Source: Telegraph
Tottenham Hotspur 5 Burnley 0: match report
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp kept faith with Robbie Keane, at White Hart Lane today, and the Irishman responded with four goals to lead Tottenham back to winning ways.
Peter Crouch, who scored a Carling Cup hat-trick in midweek, was dropped to make way for Keane and, after squandering an early chance, he responded with the goals that erased the recent memory of defeats by Manchester United and Chelsea.
Keane converted an early penalty and, after Jermaine Jenas added a second goal, the former Liverpool striker became the third Spurs player to claim a hat-trick this season, following in the footsteps of Jermain Defoe and Crouch.
The game was just 11 minutes old when Keane allowed Brian Jensen, the Burnley goalkeeper to save when he should have scored.
Burnley, searching for their first away win in the top flight since 1976, responded when, three minutes later, David Nugent had an attempt blocked by Spurs goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.
But with only 18 minutes played Spurs took the lead and, having a blatant penalty turned down last Sunday at Chelsea, they were awarded a spot kick. At Stamford Bridge, Keane was brought down by Ricardo Carvalho but he was denied a kick.
This time, Defoe had his legs taken by Burnley defender Andre Bikey and Keane converted the penalty, Spurs’ first of the season, finding the bottom right hand corner.
Burnley were denied an equaliser in the 26th minute when Steve Fletcher beat Cudicini at his near post only to be ruled out by off-side, with replays suggesting the decision was harsh.
The pressure continued and Spurs added a second goal in the 33rd minute when Nico Kranjcar, making his Tottenham debut, had a shot blocked but Jenas met the rebound and scored when his shot took a deflection off Stephen Jordan’s ankle.
Burnley remained buoyant, despite the score, and were denied a goal five minutes into the second half when Robbie Blake latched onto Tyrone Mears’s cross but was denied by Cudicini.
But Spurs remained dangerous and when Keane fed Defoe, after 54 minutes, Jensen made another good save. But the striker injured his hand in falling and was replaced by Crouch.
Burnley continued to press and when Cudicini dropped Tyrone Mears’ free kick, Robbie Blake stole in only to be denied by the left post.
However, in the 74th minute, Lennon set up Keane for a delightful finish and, three minutes later, the Irishman scored his third and Spurs’ fourth. The fifth came with three minutes remaining, when Keane put the ball through Jensen’s legs.
