Ste McGovern
Spurs probably won’t win the Premier League after losing to Burnley, but they maintained their record-breaking run without drawing, and that’s the most important thing.
Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge ran into the ground at Turf Moor this afternoon, losing 2-1 away to Burnley thanks to goals from Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.
The first goal was a contentious one, as it appeared the ball may have gone over the end line off the leg of Jeff Hendrick and not Jan Vertonghen, resulting in the corner that led to the opening score.
Mauricio Pochettino, evidently recognising the bigger picture of the title race in the wake of defeat, angrily remonstrated with referee Mike Dean in a way we have rarely, if ever seen, from the Argentine.
Mauricio Pochettino was NOT happy with Mike Dean at full time! ? pic.twitter.com/w0r0FTRUiI
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) February 23, 2019
It seems like whenever Spurs are talked up as title contenders, or they themselves start believing they are in contention, they go and do something like this.
First there was Wolves, who stopped the London outfit’s five game winning streak with a 3-1 win in January, before today’s shock loss put an end to a four game winning run. The result keeps Spurs five points behind Liverpool and Man City.
Tottenham’s second failed title challenge of the season.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) February 23, 2019
The most notable thing to come out of all this though? Is the fact that Spurs are yet to draw in the entire league season.
Even today when it looked as if they would at least do that much, shoddy defending allowed the Clarets to avert the threat of a deadlock.
Spurs tend to come out on top of these close games against weaker opposition, winning ten league games by a one goal margin thus far. They also had a 100% record against the sides currently in the bottom half of the table, winning all 14 encounters until Saturday afternoon.
This wasn’t even the closest Spurs have come to drawing this season; that was the visit to Craven Cottage in January, when Harry Winks scored in the depths of injury-time to secure a 2-1 win over Fulham despite performing poorly for the entire game.
Saturday’s result has lead many to dub Spurs the Undrawables™, cheekily comparing them to their north London rivals Arsenal, who were christened the Invincibles after their team went the full 2003-04 league season unbeaten.
Gotta look at the bigger picture: step closer to Undrawables 2018/19 ??
— Simply (@Simply_Spurs) February 23, 2019
The relief when I saw Barnes had scored #Undrawables
— JK ?? (@jonokingwill) February 23, 2019
It is so insanely Spurs that other teams go for 'the Unbeatables' and we are The Undrawables.
— Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) February 23, 2019
Anyone else feel that a draw in that game would have pissed them off more?
The Undrawables 2018/2019 is happening and there’s nothing you can do about it ?
— Ashley Watts (@AshWatts93) February 23, 2019
The undrawables march on.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) February 23, 2019
And it’s not just the men’s team that’s refusing to tie a game — the women are at it too.
In case you were unaware, it's not just the boys who haven't drawn this season. Spurs Ladies are also #Undrawables this season. A truly historic season could be upon us. pic.twitter.com/SZFypVGPKA
— hot spur time machine (@ComradeYouSpurs) February 20, 2019
Tottenham men and women are THE UNDRAWABLES https://t.co/8PVRkVWr2u
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) February 20, 2019
Must be a Spurs thing, I guess.
With the hopes of securing a trophy seemingly as far away as ever, Spurs fans are happy to continue the team’s record-breaking run of 31 consecutive games without a draw until the end of the campaign. It’s the kind of self-deprecation that comes with the heartache and many bottle jobs the club have experienced over the years.
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