I’m proud of those players and what they have achieved
Burnley’s 2-1 win against Spurs left visiting boss Mauricio Pochettino, beaten by the Clarets for the first time, a very unhappy manager as he remonstrated with officials immediately after the final whistle.
But afterwards, he said: “It was tough and we’re disappointed, upset. We know it’s always going to be tough here because of the way they play and if we don’t match that aggression and the way they play, we are going to suffer.
“I thought we controlled the game but it wasn’t enough and we conceded two goals, very disappointing. We made some mistakes and we need to blame ourselves. Now we need to think about the next games and it will be tough again, two big games, two derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal and it’s important to lift everyone and to be ready.”
Sean Dyche got his first win against Spurs and admitted afterwards: “We know there is a gap there, but the exciting part of football is that the challenge is not always unachievable. I didn’t think Spurs were off form today. I just think we asked that many questions that, eventually, we managed to win the game.
“We can only guide them and work with them, so they take massive credit for creating historic markers. We know there is still work to be done, but the lads are putting it in and today our mixed play was effective. It has to be because we are not a side who can slick it about like Manchester City, but we have very good players and we delivered again today.”
He added: “We wanted to play high up the pitch. We constantly asked questions and the front two’s willingness and determination ultimately got their rewards. They were outstanding today, backed by a team full of belief, but the best thing, and I’ve just commended the lads on it, was the calmness when it went 1-1. Forget about the situation and what led to it, but we stayed firm to the performance and that’s been key to this run.
“I know there’s controversy about the first two goals, and for ours there’s a debate about whether it was or wasn’t a corner. I genuinely think those are tough to call, when they ricochet off people they can go either way. My gripe about their goal is that the ball went out our side of the half way line and got thrown in eight or nine yards the other way. Also, the fourth official catches the ball and throws it back to their lad so they can play quickly and that leads to the goal. That can’t be right. That was a massive moment and I thought it went against us today. Thankfully, it doesn’t matter afterwards because justice is done.”
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