Tottenham 1 – 0 Burnley

Harry Kane’s penalty in first-half stoppage time edged Tottenham past Burnley with a 1-0 victory – to move two points clear of rivals Arsenal in fourth spot.

Spurs were frustrated in front of goal for most of the match, with Antonio Conte’s side missing a host of chances as Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope was busy throughout.

But their breakthrough came very late in the first half as VAR assisted Kevin Friend in declaring Ashley Barnes had handled while trying to clear a corner, leaving Kane to blast past Pope in the eighth minute of added time.

The result means Arsenal must win away at Newcastle in their Monday Night Football clash, live on Sky Sports, to move ahead of Conte’s Spurs – or relinquish the initiative in the race for the Champions League ahead of next Sunday’s final day.

Conte’s team charged after the fourth-placed spot they wanted with a flurry of early chances to keep Pope busy.

Heung-Min Son got the ball back from a short corner and whipped an effort towards the near post which the Burnley goalkeeper got down well to meet. The England goalkeeper also had to be equal to Kane’s close-range header from inside the box and Ben Davies’ tame effort.

Kane was then once again denied an opener in spectacular fashion, with defender Nathan Collins acrobatically hooking the Spurs striker’s header off the line, with Pope nowhere near the looping effort.

Burnley were camped in their half for most of the opening period but suddenly created the best chance of the half out of nowhere. Collins carried the ball into the Tottenham half and released Maxwel Cornet through on goal.

The Ivory Coast international opened up his body but Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced a big save to deny a goal very much against the run of play.

Tottenham were stunned by Burnley’s emergence from nowhere and became desperate in their play as the half ended. Kane and Rodrigo Bentancur flashed difficult chances wide of the goal – but then came their moment.

After Kane flashed a glorious chance wide from inside the box, VAR informed referee Friend that Barnes had handled in the box while competing with Bentancur. The on-pitch official quickly gave the spot-kick after referring to the pitchside monitor, leaving Kane to blast past Pope from 12 yards.

Burnley caretaker coach Mike Jackson was suddenly forced to change his half-time team talk and his side came out all guns blazing after half-time.

Both Collins and Kevin Long headed wide from Dwight McNeil free-kicks in the opening minutes of the half, but their best opportunity came after the hour mark. McNeil fed Barnes around 20 yards out and the Clarets striker fired a fierce effort onto the outside of Lloris’ post.

As the game became stretched, Tottenham had more chances. Kane fired over from the edge of the box, while Pope was required to keep both Bentacur and Son out in quick succession – the latter of those chances being a strong right glove to deny the South Korea forward from close range.

Despite Burnley bringing on Wout Weghorst and Aaron Lennon to boost their attack, Spurs continued to push for a second, with Pope needing to be equal to Son’s effort after he fired a fierce drive towards his midriff.

Conte was able to gee up the crowd in the final few minutes to create a fervent atmosphere, as Spurs got over the line to secure a vital victory in their top-four chase.

What’s next?

Burnley travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Thursday at 8pm. On the final day of the Premier League season, Tottenham visit relegated Norwich, while Burnley host Newcastle on Sunday at 4pm.