Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino should have been wary about describing this game as a cup final for his players. Everybody knows Tottenham rarely last long in the cups and defeat at the hands of a more determined Burnley should now bring an end to talk of the title run-in turning into a three-horse race. The Spurs manager admitted as much and is likely to face an FA charge after venting his fury at the referee at the final whistle.

Spurs did not look much like title contenders, unable to convert 70% of possession into clear threats on goal and short of inspiration when tasked with breaking down Burnley’s dogged lines of defence. Harry Kane played and scored but with limited chances the home side finished better and deservedly took the points with goals from Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.

Pochettino claimed his altercation with Mike Dean was simply an outpouring of emotion at a disappointing result and said he intended to apologise to the official. “We made mistakes on the pitch and I made one at the end,” he said. “I needed to calm down, I wanted to find someone to blame, because we cannot think now of being a real contender.

Burnley 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live! Read more

“We never had the game under control, we can beat Chelsea or Arsenal but to make history you have to win this type of game. Burnley were better than us and I am massively disappointed because we wanted to put pressure on the teams above us.”

The game was a bit of a slow-burner, which might have had something to do with Tottenham’s team bus arriving with an hour to spare after being delayed in traffic.

The visitors spent the first quarter playing themselves into the game at a leisurely pace with Burnley content to let them, though by half-time Tottenham had stepped up their efforts and produced a few half-chances. Christian Eriksen saw a shot saved then lofted a perfectly weighted pass to pick out Kane’s run into the area, only for the forward to show too much of the ball to Tom Heaton.

It was not all Spurs, Barnes possibly came closest to a first-half goal with a shot that fizzed narrowly over after Jeff Hendrick had got the better of Jan Vertonghen near the right corner flag but Burnley were playing most of the game on the edge of their own penalty area.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mike Dean is surrounded by Tottenham’s coaching staff after the final whistle. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

Kane opened the second half with a languid though deceptively well-struck right-foot curler from 25 yards that Heaton did well to keep out, yet just before the hour and totally against the run of play Burnley took the lead from a set piece. Dwight McNeil deserved credit for a well-flighted corner that allowed Wood to score with his head from the six-yard line, though as the young winger’s stunning turn in the middle of the pitch helped win the corner in the first place he played a considerable part in breaking the deadlock.

Vertonghen felt the ball came off Hendrick last and a corner should not have been given but it was impossible to spot.

It was now up to Spurs to respond and they did so nine minutes later, when Danny Rose pinched a few yards at a throw-in to give Kane a start on the Burnley defence, allowing him to cut into the area from the left and slide a low shot into Heaton’s far corner.

Quick guide Follow Guardian sport on social media Show Hide Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Facebook: like our football and sport pages Instagram: our favourite photos, films and stories YouTube: subscribe to our football and sport channels Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images Europe

The contest was open and entertaining now, with Juan Foyth and Phil Bardsley picking up cautions for over-enthusiastic challenges and Hendrick almost restoring Burnley’s lead with a shot that rolled narrowly wide.

McNeil’s shot was stopped on the line by Hugo Lloris before increased Burnley pressure paid off, when the substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s hopeful cross-cum-shot reached Barnes at the far post for an easy tap-in. Eriksen had a chance to snatch an equaliser but headed straight at Heaton.

“We were effective,” Sean Dyche said after Burnley extended their unbeaten run to eight. “Spurs are a top side but we didn’t allow them to play their usual game.”