Bale stars in complete Tottenham performance as Spurs’ attacking intensity brushes aside Burnley

‘Stay in the game boys’ were the words despairingly muttered by Burnley ‘keeper Nick Pope after Harry Kane netted Tottenham’s second goal after 15 minutes.

The intensity of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs team had proved too much in the opening stages, with Pope left helpless for all three first-half goals.

With Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son all starting together, a glance to the comment section of Tottenham’s social accounts represented a positive outlook from Spurs fans. After Charlie Taylor failed to hold the defensive line for the Clarets 67 seconds in, Bale’s tap home only added fuel to the fire.

As Son lined up his cross from the left, both Bale and Kane manoeuvred into goalscoring positions before the Welshman poked in for the opener. An opponent with nine Premier League clean sheets this season, Burnley were uncharacteristic in their poor defensive discipline and the goal prompted an inquest from captain Ben Mee and Sean Dyche on the touchline.

The instincts of Bale to impulsively understand the destination of Son’s cross is an attribute formerly missing from this Tottenham frontline. During Spurs’ positive early season form, the goal combinations were limited to Kane for Son or Son for Kane. Adding a third attacker capable of providing contributions at a regular rate could be crucial to achieving Mourinho’s ambitions for the season ahead.

Sergio Reguilon and Serge Aurier were selected as the two Tottenham full-backs and their attacking intent also contributed to an intensity not often displayed by the Lilywhites this season. The Spaniard in particular typifies the forward-thinking, energetic tempo Tottenham fans love to watch.

The width provided by the full-backs, alongside Bale and Son, caused havoc for Burnley. Bale and Kane switches of possession moved the Burnley backline around with ease and this partnership combined for the second goal.

Bale assist, Kane goal. Four words that sound magical to Tottenham fans, a collaboration they only dreamt possible. As the Welsh captain received the ball, he decided to hit a perfect cross-field pass over the resigned Josh Brownhill to find England’s skipper in space.

Kane’s first touch cushioned the ball perfectly for him to strike and after a kind deflection off James Tarkowski, the tones of Darude Sandstorm were ringing around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium once again on Sunday afternoon.

The shackles had broken off. This was a team which looked full of confidence, especially in an attacking sense, rather than a side dwelling a record of one win in six league matches. Kane’s finish would be his eighth against the Clarets, no player netting more in the Premier League against them.

Tottenham v Burnley may not have jumped off the page to many but the tempo of the game made the first half an entertaining watch. Dyche’s side were not content with conceding possession and attempted to press high on occasions to pin Spurs in.

With Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra finding space, Spurs centre-back Davinson Sanchez marshalled them, and later Chris Wood, expertly all afternoon. The Columbian had one of his finest appearances in a Spurs shirt as he and the Tottenham backline secured Hugo Lloris’ 100th Premier League clean sheet for Tottenham.

“I think the team played well defensively, it was a good compromise from the team.

“The defensive line cannot play as high as we did if the midfield and attacking players do not press, especially the player with the ball. It was a collective performance, very positive collective performance with loads of effort.

“Even minute 92, 93 two corners, the team defended like it was 1-0 and not 4-0 and this compromise is fundamentally what the team needs.

“Then Davinson played a very good game, very dominant, fresh, didn’t play the last match and he was very good.” – Mourinho on Tottenham’s defensive display against Burnley

Ahead of the fixture, Ledley King put the defence through their paces. The former Tottenham captain will gain confidence from back-to-back clean sheets against Wolfsberger and Burnley.

As Bale, Kane and Son impressed, Lucas Moura completed the forward line-up. The Brazilian continues to split opinions but his speed on the counter was once again effective against lesser opposition and the 28-year-old netted Spurs’ third just after the half hour mark.

With a switch of play observed constantly throughout the 90 minutes, Bale found his former Real Madrid teammate Reguilon. The left-back’s cross fell at the feet of Moura, who quickly shifted the ball and fired an effort past Pope. After his header against West Ham last weekend, back-to-back goals in Premier League matches is a pleasing statistic for Jose Mourinho as contributions are beginning to appear away from their star duo.

As fast as Lucas is on the counter, Mourinho and assistant Joao Sacramento matched him when sprinting to their technical area. After securing leads early on in the season, Tottenham became passive when ahead and suffered late draws to Fulham, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

Encouraging the tempo to stay high during the late minutes of the first period, Ashley Westwood receiving the ball with the potentially for Burnley to start a move prompted a loud cry of ‘Come on!’ from Mourinho. The performance conveyed positivity in all aspects, and Spurs’ boss set the tone with his energy and rallying cries from the touchline.

At 3-0, only Jonathan Van-Tam could of predicted a Burnley comeback after the break. Still, Tottenham needed to show the level of potency achieved during the first period could last the full 90.

As graceful as ever, Tanguy Ndombele was seemingly untouchable in the Tottenham midfield. The Frenchman demands your full attention, the faintest of glances away and you could miss a moment of audacious brilliance.

Their record signing played his part in the Tottenham third. Locating his body towards his own goal, Ndombele performed what is quickly becoming a trademark flick around the corner with the outside of his right boot to Reguilon.

The Spaniard released Son, who identified Bale in a sizeable amount of space on the right. From here, the script almost writes itself. He needed one touch inside before wrapping the ball around Taylor and into the far corner to double his tally.

When receiving the pass, the finish felt inevitable. The Welshman is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the modern game and approaches finishing opportunities with a sense of comfortability about the outcome.

“It’s not just about the two goals he scored, it’s fundamentally about his physical performance. Now he’s not flat. Now he has ups and downs in the speed he brings to his actions.

“Even in the area in which he plays, sometimes outside, sometimes inside. He played very well and his condition is very good.

“I’m just pleased for the team because he helped the team to win and that’s the most important thing. I’m happy for him.” – Mourinho on Bale’s performance

It’s been a long road to match fitness. An outcast for Real Madrid for so long, Bale is beginning to remember his role as the headline act. He must be managed carefully but there’s no doubting the qualities he provides this Tottenham team.

Starring alongside Bale in the midweek win over Wolfsberger was Dele Alli. The Englishman replaced Lucas Moura on 66 minutes as Spurs fans finally observed Son, Alli, Bale and Kane all grace the pitch at the same time, before Mourinho ruined the fun minutes later when Bale departed.

The winger’s substitution was greeted by warm applause from the few spectators inside the stadium, a rousing ovation observed at TV screens around the world from supporters yearning for a return to N17.

Toby Alderweireld led the defence well in the closing stages to ensure no consolation arrived for the visitors, although Dyche’s bellow of ‘we not allowed physical contact Kevin?’ to referee Kevin Friend outlined his views clearly.

Any jeers towards the referee may have been a distraction from the reality of Burnley’s performance. The Clarets were outclassed by a clinical Tottenham display. The individual quality possessed by Mourinho’s Spurs made the attacking patterns an exciting watch, a trend they hope will continue on Thursday against Fulham.

Despite their struggles, a win against the Cottagers could see Spurs go three points off a top four place, with a fixture against Crystal Palace arriving on Sunday.

In the strangest of all seasons, a flicker of momentum could turn Tottenham’s season around. Bale’s sharpness must continue to be managed, but a return to form in an exciting proposition after a gloomy few weeks for Spurs fans.

 

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