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Burnley vs Tottenham postponed LIVE! Premier League match called off after heavy snow at Turf Moor

Burnley vs Tottenham postponed LIVE! Premier League match called off after heavy snow at Turf Moor

Burnley vs Tottenham - LIVE!

Today’s Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions at Turf Moor.

The snow fell heavily overnight and on Sunday morning in Lancashire, with the undersoil heating at the ground subsequently unable to cope with the conditions.

Burnley’s ground staff tried in vain to clear the pitch and get the game on, but unfortunately there was no let-up from the elements.

The decision to call off the game was made around 45 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time of 2pm GMT, with Tottenham’s squad having already arrived, following a pitch inspection led by referee Peter Bankes and in conjunction with managers Sean Dyche and Antonio Conte.

The fixture will now have to be rescheduled, with the Premier League set to provide more information on possible new dates in due course.

Follow the latest updates from Sunday’s Premier League postponement at Turf Moor with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!

Read More

In Pictures: Snow blankets parts of UK as temperatures drop

Conte reacts to postponement and backs Spurs to ‘exploit’ situation

Burnley vs Tottenham postponed after heavy snow blankets Turf Moor

Burnley vs Tottenham latest news

  • Match postponed after heavy snow at Turf Moor

Referee Bankes explains postponement

14:24 , George Flood

Referee Peter Bankes has addressed the decision to postpone today’s game during a chat with Sky Sports.

“We asked the club officials to sweep the snow, within about ten minutes of clearing the snow is back on the field,” he said.

“We’ve done the ball roll, we’ve done everything we can. There was a lot of snow gathering on the football and the best thing to do is call the game off, and we did that one hour before, having spoken to both managers.

“The safety is a primary focus for us. There’s also the element of farce. There was going to be an opportunity to stop the game every 15 minutes, which wouldn’t have been good for the spectacle.

“We had the issue of supporters coming into the stadium an hour and a half before [kick-off].

“That’s unfortunate. Obviously the snow’s come down very heavy, very quickly. But again, both managers were in agreement that the spectacle wouldn’t be good for supporters and the players would have difficulty in this weather. The best decision is to call the game off.”

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Conte: It’s disappointing but the decision was right

14:03 , George Flood

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has now spoken and, while obviously disappointed, believes the postponement was the right decision for the safety of both players and fans.

He is now looking for Spurs to take full advantage of the extra time on the training pitch ahead of Thursday’s visit of Brentford and the clash with Norwich on Sunday.

“A big disappointment because we were ready to play and we prepared for the game, and all the travel,” he said.

“But at the same time I think the Premier League made the right decision to save the situation for the players and the fans.

“For everybody. It’s disappointing, but the decision was right.

“Ten minutes before the snow is worse than it was before and in this condition, it’s not football. I want to play football, I want to play. In this type of situation it’s impossible. There’s serious risk of injury and this is not good.

“For sure, we have to exploit the situation, to have a training session tomorrow to prepare for two important games against Brentford and Norwich. We’ll have more time to prepare and need to exploit in the right way.”

 (Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
(Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Dyche: Postponement was a joint decision

13:40 , George Flood

Burnley say the postponement was due to “concerns around the pitch surface and surroundings areas.”

It seems that the heavy snowfall overnight and so far today left the undersoil heating system at Turf Moor simply unable to cope.

“I can’t see how it could go ahead the way the pitch is at the moment,” Burnley manager Sean Dyche said.

“It fell that quick and heavy. It’s still quite strong now. [The pitch] can’t get rid of the snow that quick.”

He added: “As you can see the pitch re-covers every time they clear it. The referee explained the safety angle as well so it was important to make a decision early.

“It’s the lines being cleared as well - we would have to stop and clear them. It’s a joint decision with everyone concerned.

“We were ready for the game and I made it clear if it could be played we wanted it on - as did their manager.”

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Tottenham confirm postponement

13:15 , George Flood

GAME OFF

13:11 , George Flood

BREAKING: Today’s game has now been called off due to the heavy snow in Lancashire.

More to follow

Burnley team

13:02 , George Flood

Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Cork, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Collins, Brownhill, McNeil, Wood, Cornet

Subs: Hennessey, Roberts, Stephens, Lennon, Rodriguez, Pieters, Bardsley, Vydra, Long

Tottenham team

13:01 , George Flood

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Emerson, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Reguilon, Lucas Moura, Son, Kane

Subs: Doherty, Winks, Gil Salvatierra, Sessegnon, Alli, Gollini, Bergwijn, Tanganga, Ndombele

12:53 , George Flood

I haven’t heard any suggestions yet that this game could be in genuine danger this afternoon, but the snow does look to be still falling heavily at Turf Moor and there are still numerous groundsmen working hard to clear the pitch.

We will bring you any further developments as they happen.

Official team news is also on the way in just a few minutes’ time. Stay tuned!

Dyche: Burnley are on a nice little run

12:47 , George Flood

Dyche has been out talking to match referee Peter Bankes in a shirt and tie with no jacket - a braver man than me!

Here’s more from the long-serving Burnley boss, whose team have only beaten Brentford in the Premier League so far this season, while drawing six other matches.

“We’re going to have to be well aware of the strengths they’ve got,” he said.

