PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 24TH JANUARY, 2026
(3 PM)
BURNLEY 2(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1)

Burnley scorers:-
Tuanzebe, 45
Foster, 76

Spurs scorers:-
Van de Ven, 38
Romero, 90

Attendance:- 21,618

Referee:- Peter Bankes
Assistants:- Eddie Smart, Blake Antrobus
Fourth official:- Anthony Taylor
VAR:- Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR:- Lee Betts

Teams:-
Burnley (3-4-3):- 1. Dubravka; 6. Tuanzebe, 5. Esteve, 12. Humphreys; 2. Walker (Capt.), 8. Ugochukwu, 16. Florentino (sub 29. Laurent, 69), 23. Lucas Pires; 10. Edwards (sub 28. Mejbri, 85), 27. Broja (sub 9. Foster, 69), 11. Anthony

Subs not used:- 13. Weiss; 18. Ekdal, 22. Sonne; 7. Brun Larsen; 17. Tchaouna, 35. Barnes

Booked:- Laurent (foul on Spence)

Spurs (3-4-3):- 1. Vicario; 4. Danso (sub 11. Tel, 78) 17. Romero (Capt.) (sub 3. Dragusin, 90+5), 37. Van de Ven; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 13. Udogie, 46), 22. Gallagher (sub 44. Scarlett, 85), 8. Bissouma (sub 14. Gray, 78); 28. Odobert, 19. Solanke, 7. Xavi
(Micky van de Ven assumed captaincy)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 67. Byfield; 39. Kolo Muani, 68. Williams-Barnett

No bookings

Romero snatches a point for Spurs

After the joy of midweek success in the Champions League came the near disaster at Turf Moor. We were sliding to defeat against our second bottom three opponent in a week until captain Cristian Romero popped up to power home another vital headed goal. It was Romero's third goal in successive games and his sixth of the season.

At least our defenders can score, as Micky van de Ven gave Spurs a 38th minute lead. Sadly, that was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time following a poor pass out by Vicario and equally poor marking of Tuanzebe who scored his first club goal and indeed the first league goal of his career.

Spurs had dominated possession and chances, but Dubravka was in good form and Spurs fell behind when substitute Lyle Foster scored in the 76th minute.

Despite Romero's goal, Spurs have been dragged closer to the relegation mire after West Ham won earlier in the day. The gap between us is down to just 8 points and we face both Manchester sides, Arsenal, and Newcastle in games to come. Romero had to sit out the closing moments of the game, nursing his ankle.

In truth, Thomas Frank's Spurs can lose to any side. Over the course of the season, we have so far conceded 8 points to the bottom three sides.

The level of toxicity from the travelling fans is higher than any I can recall towards any previous coach/manager. Among the chants heard were:-

1. "Sideways and backwards, everywhere we go!"
2. "We are staying up!" (When Van de Ven scored)
3. "Thomas Frank, your football is..." (rhymes with "it")
4. "You're nothing special; we lose every week!" (to ecstatic Burnley fans when they took the lead."

The mood among the travelling fans towards the end of the game was as black as Spurs' away strip.

There was no sign of Palhinha in the Spurs 18. Yves Bissouma made his first club start since last May's Europa League final and Conor Gallagher returned. Frank opted for a back three and thus matched Burnley's set-up.

Since we last played there in September 2023, Burnley have moved the away fans to the north-west corner, and the players enter the field from the opposite corner. I have to say I found the concourse even more chaotic than the old away section with movement in any direction nigh on impossible.

The sun shone upon Turf Moor initially, but it was cold and windy. The weather and our mood would darken.

Spurs kicked off and played east towards the Jimmy McIlroy stand. There was an early chance after a Pedro Porro cross reached Spence who return ball was just in front of Solanke. Spurs were enjoying good early possession and after Bissouma and Solanke worked the ball to Spence, Djed hit a low shot straight at Dubravka. Spence would be the player who impressed me most with his pace and determined runs.

Burnley did have the ball in the net after 8 minutes when Lucas Pires converted Broja's header, but the scorer had clearly been offside. Pires and Jaidon Anthony were giving us problems down Burnley's right flank, supported by Kyle Walker in the right wing-back position.

A couple of Pedro Porro crosses came to nothing. Former Spurs academy player Marcus Edwards was determined to succeed. When he went down in the box, referee Peter Bankes had no interest in any foul, but we had to wait for VAR Craig Pawson's confirmation. The referee upset the home fans with his perceived lenience and there was only one booking in the game.

After a cross by Spence and a pass from Gallagher, Xavi was fouled as he approached the Burnley area. Pedro Porro took the free kick, which hit the side netting. Xavi was fouled again and this time Pedro Porro's kick demanded a save with Dubravka pushing the ball away to his left.

Spurs were putting the home side under some pressure now. An Odobert cross was headed onto the roof of the net by Solanke. Another Odobert cross missed everyone. Xavi returned the ball and Pedro Porro fired over. Odobert made a run from halfway and hit a good shot, turned away again by Dubravka, at the expense of the corner.

After the corner, Dubravka made a double save from Odobert and Gallagher. After another corner, the ball fell to Van de Ven who made no mistake and beat Dubravka at last.

Odobert had a one-two exchange with Xavi but hit his shot straight at the keeper.

All our good work was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time. Anthony had been advancing down the right with Walker and had a shot blocked by Romero. Instead of clearing the ball down the pitch, Vicario hit a sideways pass that went for a Burnley throw. Walker took the throw and regained possession before hitting a cross which was met by Tuanzebe who beat Vicario with a low shot.

Frank replaced Pedro Porro with Udogie and Spence switched to the right flank.

Anthony fed a ball to Broja, who was blocked by Van de Ven. Xavi couldn't quite get a touch on Spence's cross but returned the ball in where Dubravka blocked Solanke's header.

Vicario held a shot at the other end by Anthony, but the home side was getting more possession now. Tuanzebe headed over another Walker cross, before Broja was one-on-one with Vicario who saved then managed to push the ball away from danger.

Spence replied with a determined run and a powerful shot, but Dubravka saved again. A Danso long throw came to nothing, and Spence had to defend at the other end against Marcus Edwards.

Burnley took the lead following a short pass by Anthony to substitute Foster, whose first effort was blocked, but he then then scored with his follow-up.

Frank removed Bissouma and replaced him with Archie Gray. Mathys Tel replaced Danso and we switched to a back four. Another Burnley sub Laurent was shown the only yellow card of the game after his foul on Spence.

Dubravka made yet another save - arguably his best - when Spence crossed and Tel's shot was saved. Odobert fired over following the corner.

Udogie made good ground all the way to the Burnley area, butt could not find a shot. Odobert got to the bye-line on the right and crossed. Xavi's shot hit the crossbar.

Romero's goal came from another powerful run by Odobert and a cross. We had salvaged a point.

Statistically we deserved a win, but of course, it's goals that count. It remains to be seen whether Thomas Frank retains the confidence of the Spurs executive. He certainly does not have the support of this Spurs crowd. I honestly fear the worst for Spurs this season.

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