BURNLEY slipped back into the Premier League relegation zone with defeat at Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.

Ashley Barnes’ stunning goal had cancelled out Harry Kane’s opener for the hosts, but Erik Lamela’s 35th-minute strike proved decisive.

Defeat moved Burnley back to 18th in the table, with QPR coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to West Bromwich Albion thanks to a hat-trick from ex-Claret Charlie Austin.

Scott Arfield fired a volley over within the opening minute before Tom Heaton denied the impressive Christian Eriksen at the other end.

Tottenham took the lead in controversial fashion in the 21st minute as Michael Keane was harshly penalised for handball and the hosts took the free kick quickly.

Nacer Chadli was released down the left and the wide man crossed for Harry Kane to head in from five yards at the near post.

But Spurs’ lead lasted only six minutes as Ashley Barnes levelled in brilliant fashion.

David Jones won possession in midfield and George Boyd then found Barnes, who cut inside and superbly lashed a 25-yard shot beyond Hugo Lloris into the top corner.

Burnley then had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Barnes went down under Kyle Walker’s challenge.

Spurs missed a golden opportunity to move back in front as Kane somehow missed the ball from two yards out before Eriksen fired over at the far post.

But it was 2-1 to the home side on 35 minutes when Lamela was allowed to cut inside too easily and the left footer superbly curled into the far corner from 20 yards.

Kane came close to making it 3-1 before half time as he fired just over, but Dean Marney just missed the target for Burnley at the other end and the Clarets started strongly after the interval.

Lloris had to deny Ings on three occasions, the latter after Barnes’ fine through ball had played in the striker.

Chadli had a goal correctly ruled out for offside for Spurs before the wide man saw another effort kept out by Heaton.

Substitute Ross Wallace attempted to find a late equaliser with a free kick, but the impressive Lloris turned the ball around the post.

Burnley: Tom Heaton; Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee; George Boyd (Michael Kightly 79), Dean Marney, David Jones, Scott Arfield (Ross Wallace 79); Ashley Barnes (Lukas Jutkiewicz 89), Danny Ings. Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Kevin Long, Steven Reid, Nathaniel Chalobah.

Tottenham: Hugo Lloris; Kyle Walker, Federico Fazio, Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies; Erik Lamela, Ryan Mason (Benjamin Stambouli 44), Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli; Christian Eriksen (Danny Rose 90); Harry Kane (Roberto Soldado 84). Subs not used: Michel Vorm, Vlad Chiriches, Mousa Dembele, Andros Townsend.

Referee: Mike Jones.