CARABAO CUP ROUND FOUR
WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER, 2021
(7.45pm)
BURNLEY 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0)

Scorer:-
Lucas Moura, 68

Attendance:- 14,637

Referee:- Peter Bankes
Assistants:- James Mainwaring & Andrew Fox
Fourth Official:- Mike Dean

Teams:-
Burnley (4-4-2):- Pope; Roberts, Collins, Mee (Capt.), Pieters; Gudmundsson (sub Lennon, 75), Brownhill, Cork, McNeil (sub Cornet, 75); Vydra (sub Wood, 60), Rodriguez (sub Barnes, 60)

Subs not used:- Norris; Taylor, Long, Bardsley, Westwood

Booked:- Roberts (foul on Kane)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Gollini; Emerson Royal, Romero, Sanchez, Davies; Hojbjerg, Skipp (sub Ndombele, 66); Gil (sub Lucas Moura, 25), Lo Celso (sub Rodon, 89), Bergwijn (sub Son, 66); Kane (Capt.)

Subs not used:- Austin; Doherty, Dier, Reguilon, Tanganga

Booked:- Son (time wasting)

Lucas provides the spark for Spurs to progress

In the end, substitute Lucas Moura’s 68th minute headed goal in front of a sizeable contingent of travelling fans, was the difference between these two sides who took a long time to produce a meaningful effort on goal. Nuno fielded a strong side with six changes including Harry Kane who was captain tonight. Burnley made changes too, but Spurs were surely the stronger of the two sides. We dominated possession, but with three strikers on the field in the latter stages Sean Dyche’s side pressed for an equaliser. Spurs held out, but I would have liked Nuno to have inserted an additional defender earlier.

It was a blustery night at Turf Moor and the corner flags (perhaps very flexible) could be seen bent over by the strong wind. It seems that Burnley no longer walk out to Arcade Fire’s anthemic “Wake Up”, but that would have been useful guidance to both teams who failed to test either goalkeeper for the best part of the first hour. I heard some boos when the knee was taken, but I am not sure of the source.

Not all of the travelling fans had travelled from the south. There is a strong contingent of Northern Spurs supporters and some of the old chants were wheeled out such as “We’re having a party” regarding a certain centre-back who shall never be named.

Other than the goal-scorer, Giovani Lo Celso must be a contender for Spurs’ man of the match as he offered energy and good passes to the game. After only two minutes he teed up Kane, but Harry hit his left foot shot wide. Harry has played in 10 domestic games now this season and scored just one goal. That is disturbing. Dwight McNeil is a key player to Burnley and after 8 minutes he sent Vydra away down the left flank. Vydra got the better of Davinson Sanchez and passed inside but Hojbjerg made a great clearing tackle in a dangerous situation. Emerson cleared a Burnley cross from the right four minutes later. Another Burnley attack down the left for Vydra necessitated a foul by Romero, who got no card. Nothing came of the free kick either.

Spurs had a free kick when Lo Celso was fouled and at this stage Bryan Gil (who had been working hard up and down the line) limped off, possibly with a hamstring injury. He had to be replaced by Lucas. Emerson hit a cross which passed the Burnley area, and after that Lucas passed out to Lo Celso whose pass fell to Kane. Harry failed to take advantage, when a shot had been on the cards. Somewhere during this spell there had been an air shot by Bergwijn, but this action was at the far end for Spurs fans. Lucas was fouled 22 yards out, but Lo Celso’s kick hit the wall.

After 38 minutes my notes refer to Spurs having had more possession, but neither goalkeeper had a save to make. Spurs attacked after a good interception on the right-hand side and Lo Celso advanced with Lucas. There was a definite shot opportunity for Lucas, but he chose a pass to the left, which failed.

Spurs had a corner after 42 minutes, taken by Lo Celso and after a glancing header the ball reached Kane, who, falling back, skied his shot. Spurs defended another attack when Bergwijn was in the box.

Burnley kicked off the second half and after three minutes where was some skill displayed in the Burnley area by both Bergwijn and Ben Davies with control at close quarters and short passes, but nothing resulted from the attack. McNeil sent a good ball to left back Pieters (once at Stoke). Pieters crossed and there was a header by Gudmundsson aimed at Rodriguez, who was penalised for handball. Nearly an hour had passed and still no shot on target.

Sean Dyche took off Vydra and Rodrigues for Wood and Barnes, giving the Spurs defence something else to think about. It has to be said that the Spurs defensive unit, led by Romero and Sanchez, coped well with the extra physical and aerial pressure. For Spurs, Son and Ndombele could be seen getting ready. Aaron Lennon was regaled by the travelling fans whenever he was seen warming up, an of course when he did get on the pitch.

Harry Kane sent Lo Celso away and he did force a the first of two or three saves by Nick Pope. Pope then collected a Spurs corner. Son and Ndombele came on for Bergwijn and Skipp respectively. It wasn’t long before Spurs had their goal. For much of the game we had been passing around the area or midfield without putting in any dangerous crosses. At last Emerson got forward deep down the right wing and hit a strong cross. Kane tried to head in but missed. The ball reached Lucas who did head home past the beaten keeper. It was Lucas’s first goal since February – against Burnley!

Right back Connor Robert was booked for clipping Kane’s heels as he threatened to advance. After receiving from Lo Celso, Lucas advanced on goal and hit a powerful shot from 25 yards. Pope could only parry this one, but the ball did run well clear of danger. Two minutes later Lucas fed the ball out to Emerson who advanced into the area and had a pop at goal. Pope was equal to this one.

More substitutes are allowed in this competition and Burnley now inserted Cornet and Lennon. From here on it was mainly a case of spurs holding onto their lead, which was not comfortable viewing for me, but probably more comfortable for our defence. Spurs cleared a Brownhill free kick, and shortly Gollini picked up the ball after a couple of Burnley headers in the box. Gollini held a shot by Barnes. The action was all at the other end and I was looking for that extra defender. Rodon replaced Lo Celso after 89 minutes, and Spurs at least had the better of added time, during which Pope must have run out nearly 40 yards to clear from Kane’s feet.

Spurs did run down the time well and in fact Son was booked for using up too much time near the Burnley corner flag. The quarter-final draw is being held on Saturday morning, I suspect for the benefit of the sponsors. That game will be played in the week before Christmas.

· See the exclusive "Spursometer" and have your say regarding the performances of the team, individual players, manager and officials.

Follow @spursodyssey

· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats