AN FA Cup run was always likely to be a sideshow for Burnley this season compared to the main business of staying in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche’s squad can now concentrate exclusively on league business for the final four months of the season after their cup journey ended in a cracking tie at White Hart Lane.

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Two early goals from Marvin Sordell and Ross Wallace, making their first starts since November 1 and September 28 respectively, gave Burnley the early advantage, but as the old cliche goes, they had scored too early. Twice.

The hosts had time to fight back and that is exactly what they did as a makeshift Burnley side struggled to cope defensively.

Having insisted that rotation wasn’t a word included in the Turf Moor dictionary, boss Dyche did make five changes for what was the Clarets seventh game in 25 days, including three against Spurs.

Michael Duff returned from a calf injury, partnering Michael Keane at the back. The two shared a birthday on Sunday, albeit 15 years apart, and at times last night they looked like a partnership that hadn’t played together before.

The front two of Danny Ings and Ashley Barnes were also given a break, as was the tireless George Boyd, whose fitness stats continue to amaze every week.

The Clarets were certainly quick out of the blocks.

It took less than three minutes for Burnley to take the lead. Kieran Trippier’s long ball sent Sordell clean through on goal, with Tottenham’s central defence absent without leave. For a man whose last goal was on April 26, Sordell calmly let the ball bounce, and then sent a left foot volley arrowing into the top corner.

Four minutes later the visitors’ advantage was doubled.

Wallace’s free-kick from 30 yards took a huge deflection off Roberto Soldado in the Spurs wall and beat a wrong-footed Michel Vorm who, despite getting a hand on the ball, couldn’t keep it out.

The goals kept coming in a frantic opening and it was the home side who struck next.

Andros Townsend’s cross from the Tottenham left was flicked on by Soldado, who had found space between Keane and Duff, and Paulinho had time six-yards out to control the ball on his chest and finish acrobatically.

The lively Townsend was Tottenham’s best player by some distance. Every time he received the ball he was looking to run at Ben Mee with all things good about the home side in the first half coming through the England winger.

Maurico Pochettino’s side should have drawn level a minute before the break when Soldado submitted his entry for miss of the season. The Spanish striker could only rattle the crossbar from six yards with the goal gaping after Townsend’s square ball had all but taken Tom Heaton out of the equation.

But the home fans did not have long to wait for the leveller. In stoppage time at the end of the first period Etienne Capoue drove home from 20 yards.

And within six minutes of the re-start the comeback was well and truly complete as Spurs scored twice.

First Vlad Chiriches escaped the attentions of Sam Vokes to bundle home Paulinho’s corner at the back post and on 52 minutes Benjamin Stambouli’s long diagonal ball freed Soldado down the right and his low cross was tapped home by the stretching Danny Rose.

Burnley struggled to get back into the game after that with Spurs much more resolute at the back.

Indeed it was the hosts who looked the more likely to add to their tally, with Soldado forcing Heaton into a save as Spurs set up a round four tie with Leicester and left Burnley out of the cup.

Burnley: Tom Heaton 6, Kieran Trippier 7 (Steven Reid 67), Michael Keane 6, Michael Duff 5, Ben Mee 5, Michael Kightly 6, David Jones 6 (Dean Marney 76), Scott Arfield 6, Ross Wallace 6 (George Boyd 88), Marvin Sordell 7, Sam Vokes 6