Heckingbottom rues errors in Boro horror show published at 21:47 GMT 24 January
21:47 GMT 24 January
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Image caption,
The 4-0 loss to Middlesbrough was Paul Heckingbottom's heaviest as Preston manager
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says he cannot accept how his side were rolled over in their heavy defeat at Middlesbrough.
North End lost a third successive Championship game to fall out of the play-off spots, all without scoring as they succumbed at the Riverside.
They were three down by half-time and then had defender Jordan Storey sent off to make matters worse on a miserable afternoon for all concerned.
"The goals were all mistakes, all errors, so you're never going to win games if you give goals away like that," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We've gifted the game to Boro but they're a good side - it would have been hard enough anyway not doing that.
"But I can't accept that we come to a place like this and just because they're a good side, we roll over.
"We've shown in spells this season that we can play to those levels. Our challenge is putting a group together that can do it for 46 games."
Analysis: Missed chance for Parker's strugglerspublished at 18:56 GMT 24 January
18:56 GMT 24 January
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
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Burnley manager Scott Parker looked downcast as he made his way off at the final whistle, the opportunity of a rare victory snatched away in the closing moments.
In a match of dubious quality, The Clarets' passive approach and lack of conviction allowed Spurs to dominate - without ever looking fluent - until they were thrown a lifeline with Axel Tuanzebe's equaliser at the end of the first half.
Burnley showed more intent after the break but still struggled to carve out chances until Parker made changes that injected life into his team.
Foster looked to have given them their first league win in 14 games, but Burnley could not hold out for a victory that would have been even more valuable after West Ham United's win against Sunderland, their second in succession in the league, earlier on Saturday.
Burnley's point was mainly thanks to the superb goalkeeping of Martin Dubravka, who saved the best of a string of outstanding saves until the last when he somehow clawed out Tel's late header.
It left Burnley contemplating three points until Cristian Romero's last-gasp intervention left them feeling a big opportunity had passed them by.
Burnley 2-2 Tottenham: What Parker saidpublished at 18:48 GMT 24 January
18:48 GMT 24 January
Media caption,
Burnley boss Scott Parker, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw with Tottenham: "I think we did [enough to win the game].
"You score the second and take the lead, you understand that at that moment, they're going to commit a lot more men forward and the centre-half they commit ends up scoring the goal.
"A little bit disappointing, no doubt, because you're that close and in the last dying seconds you concede. But overall, really pleased with my team.
"I thought we showed an incredible spirit today and showed our quality at time. After going a goal down, our response from superb. Just disappointed we didn't hold on."
On reaction to going behind: "That's the key. In our position, we're in and around it. Human natural is that in these moments you can become very nervy, very edgy but I've not seen that from my group this season.
"Our reaction was superb. We need to continue where we're going. If you look at the start of this season, we've improved massively.
"We've played Manchester United and Liverpool, and improved in our second performance. Now we've played Tottenham, who we played opening day, and at times looked a little bit startled and we've put in another good performance here.
"I know we need some wins, I'm not hiding from that fact, and we were close to day, but there has been some real improvement."
On Lyle Foster sub: "We needed to freshen things up, the boys gave everything. Lyle comes in and scores a goal, which was brilliant. This is a tight group, a together group and we need everyone to give us a chance.
"We've spoken about the fine margins throughout this year and again there has been massively improvement for sure. Some real positives today and we'll take them and carry them forward with us."
On turning draws into wins: "No denying that, we're at that point now. Can we turn these draws into wins? That's what we'll endeavour to do."
Did you know?
Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League this season (94). Only once has he made more saves in a Premier League match than his nine on Saturday (10 vs Liverpool in January 2024).
Yves Bissouma starts for Tottenham, while Dominic Solanke retains his play in the first XI after scoring on his first start of the season against Borussia Dortmund in midweek.
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Danso, Xavi, Bissouma, Romero (c), Solanke, Gallagher, Porro, Spence, Odobert, van de Ven.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Manchester City v Wolves" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Liverpool", for instance.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank really needed Tuesday's win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League but he is still under pressure, and this is not an easy game for Spurs either.
When Liverpool went 1-0 up against Burnley last week and were creating loads of chances, I thought I was on for an exact score - I'd gone for a 2-0 Reds win.
I couldn't believe it when Burnley equalised but that result sums them up, because they are still scrapping for survival at the bottom of the table, and fighting hard in every game.
