Chelsea came out on top of yet another feisty London Derby to move into the top four of the Premier League table, keeping their hopes of UEFA Champions League football next season alive.
The only goal of the game came from Enzo Fernández in the 50th minute, but it was followed by both teams having efforts chalked off by VAR.
Defeat – and another disappointing performance – has increased the pressure on Spurs’ head coach Ange Postecoglou, with his side currently on track to finish outside of the top ten for the first time since 2008.
As it happened
It was almost a dream start for Chelsea as a long ball from Trevoh Chalobah sent Nicolas Jackson through on goal. Micky van de Ven’s attempted clearance rebounded off the forward inside the opening minute, but it hit the foot of the post.
It wasn’t long before the Blues were threatening again, with a fierce strike from Malo Gusto, which fans celebrated before realising it had hit the side netting.
The chances kept coming for Chelsea. Cole Palmer sent in a low cross from the left which was diverted towards the goal by Spurs defender Destiny Udogie, but keeper Guglielmo Vicario managed to stop the ball on the goalline.
Postecoglou was becoming visibly agitated with his side, who were offering nothing on the attacking front and were struggling at the back. One of their only positive moments in the first half came when Robert Sánchez was forced to play the ball out to a dangerous area, from which Udogie won a corner, but it was dealt with easily by the Chelsea defence.
The closing minutes of the half saw a great save from Vicario, who had made some questionable decisions up to that point, as he tipped Jadon Sancho’s attempt over the bar. Despite the many chances presented to Enzo Maresca’s team, it remained goalless at the break.
Chelsea were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 50th minute, when Palmer’s perfect cross to Fernández saw the Argentinian head home from six yards. The midfielder has now scored twice in this fixture this season, and has only scored one goal in between.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt looked like Moisés Caicedo had doubled their lead just minutes later, but his volley from 15 yards out was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check.
Things then started to become tense as Postecoglou brought on Pape Matar Sarr for Lucas Bergvall and received boos from his own club’s supporters. Despite the complaints from fans, the change definitely had an impact.
Shortly after, the substitute hassled the ball from Caicedo, and Sánchez could do nothing to deny the Senegalese international. However, a VAR check on the goal concluded that Sarr fouled Caicedo in the lead up to the goal, and it was also chalked off.
Son Heung-min almost got himself a late equaliser in the 90th minute but he was denied by Sanchez, and Chelsea clutched the victory to knock Manchester City out of the UEFA Champions League spots for the time being.
Despite an improved performance from the visitors in the second half, it wasn’t enough to force a share of the spoils and they sit 14th in the Premier League ahead of a tough UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt next week.
The lineups
CHE: Sánchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
TOT: Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son
