Tottenham Hotspur fell short to Chelsea losing 1-0 away at Stamford Bridge, making it 16 losses for this Premier League season.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse for Ange Postecoglou’s men, they somehow find a way to prove you wrong. