Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur edged out Burnley 2-1 to move above Arsenal in the Premier League table, as three first-half goals at White Hart Lane—two of them sublime—settled a fine contest.

Harry Kane headed the hosts in front from a Nacer Chadli cross, only for Ashley Barnes to brilliantly fire the Clarets level with a fine effort from the edge of the box.

Even better was to come, though, as Erik Lamela curled home what proved to be the winner from the corner of the area after cutting in from the right. The win puts Spurs into sixth and a point ahead of the Gunners before their visit to Anfield on Sunday.

Burnley started like a team who knew that their best opportunity to earn something from their trip to London was going to come if they attacked their hosts, and they almost took the lead inside two minutes.

George Boyd was caught by Ben Davies on the right—a challenge that led to the Welshman being booked—but with play allowed to continue, Kieran Trippier’s clever ball was volleyed over the top by Scott Arfield from a tight angle.

It took Spurs a while to get into their stride, with Christian Eriksen having their best moment when his low shot was easily saved by Tom Heaton, before the Dane was involved—or rather not involved—in the opening goal.

Eriksen was way offside when the ball was passed to him by Davies, but he let it go for Nacer Chadli to run on to, and the Belgian’s pinpoint cross was nodded in by Kane at the near post for the forward’s first Premier League goal at White Hart Lane this season.

Lamela threatened to double the lead soon after, before Burnley remarkably drew level with a real bolt from the blue.

"

Ashley Barnes with an absolute stunner. https://t.co/iA8DVU8498

— ❤️=⚽️ (@Total_Futbol_) December 20, 2014"

Barnes, who had barely had a kick, took a pass from Boyd and arrowed a brilliant shot into the top corner to spark away-end delirium.

Parity wasn’t to last for long, though, as Lamela—moments after Kane had missed a sitter from his cross—superbly curled in an effort from the edge of the box for his first Premier League strike at the 26th time of asking. It was a goal that would have put Spurs fans in mind of the previous player who wore their No. 11 shirt, a certain Gareth Bale.

Christian Eriksen almost set up Ryan Mason for a third soon after, but the midfielder fired over and was injured in his attempt to score. He was soon replaced by Benjamin Stambouli.

The second period began with Burnley knocking on the Tottenham door, but Hugo Lloris was alert to twice keep out efforts from Danny Ings.

Chadli was rightly flagged offside after he thought he’d extended Spurs’ lead, but the attacking quality we saw in the first period wasn’t quite there in the second, with Lamela’s influence fading after his cross was fired over by Nabil Bentaleb.

Burnley were threatening to get back into the game, but they just didn’t have the quality needed to do it, with Ings struggling with a back injury, Barnes fading and Boyd substituted. Substitute Ross Wallace forced Lloris into a low save from a stoppage-time free-kick, but that was about all the visitors had to offer as Spurs held on.

Tottenham Grades

Hugo Lloris	7
Kyle Walker	7
Federico Fazio	6
Jan Vertonghen	6
Ben Davies	6
Nabil Bentaleb	6
Ryan Mason	5
Erik Lamela	8
Christian Eriksen	7
Nacer Chadli	7
Harry Kane	6
Subs
Benjamin Stambouli	6
Roberto Soldado	-
Danny Rose	-

Burnley Grades

Tom Heaton	6
Kieran Trippier	7
Jason Shackell	6
Michael Keane	6
Ben Mee	5
Scott Arfield	6
Dean Marney	5
David Jones	5
George Boyd	6
Ashley Barnes	7
Danny Ings	7
Subs
Michael Kightly	-
Ross Wallace	-
Lukas Jutkiewicz	-