With goals scored at something of a premium, strong and determined defending has been required by Burnley for whom James Tarkowski has been ever-present. Tarkowski will be missing tomorrow as he was charged by the FA with violent conduct following an errant elbow directed at Brighton's Glenn Murray last week. Ours is the first of three games which will be missed by the defender, who made few starts in his first two seasons, but who has clearly taken full advantage of Michael Keane's transfer to Everton. Indeed, for most of this seaason Tarkowski has enjoyed more success, with 9 clean sheets. Incidentally, Tarkowski has sustained a broken finger, so he has some recovery time available now.

Two other ever-presents for Burnley have been midfielders Steven Defour and Jack Cork. Defour was signed from Anderlecht last year and with 18 appearances, has already exceeded his 16 league starts of last season. Defour has 51 senior caps for Belgium, but has only played 6 minutes for his country this year, coming off the bench in a friendly against Japan. Defour played against us in both the games against Anderlecht in the Europe League in the Autumn of 2015. Cork has been an excellent signing from Swansea this year and clearly has been an integral part of Burnley's success. Robbie Brady, signed in January from Norwich, is out with a knee injury.

Another regular Burnley defender - Stephen Ward - has made 17 starts but will miss this game with a knee injury. Number One goalkeeper Tom Heaton (also one of England's World cup contending keepers) has been out with a dislocated shoulder and his stand-in has been 25 year old Nick Pope, formerly of Charlton. Pope has clearly been a more than adequate replacement, bearing in mind the "Clarets"' defensive record. Former Spur Dean Marney is 33 now, and hasn't played since January, but I understand he will have a late fitness test before tomorrow's teatime game.

It will be interesting to see if Burnley play any differently at home as compared to their away style. I suspect there is little difference between the two. Clearly they are tough opponents, forming a team very much in the character of their manager Sean Dyche, whose name was associated with the recent Everton vacancy. Tough but fair is how I'd describe Dyche. Burnley fans will clearly be on a high, hoping to beat a Spurs side who have been largely out of form in recent games.

Burnley need to remember they are only a point above us, and Mauricio has hopefully got his men wound up nicely after the disappointment of The Etihad last week. Toby Alderweireld has started running this week, but is still a while away from return. Victor Wanyama may play a part again before the festive season is out, but perhaps not tomorrow. Our best news is the return of Davinson Sanchez, who has had to sit out the last three games. His presence tomorrow will be a great boost, and that might release Eric Dier to the midfield holding role, which in itself should improve the side.

I might have been "stupidly optimistic" last week, but I do feel positive about our chances tomorrow and have predicted a 2-0 win, with Harry Kane getting on the score sheet at least once. Kane has an outside chance of matching or exceeding the goalscoring exploits of the likes of Lewandowski, Messi, Cavani, and Ronaldo, each of whom have scored 53 goals this calendar year, with one game remaiining in their itinerary. Harry has two games, of course, with Boxing Day to follow tomorrow's fixture. Harry has 50 goals for club and country this year, and also has Alan Shearer's record of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year in his sights, but he is three short of that too.

Our match referee tomorrow is Michael Oliver. His only previous game with us this season was our 3-2 away win against West Ham. In fact, Spurs have won every one of the six games this year when Mr. Oliver has officiated. That has included big away wins at Watford and Leicester!

Please note that due to the Christmas festivities, match reports, surveys, previews and reviews may be delayed. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

· "It was Twenty Years ago today!" - On 20th December, 1997, Spurs managed a precious 3-0 win over Barnsley. David Ginola scored twice.

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