It is unlikely they are going to stay up from here, but it is not impossible. They probably need another five or six wins from their last 16 games - and they have had only three so far from their first 22.
Their home games are going to be crucial to get them to safety, so this almost feels must-win for Scott Parker's side, even at this stage.
The Clarets have been competitive against everyone so far, including at Anfield last week, but I still don't see them getting the result they need.
This is going be a very tight game and it smells of a 1-1 to me, but we have already had 17 goalless draws in the Premier League this season, so I am going on trend and picking another one here.
That should guarantee we see a few goals now. I have got Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario in my fantasy team, so I am asking for trouble really.
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 18:59 GMT 23 January
18:59 GMT 23 January
Burnley look to end their 13-match league run without a victory against out-of-form Tottenham at Turf Moor.
Sitting a lofty fifth in the Champions League table, above the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and last year's finalists Inter Milan and Paris St-Germain, is in stark contrast to Tottenham's lowly position of 14th in the Premier League.
The encouraging victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday means Spurs have lost just one of their seven games in Europe this season.
How under-pressure boss Thomas Frank must wish he could transfer some of this continental form into the bread and butter of the Premier League, given his side have picked up a measly 10 top-flight points from a possible 39 dating back to October.
Four wins from their four Champions League home games is twice as many as they've accrued from their 11 league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.
Their away form continues to prop up their campaign with a top-flight high of 67% of their points coming on the road (18 of 27), while only leaders Arsenal have won more away points (21) than Spurs.
While most teams would relish a fixture versus a side in the bottom three, Tottenham have actually lost four of their last eight against clubs in the relegation zone, including last Saturday's demoralising defeat at home to West Ham.
They let in a 90th-minute winner for the second consecutive fixture, having also done so in their previous match against Bournemouth. It will come as no surprise to Tottenham fans that they own the overall Premier League record for conceding the most such goals. It is the first time, though, that they have done so in successive games.
Burnley look to become latest club to end their winless run against Spurs
Against Spurs, Bournemouth ended their 11-game winless league run while West Ham's 10-match streak without a victory also came to a halt. Burnley go into Saturday's match having not won in 13 top-flight matches. The well-used phrase "Dr Tottenham will see you now" has never felt more apt.
The Clarets last tasted victory in the league on 26 October. It is their longest top-flight run without a victory since August to October 1970 and in any league since an 18-match streak between December 2006 and March 2007 in the Championship.
However, after losing seven in a row, they have battled back to draw four of their last six, including an impressive point at Liverpool last Saturday.
Marcus Edwards scored his first Premier League goal in that game as he continues a resurgence of his own. The one-time Tottenham prodigy is finding some much-needed form after a slow start to life in the top flight.
Another Spurs alumni, Burnley boss Scott Parker, will be desperate for his team to start turning one point into three against his former side, although recent history is against the Clarets.
They have lost six of their last seven league matches against the north Londoners, including the last four, while Tottenham's average of 2.2 goals-per-game in the Premier League against the Clarets (41 goals in 19 games) is their second highest against a side they have faced 10 or more times.
EFL's 'Scan to Smile' highlights community workpublished at 17:57 GMT 23 January
17:57 GMT 23 January
Image source, EFL
A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).
'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.
Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.
The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.
The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".
Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.
"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."
Putting a foot in!published at 13:21 GMT 23 January
13:21 GMT 23 January
Is there a more wholesome sight than one of your players flying into a tackle?
For all the creativity, smart finishing and wonder goals the Premier League can offer, few such joys would be possible were it not for those feisty fellows charging around to win the ball back for the cause.
This season, those in the graphic above top the charts for putting their foot in.
Tottenham's Joao Palhinha was seemingly born in a pair of shinpads and primed to launch in on someone, while Everton's James Garner continues to impress this season in various areas of his game - underlining why talk of an England call-up continues.
Keep an eye out for these men this weekend. Their opponents will almost certainly end up seeing more of them than they'd bargained for.
Burnley keen on Southampton's Harwood-Bellispublished at 11:40 GMT 23 January
11:40 GMT 23 January
Southampton are facing a battle to hold on to defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis with Burnley interested in re-signing the 23-year-old who spent a season-long loan with the Clarets from Manchester City for the 2022-23 campaign. (Four-Four-Two), external
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