JOSE Mourinho said he felt compelled to make changes against Burnley because he “didn’t have a midfield” in the first half.

The Clarets dominated the opening 45 minutes but only had Chris Wood’s 13th minute goal to show for it against a lacklustre Spurs.

Mourinho made a double substitution at the break, with Giovani Lo Celso and Lucas Moura replacing Tanguy Ndombele and Oliver Skipp. And there was an immediate response from the visitors, with Deli Alli equalising from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Ben Mee had brought down Erik Lamela.

Although the Spurs boss was encouraged by the comeback, he could not hide his first-half frustration, and singled out Tanguy Ndombele for criticism.

"My thinking was in the first half we didn't have a midfield, it's as simple as that,” said Mourinho.

"More important than tactics is to have midfield players that want the ball, who connect the game, who press, who recover the ball, win duels and we didn't have it. I'm not critical with Skipp at all.

"I'm not going to run away and I have to say that Tanguy has had enough time to come to a different level.

"I know that the Premier League is very difficult, I know that some players take time, some players take a long time to adapt to a different league.

"But a player with his potential, with his responsibility, I think he has to give us more than he is giving us."

Alli's equaliser – his 50th Premier League goal – helped Tottenham avoid a third straight league defeat.

But it needed a last-ditch challenge from Eric Dier to thwart Clarets substitute Matej Vydra, who also had a late strike saved by Hugo Lloris.

Mourinho added: "I was expecting more in the first half but the second half was really good. I'm pleased with the reaction and pleased with the attitude."