Burnley manager Sean Dyche is left fuming that Tottenham midfielder Mousa Sissoko should have been sent off just minutes prior to assisting a goal for Danny Rose. The goal from the left-back proved to be the winner in the 2-1 result for the home team. The result put more pressure on manager Dyche, as it was Burnley’s fourth defeat in the last five matches. The result left them just three points above the drop zone making their situation even more precarious.
The game, however, began in a rosy fashion for the visiting team after they took the lead in the 21st minute through Ashley Barnes. It was a goal that set the cat among the pigeons, but Spurs were back in level terms not too long after this effort. Dele Alli scored his first goal in almost 2 months after converting a cross from Kyle Walker. Burnley, though, managed to defiantly deny Spurs on a number of occasions. Just when it seemed that they would be able to hold on for a famous point, the talking point in the game came just after the hour mark.
Sissoko, who has been able to hit the form of late, came in with an extremely tough challenge on Burnley’s Stephen Ward. His studs-up, knee-high challenge on the Burnley player immediately resulted in a yellow card. From the resulting freekick, Spurs managed to win possession from the away team and hit them on the counter-attack. Sissoko managed to find Rose with accuracy and this was his second assist in the last four matches.
Dyche felt that such a horrible challenge should have resulted in a straight red card and not just a yellow. As quoted by the Daily Mail, he said:
“How they didn’t get a man sent off is impossible. From the free-kick they counter and he sets up a goal.
“You can’t go in blind, with your hands over your face and do a high foot like that and stay on the pitch. I didn’t see in the moment it happened how he could stay on the pitch and I have looked at it afterwards and I still can’t see.”
Two-footed lunges now result in a straight red card, but it is not the case with studs-up challenges. There are occasions when referees deem it as a yellow card challenge, while there have even been occasions when players have been sent off. A great example would be Stoke City’s recent with Southampton when forward Arnautović was sent off for a similar challenge.
The Burnley manager has been of the same opinion, but he would also be aware that nothing can be done to change the result.
While the result leaves Burnley in a poor situation, it brings a lot of joy to Spurs knowing that they are just one point behind Arsenal in the table. They have also been able to maintain their three-point advantage over Manchester United, who had a 2-0 win over West Brom in the midweek action.
Spurs are now away from home for the next two matches on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, as they visit Southampton and Watford respectively.
