Burnley Relegated From Premier League By Tottenham Loss

Burnley have been relegated from the Premier League after they could not secure a win at Tottenham which would have kept their hopes alive.

The Clarets, who knew a draw or defeat meant they would no longer be able to catch fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, took the lead when Jacob Bruun Larsen slid in a 25th-minute opener.
The joy among the travelling fans was tempered seven minutes later when Pedro Porro hammered in an equaliser.

After dominating the second half without finding a way through, Spurs were finally rewarded when defender Micky van de Ven burst forward and expertly slotted the winner into the bottom corner.
The draw would have done few favours for fifth-placed Tottenham, who needed a win to keep the pressure on Aston Villa in the race for the Champions League.

For all the positives under Ange Postecoglou this season, a miserable run over the past month led to concern for Tottenham supporters.

Four straight defeats severely damaged their team’s hopes of finishing above Villa and Postecoglou was hoping to avoid the ignominy of becoming the first Spurs boss to lose five on the bounce since Ossie Ardiles in 1994.

The ease with which their team have leaked goals – conceding 13 times in the defeats by Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – has been particularly alarming.

Burnley, who arrived as the third lowest scorers in the league, were also able to find space in attacking areas and punished Spurs through Bruun Larsen’s opener.

But Tottenham eventually had enough quality to come through a stern test – even though they needed two defenders to provide the attacking spark.

The fightback maintained Spurs’ slim hopes of overhauling Villa.

Tottenham know they must beat Manchester City and Sheffield United in their final two games, while hoping Unai Emery’s side drop points against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.