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A sensational second half display from Spurs gave them a 4-1 win over Burnley in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg at White Hart Lane.

Martin Paterson gave the visitors a shock first-half lead, but Harry Redknapp's side came roaring back to score four times after the break as Burnley 's defence imploded.

Michael Dawson headed home from a corner to equalise from Jamie O'Hara's corner before the provider turned scorer when the midfielder netted a second five minutes later.

Roman Pavlyuchenko then came alive with a clinical finish after an incisive run into the Burnley area to give the hosts a two-goal cushion, before Michael Duff's unfortunate headed own-goal gave the scoreline a lop-sided appearance - and one that was very harsh on the visitors.

Jermain Defoe had been paraded in front of a vociferous home crowd prior to kick-off and the match started at a heady pace, with both sides keen to zip the ball around.

But White Hart Lane was stunned in the 15th minute as Chris Eagles bypassed the challenges of David Bentley and Gareth Bale to deliver a pin-point cross, which found Paterson at the back post for the simplest of tap-ins.

And it could have been worse for the hosts minutes later. Eagles whipped in another precise cross from the right, and the seemingly invisible Robbie Blake ghosted in to meet it with his head, the ball narrowly drifting wide of Heurelho Gomes's far post.

Immediately Spurs were shocked into action, and when Bentley's cross was headed down by Jonathan Woodgate into the path of Roman Pavlyuchenko they thought they had equalised - but the Russian brought out a point-blank stop by Brian Jensen.

Owen Coyle then made an enforced change as Kevin McDonald, who was adjudged to be unfit to start the match, replaced the injured Joey Gudjohnsson.

But Harry Redknapp then delivered a stirring half-time team-talk which prompted a rejuvenated Spurs display in the second period, while Burnley 's previously stout defence proceeded to implode.

Just after half time substitute O'Hara, with almost his first touch, floated in a corner which Dawson powered past Jensen after rising above Clarke Carlisle.

Then, in the 52nd minute, O'Hara turned scorer with a scuffed shot which squirmed between the legs of Jensen, who really should have saved the midfielder's effort.

The keeper, who had been lauded for his contribution earlier in the competition, appeared distraught after referee Martin Atkinson refused to let him wear his lucky grey shirt for fear of a kit-clash, and he was left bemoaning his luck after his aberration.

Pavlyuchenko then produced a touch of brilliance to add a third in the 65th minute, with a sharp turn and run into the visitors' box before drilling a shot past Jensen into the bottom corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Clarets defender Duff, who had looked sprightly in the first half, epitomised his team's demise with a hapless headed clearance which beat his own keeper at his near post and gave Spurs their fourth.

Yet just as the Championship side's capitulation threatened to end the tie entirely Owen Coyle's men denied further damage being inflicted, despite looking clearly jaded.

Burnley went into the game looking to add a fourth Premier League scalp to their Carling Cup campaign - having already knocked out Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal - but they ended the evening despondently with a mountain to climb at Turf Moor in two weeks' time.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport