A TRIP to Burnley is the last thing Jose Mourinho needs as he bids to halt Tottenham's alarming slump.
The honeymoon is well and truly over for the self-styled Special One in North London after the midweek FA Cup exit to Norwich made it four defeats on the spin.
Spurs have collapsed since the loss of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son to injury and a dark cloud hangs over the club, with midfielder Eric Dier climbing into the stands to confront a fan after the midweek shoot-out defeat by the Canaries.
Mourinho (below) was brought to the club because he's a proven winner but Tottenham will now end another season without a trophy and their hopes of a Champions League place are fading fast.
Spurs are beginning to slide down the Premier League table and Burnley can jump above them if they claim another victory to continue their fine run of form.
Sean Dyche's men have lost just once in their last seven games, to Norwich in the FA Cup, and have claimed the scalps of Leicester and Manchester United during that run.
Arsenal also couldn't beat them at Turf Moor last month, drawing 0-0, so the Clarets will be confident of taking down a Tottenham side shorn of confidence.
How the bookies view it
Despite Tottenham's dismal form, the bookies can't call this one, with Spurs 7/4 at Unibet and Burnley a best 9/5 with Sportingbet.
I'd take the Clarets at that price but wouldn't rule out a stalemate, which is 47/20 with Unibet.
Recent head to head
Spurs crushed Burnley 5-0 at home back in December but three of the players who scored are now on the treatment table. Kane netted twice that day while Son and Moussa Sissoko were also on target but the only goalscorer who will be fit to face Burnley in the return is Lucas Moura.
And the Clarets will take further heart from the fact they beat Spurs 2-1 at Turf Moor in the league last season thanks to goals from Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes (below).
But that's their only win in the last 11 games against Tottenham and you have to go back a decade for another triumph, a 4-2 triumph when Burnley were already doomed to relegation.
Players to watch
Burnley winger Dwight McNeill always impresses me and could get plenty of joy up against ropey Spurs right-back Serge Aurier.
McNeill is a great long-odds option at 7/1 with Paddy Power in the anytime scorer market but is more likely to provide an assist. The bookies haven't priced that up yet but I'll keep my eyes peeled.
The goals have dried up for Spurs but new boy Steven Bergwijn still looks a threat and may be their best bet for a goal here at 7/2 with Paddy Power.
Anything else catch the eye?
Burnley have conceded just one goal in their last four games while Spurs looked devoid of ideas against Norwich in midweek so the 3/1 Boylesports price on a Clarets clean sheet looks overpriced.
But Mourinho's side have drawn a blank in just one of their last 10 games, against Leipzig in the Champions League on a night where I cashed in on under 2.5 goals.
Under 2.5 goals is sadly a best 4/5 at Marathonbet for this one while over 2.5 strikes is 28/25 with the same firm if you fancy a bit more goalmouth action.
I can see this being pretty tight so a one-goal winning margin for either side appeals at 5/4 with Betway.
Skybet are offering 9/1 on Phil Bardsley being the first players booked and that could be worth a punt as the full-back has been yellow carded in his last two games. He's 5/2 with Bet365 just to be carded and that might be a safer option.
This English Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur will be played on Mar 7, 2020 and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