“But equally, we’re on a nice little run. Our performances - I’ve said most of the season actually, but certainly recently - we look a threat, we can score goals at the moment.

“We still focus on ourselves and obviously we are aware of a change of manager, change of culture at Tottenham, so that may take time.”

“Often it’s been down to taking chances, not about managing the game, more about chances created that we haven’t taken,” Dyche said.

“We’re looking more of a threat over the last couple of weeks, probably four or five games, that’s for sure.

“Early season, we were actually playing pretty well, I felt, but the balance has to be right at both ends and we’ve tightened that up a little bit.”

Dyche hoping to cash in on Tottenham uncertainty

12:35 , George Flood

Meanwhile, Burnley counterpart Sean Dyche is hopeful to take advantage of any initial teething problems for Conte in the Spurs hotseat.

“It will be helpful if it does take time because we play them very quickly,” he said.

“There’s no two ways about the manager knowing his stuff and to be honest, the players know their stuff.

“It’s just sometimes you need the connection between what you’re trying to achieve tactically, a change of culture, change of manager, and getting the best out of the players.

“The manager needs to get the best out of them, that’s his job, and his record suggests he will over time.

“I really hope he doesn’t this weekend, that would be helpful, but they don’t lack talent that’s for sure.”

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Conte provides scathing Spurs assessment

12:25 , George Flood

Conte was brutally honest after that embarrassment in Slovenia, admitting that he was beginning to understand the situation at Tottenham after three weeks and that the level at Spurs is “not that high”.

While he said he was “happy to stay”, he insisted there was a lot of work to do to improve the squad and try to close the gap in the Premier League.

“I’m making my evaluations and then I’ll speak with the club but I’m ready to continue to work in this way,” Conte said.

“But it’s important that we have to know that the situation is not simple, simple, no. It’s not enough to do this [clicks fingers] and change the situation.

“We need time, we need passion, we need work and I’m here for this. It doesn’t mean that we have to change a lot. I’m ready to do what the club want to do. But now, the situation is very clear.”

He added: “For sure, we need players with the right mentality and with the quality, players that deserve to play for Tottenham and aspire to be competitive, to fight for this shirt, to win something. For sure, we need this.

 (Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
(Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

“Honestly, I’m working with the team for three or four weeks and I want to tell you that I have found a great commitment, a great ability and there is the will, the desire to improve but now more time has passed and I’m making my evaluations directly, not through the TV or through other persons, but directly, and for sure, we need to improve a lot to reduce the gap with the top teams.

“I want to be honest. I repeat, I’m not scared to face this situation, but it is important that everybody understands.”

12:15 , George Flood

Groundsmen work to clear the snow at Turf Moor...

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

11:59 , George Flood

The snow is falling heavily at Turf Moor, where it looks absolutely freezing.

Something to keep an eye on as the pitch starts to get blanketed.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Burnley vs Tottenham prediction

11:56 , George Flood

While Turf Moor does have a reputation for being a difficult place to go, top-six (or at least so-called ones) teams have largely enjoyed strong success there in recent years.

Tottenham to win 1-0.

Burnley team news

11:52 , George Flood

As for Burnley, striker Ashley Barnes faces weeks on the sidelines with a tear to his thigh.

Ashley Westwood and James Tarkowski are both suspended today, while strikers Matej Vydra and Jay Rodriguez are expected to undergo late fitness tests.

Dale Stephens will likely need a little more time before making his return to action.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Tottenham team news

11:49 , George Flood

Conte made nine changes for Thursday’s trip to Slovenia and seems likely to reverse them all after such a horror show.

The Italian revealed this week that defender Cristian Romero’s hamstring injury suffered on international duty with Argentina is “serious”, while compatriot Giovani Lo Celso remains a big doubt.

Oliver Skipp is back from suspension, though young Dane Scarlett (ankle) is still sidelined.

Predicted Tottenham XI: Lloris; Tanganga, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Reguilon; Lucas, Kane, Son.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

How to watch Burnley vs Tottenham

11:43 , George Flood

Today’s game will not be broadcast live on television in the UK.

However, you can watch highlights on Match of the Day 2 tonight at 10:30pm on BBC One.

Welcome to Burnley vs Tottenham LIVE coverage!

11:01 , George Flood

Hello and a very warm welcome to Standard Sport’s latest LIVE coverage of the Premier League!

There is a bumper Sunday schedule today headlined by Chelsea vs Manchester United at Stamford Bridge later on, but our focus here is on events at Turf Moor as Tottenham travel to face Burnley.

Antonio Conte has begun life at Spurs with an encouraging four points from two matches including last weekend’s rousing comeback to see off Leeds, though the early honeymoon period has been soured somewhat after a much-changed team was humiliated by Slovenian minnows NS Mura in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

A more familiar lineup will be heavily favoured to beat an 18th-placed Burnley team that have won only one of their last 15 league matches, though Sean Dyche’s side are on an unbeaten run of four games so could prove a tough nut to crack.

Kick-off this afternoon is at 2pm GMT, so stay tuned for match build-up, latest team news and live updates featuring expert analysis from Standard Sport’s chief football correspondent, Dan Kilpatrick.