Cristian Romero came to Tottenham Hotspur’s rescue as his 90th-minute header salvaged a 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Lyle Foster’s scruffy 76th-minute goal seemed set to snap Burnley’s winless streak in the Premier League, but Romero headed in a last-gasp equaliser to prevent under-pressure Spurs head coach Thomas Frank suffering a third consecutive league defeat.
Spurs went ahead in the 38th minute through Romero’s defensive partner Micky van de Ven, though Axel Tuanzebe equalised for Burnley on the stroke of half-time.
Foster’s somewhat fortuitous finish put the hosts ahead, though Spurs responded in force, with Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons going close before former Burnley attacker Wilson Odobert crossed in for Romero to head home.
Spurs, who are 14th, remain winless in five league games, but at least avoided back-to-back defeats against teams in the bottom three, while Burnley stay 19th.
How the match unfolded
In an open start at Turf Moor, Spurs' left wing-back Djed Spence flashed a teasing ball across the face of goal before his Burnley counterpart, Lucas Pires, had a goal ruled out at the other end after straying several yards offside. Another defender, Pedro Porro, twice went close to giving Spurs the lead.
Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka produced a superb double save to deny Odobert and Conor Gallagher. Still, Spurs were rewarded for their persistence when Burnley failed to clear Simons’ corner, and the ball dropped for Van de Ven to bury it powerfully.
However, Tuanzebe drew Burnley level seven minutes later, ghosting unmarked into the box to calmly steer Kyle Walker’s pinpoint cross into the bottom corner.
Van de Ven thwarted Armando Broja with a brilliant last-ditch block, but Burnley flipped the game on its head when Foster prodded past Guglielmo Vicario at the second time of asking, with Destiny Udogie unable to keep it out on the line.
That sparked a Spurs onslaught, with Dubravka making an outstanding stop to deny Tel before Simons rattled the crossbar. But the pressure finally told when Romero powered a fantastic header beyond Burnley’s goalkeeper.
Frank’s Spurs show fight
Spurs ended their winless start to 2026 with a 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund in midweek, offering some much-needed relief for Frank, although he knows their Premier League form remains under scrutiny.
A disappointing 2-1 home defeat to 18th-placed West Ham United in Spurs' last league outing marked a new low, but their self-assured European display, shaped by Frank’s switch to a three-man defence, at least offered positive signs.
Frank stuck with the back three against Burnley, and it appeared to pay early dividends as Spence caused plenty of problems down the flank, enjoying greater attacking freedom.
His fellow wing-back Porro also enjoyed an impactful opening half as he went close to putting Spurs ahead with a pair of well-taken free-kicks, the first of which struck the side netting, while the second drew a sprawling save from Dubravka.
Spurs showed plenty of attacking intent, with Odobert and Gallagher testing Dubravka, who also denied Dominic Solanke early in the second half.
A familiar pattern threatened to repeat itself as Foster put the Clarets ahead, but Spurs at least showed spirit to snatch a late point and, in doing so, may just have bought Frank some more time.
But with a Champions League meeting against Eintracht Frankfurt looming before a clash with Manchester City, the pressure is still on.
Dubravka shines but Clarets can’t get the win
Despite being rooted in the bottom three, Burnley would have spent the last week in high spirits following their spirited display in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out.
Scott Parker’s side showed plenty of heart in their display at Anfield as they did well to absorb pressure and strike when it mattered most – qualities they brought forward once more on Saturday following Van de Ven’s opener.
Despite falling behind, Burnley’s determination did not waver, and they managed to pull a goal back with effectively the final kick before half-time, thanks to an excellent delivery into the box from former Spurs and Man City full-back Walker.
Burnley were more adventurous after the break as Broja kept Spurs’ defence on their toes, floating in behind after excellent combinations with Jaidon Anthony to test Van de Ven and Vicario.
The Clarets' standout performer came at the other end, though, with Dubravka consistently frustrating Spurs. His save to somehow tip Tel’s effort wide as the visitors searched for a leveller was extraordinary.
But for all the encouragement, it is now 14 league games without a win for Burnley, who are seven points adrift of safety and will next visit Sunderland, one of the Premier League's strongest home sides.
Club reports
What the managers said
Scott Parker: "I think we did [enough to win the game]. You score the second and take the lead, you understand that at that moment, they're going to commit a lot more men forward and the centre-half they commit ends up scoring the goal.
"A little bit disappointing, no doubt, because you're that close and in the last dying seconds you concede. But overall, really pleased with my team.
"I thought we showed an incredible spirit today and showed our quality at times. After going a goal down, our response was superb. Just disappointed we didn't hold on."
Thomas Frank: "This is a game where we created a lot, do more than enough to win the game. We just didn't defend well enough in two situations.
"We created a lot of chances today, which has sometimes been the problem. Today we did that. Normally we have been quite strong defensively but we can never concede those two goals."
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
Burnley remain winless in their last 14 Premier League games (D5 L9), their longest such run in the top division since between August and October 1970 (also 14).
Dubravka has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League this season (94), while only once has he made more saves in a Premier League match than his nine today (10 against Liverpool in January 2024).
All four of Romero’s Premier League goals in 2025/26 have made the scores level, with no player netting more equalisers than the Spurs captain this season.
Only Richarlison (eight) has scored more goals for Spurs than Van de Ven (seven) in all competitions this season. The Dutch centre-back also has the highest goal tally of any Premier League defender across all competitions.