The Spurs manager had words with referee Mike Dean while assistant Jesus Perez failed to control his emotions either

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino and assistant Jesus Perez could face action from the Football Association after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away to Burnley in the Premier League.

Spurs went into the clash at Turf Moor looking to close the gap between themselves, Liverpool and Manchester City, but Sean Dyche’s team put an end to those hopes.

Harry Kane cancelled out Chris Wood’s opening goal, but Ashley Barnes popped up with a winner six minutes from time to hand the Clarets an excellent victory.

Referee Dean had come in for criticism when Burnley were awarded a corner despite the last touch coming off Jeff Hendrick and the Lilywhites frustration increased when Wood headed home the resulting set-piece in the 57th minute.

The Clarets had reason to be annoyed too, eight minutes later, when Harry Kane collected Danny Rose’s throw and equalised from inside the area.

Rose had taken the throw at least five-yards forward from where the ball had originally gone off, but the hosts’ remonstrations fell on deaf ears.

Burnley were celebrating come full time, however, as Barnes tapped in at the back post after poor Spurs defending to hand the visitors a seventh league loss of the campaign.

It was once Dean had brought the game to an end that Tottenham’s coaching staff got involved in a heated exchange with the man in the middle.

Pochettino and Perez were walking away from the referee, when the Spurs boss turned and could be seen appearing to say “what did you say?” to the experienced referee

Only then did the Argentinian and his number two become irate and the unsavoury scenes were not good for anyone to see.

Perez had to be pulled away and while Pochettino stayed calm, he did get close to Dean in the centre circle, although pointed to the Sky Sports cameras in an apparent attempt to tell the referee to repeat what he said moments earlier.

During his post-match press conference, Tottenham’s manager admitted: “One day there were crossed cables inside my brain.

“It was weird and strange and has not happened before in 10 years. Some stupid things happen and you react. I was never out of control but now I need to find the result.

“We lose the game because of us, not because of excuses. We didn’t deserve to win. We shot maybe one more time than Burnley but it is not enough.”

Asked if he would apologise to Dean, Pochettino added: “Yes, maybe, good point. Maybe I go.”

It was out of character for the 46-year-old, who normally always remains calm whatever the result.

He is generally one to praise officials too, Pochettino added: “We need to find someone to blame, it is myself and us because we have in our hands the capacity to win the game and we didn’t.

“I said for me this game is going to be key to put pressure on our opponents. If we didn’t win, we cannot put pressure and we cannot think now of being a real contender. It is a massive opportunity lost for us.

“When you feel so disappointed and upset, you make some mistakes. We made some mistakes on the pitch and I made some mistakes afterwards on the pitch.”

Additional reporting by Press Association.