Clarets bow out in style with comeback triumph over Tottenham

Spurs looked set for another three points when Gareth Bale and Luka Modric netted in the first half.

But Wade Elliott pulled one back just before the break and second-half goals from Jack Cork, Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson gave the relegated Clarets a surprise win.

Clarets manager Brian Laws feared the worst when Tottenham took the lead so early.

He said: "We started very, very slowly and I was very disappointed (with the first goal) because it was a nothing ball over the top. Brian Jensen was way out of position and should have been sweeping that up.

"You think, 'what have we got here'? The second goal was sheer quality but we regrouped and in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half we started to probe and pass the ball well and that was what I said at half-time – we had to pass the ball a bit quicker.

"When we move the ball we can open up and we did that in the second half. It was great credit to the players. They could have switched off but they didn't and they've given everybody a lift."

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini fears the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League will cost them any chance of signing players such as Fernando Torres.

Mancini, whose side drew 1-1 with West Ham in the final match of the season yesterday, admitted in April that Manchester City need to sign "top players" – and he rated Torres in that bracket along with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports have linked Manchester City and Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea with moves for Liverpool's Spanish striker, valued at up to 70m.

But City will have to settle for Europa League football next season after their hopes of breaking into the top four were wrecked by last Wednesday's home defeat to Tottenham.

Asked whether the club can still attract top players like Torres in those circumstances, Mancini said: "I don't think so. If we finished in the top four, it would be better and easier to attract them.

"In this situation it is different. There are probably some players who want to play in the Champions League and not in the Europa League.

"But there are a lot of players in Europe who will want to play for Manchester City next year."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger congratulated Chelsea on their title success and maintained but for injuries his team would have run them close.

After the Gunners beat a much-changed Fulham side, who had one eye on the Europa League final, 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, Wenger said: "We have gone beyond expectation, if you look at July, but of course we are still frustrated, because one month ago we were in touch with the championship, but did not win it."

Relegated Pompey looked to be bowing out with a creditable draw at Goodison Park when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov struck a stunning winner after four minutes of stoppage time.

Everton had squandered a number of chances but the FA Cup finalists will feel aggrieved after a legitimate looking 'goal' from Anthony Vanden Borre was disallowed for offside.