Under-pressure Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has strongly defended his team's first-half display in Saturday's dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw against struggling Burnley at Turf Moor, despite facing vocal criticism from the club's travelling supporters at full-time.
Fan Discontent Boils Over After Late Equaliser
The Spurs faithful who made the journey north made their feelings abundantly clear at the final whistle, booing their team off the pitch and directing chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" towards the embattled manager. This hostile reaction came after Tottenham extended their winless league run in 2026 to five consecutive matches, deepening concerns about their recent form.
Frank's Assessment of the Performance
Frank remained defiant in his post-match analysis, insisting his side were "very good" during the opening forty-five minutes. "I think first half we were good. I think actually, we were very good, dominating the game," the Danish coach stated. "We were on top of the game, scoring and creating all the chances. We could have gone 2-0 up and if not out of sight, then we're definitely in a very good way to try to win a football match."
The Tottenham boss highlighted how a crucial defensive lapse just before half-time altered the momentum of the contest. "We give nothing away in the first half except a goal at the end of the first half. You can never, ever, ever concede that goal, because it just changed a little bit of momentum going into half-time," Frank lamented.
Match Action and Key Moments
The match itself followed a rollercoaster narrative. Tottenham took a first-half lead through defender Micky van de Ven, appearing to justify Frank's positive assessment of their early control. However, Burnley responded strongly after the interval, with Axel Tuanzebe levelling before substitute Lyle Foster put the Clarets ahead.
It was left to Tottenham captain Cristian Romero to salvage a point for the Londoners with a spectacular flying header in the final minute of normal time. Spurs had further opportunities, notably through Xavi Simons who struck the goal frame in the second period, while Burnley's standout performer Martin Dubravka made several crucial saves to preserve a point for his side.
Frank pointed to Dubravka's man-of-the-match award as evidence of Tottenham's attacking threat. "He was that for a reason. That means we did a lot of things right," the manager argued. Despite the late equaliser, Frank believed his team deserved maximum points, adding: "We did more than enough to get the equaliser and all through the game, I think we did more than enough to win it."
Burnley's Survival Battle Continues
For Burnley, the draw represents another small step in their arduous battle against relegation. The result means they have now drawn five of their last six Premier League fixtures, yet they have also equalled their longest run without a top-flight victory since October 1970 – a concerning fourteen-match sequence without a win.
The Clarets remain second from bottom in the table, a significant ten points from safety, but manager Scott Parker found reasons for optimism. "It was a big improvement for sure," Parker reflected. "Another game where there were large elements where we've improved drastically, and that's pleasing. The win just eluded us. We thought we had our moments in the first half. Second half, we changed a couple of things and I thought we were brilliant."
The match leaves both clubs with mixed emotions – Tottenham frustrated by their inability to convert dominance into victory amid growing fan unrest, and Burnley encouraged by their resilience yet still desperately seeking the wins required for Premier League survival.
