|
After the game the Spurs boss said: "There is a big sense of relief because it looked game over with a few minutes to go. I was just praying that we might nick a goal but I can't stand here and say I saw it coming, because I didn't.
"They played ever so well, Burnley. They were terrific. They came and played well at White Hart Lane and were excellent again tonight. They showed great character, passed the ball fantastic and their movement was excellent.
"They didn't have a million shots at goal and our keeper didn't have to make many saves, but everything that came in on goal seemed to end up in the back of the net.
"I was sitting at 0-0 after about half an hour and feeling quite comfortable. We hadn't created a lot and hadn't played well but then again, Burnley had hardly had a shot worth talking about. Then suddenly they hit a free kick into the near post, a poor goal to concede and it was difficult for us from there.
"I thought we were dead and buried to be fair, but we showed character, kept going and ended up coming back and getting two late goals. We can look forward to the final now. We've had some great performances, beat Liverpool, got a great result against Watford and overall I think we deserve to be there."
It was an emotional Owen Coyle who spoke after seeing his chance of leading the Clarets out at Wembley snatched from him in those last few minutes. "I really couldn't have been more proud of what the players offered," he said. "They are distraught in the dressing room, but I have said to take the hurt and disappointment, but to go out with their heads held high.
"Some of our play was magnificent and normally, when you play against teams from above you, certainly from my experience as a player and manager, you don't beat them by playing them at their own game. We did that and over the two games we stood toe to toe and were prepared to pass and move the ball.
"For a Championship club to be facing a three goal deficit and recover it and look the team in charge, although it might sound bizarre after losing the tie, I still think it has been a wonderful night for the football club.
"If you were to go and analyse the two legs, and with all due respect to Tottenham, we were the better side. But you don't always get what you deserve in football.
"I asked them to go and reach their standards tonight and not have any regrets. I could not have asked any more, individually and collectively, and in the end I think the killer goal is down to fatigue.
"We were just two minutes from getting into that final and it was a terrific finish from their lad. I think at that point our lads were out on their legs when you think of the number of games we have played.
"Nobody outside the dressing room probably thought we could make inroads into their lead. We did, and we always thought if we were to score that crucial first goal we could make a game of it and we did."
Coyle had words too for the fans who gave the lads great support during the game. He said: "The atmosphere was unbelievable tonight, and that's what we want at Turf Moor on a game by game occasion.
"It's not always going to be possible because of finance, but I thought the fans played their part and everything we had here tonight is what we want at Burnley Football Club.
"It's disappointing of course, but it's important now that we pick ourselves up because we want to go on an FA Cup adventure similar to the Carling Cup. To do that we need to replicated that performance, but we still have a lot to play for, so we have to go again at West Brom on Saturday."