My thanks go to Declan Mulcahy for his report.

Saturday 2 September 2023, 3:00pm
Premier League
Burnley (1) 2 Tottenham Hotspur (2) 5

Burnley scorers:-
Foster, 4
Brownhill, 90+4

Spurs scorers:-
Son, 16, 63, 66
Romero, 45+2
Maddison, 54

Burnley (4-4-2): Vincent Kompany
1 J Trafford; 28 A Al Dakhil, 2 D O'Shea, 5 J Beyer (4 J Cork 74), 14 C Roberts; 7 J Gudmundsson (44 H Delcroix 45), 24 J Cullen (c), 16 S Berge (8 J Brownhill 45), 30 L Koleosho (34 J Bruun Larsen 68); 25 Z Amdouni (15 N Redmond 60); 17 L Foster

Subs not used: 49 A Muric, 9 J Rodriguez, 10 M Benson, 47 W Odobert

Booked: Gudmundsson (43 foul on Maddison), Brownhill (57 foul on Kulusevski), Beyer (74 foul on Perisic), Delcroix (90+1 foul on Richarlison

Cork took the captain's armband when he came on

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):
13 G Vicario; 23 Pedro Porro, 17 C Romero, 37 M van de Ven; 38 D Uodgie; 29 P Sarr (5 P-E Hojbjerg 68), 8 Y Bissouma; 21 D Kulusevski (4 O Skipp 86), 10 J Maddison (12 Emerson Royal 86), 27 M Solomon (14 I Perisic 68); 7 H-M Son (c) (9 Richarlison 72)

Subs not used: 20 F Forster, 6 D Sanchez, 35 A Phillips, 33 B Davies Booked: Sarr (28 dissent, threw ball away), Kulusevski (41 foul on Koleosho), Hojbjerg (81 foul on Redmond)

Romero took the captain's armband when Son was substituted

Turf Moor, Attendance 21,750

Referee: Darren England.
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan.
Fourth official: James Bell.
VAR: John Brooks.
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.

Scintillating Spurs scythe down Burnley as Son scores a hat-trick.

Thanks to Greg Smith for this picture

Spurs had made an excellent start in the league before suffering a set-back in the midweek league cup game. It was important to try and regain the momentum. Conceding an early goal wasn't a good start but Spurs regained control and produced their best display of the season.

Postecoglou made nine changes on Wednesday and another nine changes today. The only change from the Bournemouth game saw Solomon come in for Richarlison. Van de Ven was the only player to start all of the last three games. The most interesting change was among the substitutes. Lo Celso was unfit and Ashley Phillips appeared on the bench for the first time. This suggests that after what Postecoglou saw in the league cup game that he feels that Phillips will need to be ready for first-team action earlier than he had initially anticipated.

Burnley made two changes from the team that lost to Aston Villa. Beyer returned from injury instead of Delcroix and Gudmundsson replaced Benson.

The previous iterations of Burnley in the Premier League were quite defensively minded. Hold on to what you have when the game starts. However Vincent Kompany has transformed their mindset. They are now a high-pressing attacking outfit who play attractive football.

Both teams applied the high-press from the outset. In the initial stages Burnley were more effective. After only four minutes Koleosho made a good run down the left and set up Foster who scored with a shot. The Spurs defenders were not alert enough. Porro in particular could have done better in stopping the attack. This was the first time Burnley had led in a league match this season.

Their lead lasted less than ten minutes. Porro atoned by playing a fine ball from the right which put Son in the clear. He then set up Solomon just inside the box. He returned the ball to Son on the right who scored with a diagonal shot towards the far post.

Amdouni had an opportunity to restore Burnley's lead but shot wide. Sarr received an unnecessary booking for throwing the ball away when a free kick was awarded.

By the 30th minute Spurs were dominating possession but failing to create chances. Then Maddison had an effort which Trafford had to save and Solomon created an opportunity for Porro who shot wide.

About four minutes before the break Burnley were awarded a free kick from which O'Shea had an opportunity to restore their lead but his header was poor.

In time added on before the break Spurs dominated proceedings. Son had a shot deflected wide. Following Maddison's corner the ball ricocheted around the penalty area before being deflected to the edge of the box on the right. Romero was perfectly placed and unleashed a rocket of a shot into the top left corner of the net. There was a delay which VAR analysed the situation first to check if Maddison had been offside and then if Sarr had committed a foul in the area but the goal stood.

There was still time for Son to set Maddison up in the box. The latter went down but it was decided there had been insufficient contact for a penalty to be awarded.

At the start of the second half Kompany made two changes Delcroix and Brownhill replacing Gudmundsson and Berge. The formation was changed to 5-3-2. The net effect was to allow Spurs to dominate possession and the chances started to come.

Kulusevski put Son clear in the box but his first touch was poor. He soon had another shot blocked. Maddison on the left had a shot saved at the near post.

Koleosho made another good run and set up Brownhill who shot just over.

Udogie set Maddison up on the edge of the box and he scored with a powerful curling shot to the bottom right corner.

Foster made a good run for Burnley. As he shot Romero got a slight touch and Vicario made an excellent save.

The opportunities kept coming for Spurs. Bissouma had a shot saved and another one too high. In between Porro created a chance for Son but O'Shea blocked his effort. Then Solomon, who had a good game, ran into the box. He cut the ball back to Son. Burnley had enough defenders in the box but Son skilfully picked his spot and scored.

Three minutes later Porro played a delightful ball between the Burnley central defenders which reached Son on the right of the area. He completed his hat-trick with a shot to the near post. It was Son's fourth Premier League hat-trick. This was one of three Premier League hat-tricks on the day; the others coming from Erling Haaland for Manchester City against Fulham and Brighton's Evan Ferguson who punished Newcastle.

With Spurs 5-1 up Postecoglou brought on Hojbjerg and Perisic as he has tended to do with 15-20 minutes remaining. Soon after Richarlison came on to replace Son. Romero took the captain's armband so it looks like Maddison and Romero will alternate the responsibility if both are on the pitch.

The changes allowed Burnley to get back in the game. Vicario saved a deflected shot and Romero made a couple of key blocks. A Brownhill shot deflected wide.

With a couple of minutes remaining on the clock Hojbjerg was tripped in the box but the officials decided that it didn't merit a penalty.

In the fourth minute of time added on Cullen played a through ball to Brownhill in the box. Van de Ven tried to shut him down but couldn't prevent Burnley from adding a late but fairly meaningless goal. Brownhill had been Burnley's most effective player since he came on at the break.

Spurs were absolutely outstanding in the second half. It was the best 45 minutes of football since Postecoglou arrived and for quite a while before that. It is the first time that Spurs have scored five goals at Turf Moor and equalled their best win at that ground 4-1 in February 1925.

It was the first time that they have won three consecutive league games in the same season since the final three league games of the 2021-22 season. Postecoglou has made a fine start with ten points from the first four league games.

There will be three league games in September; Sheffield United (h), Arsenal (a) and Liverpool (h). The later two games should provide a reasonable indication of how Spurs are positioned relative to the top teams.

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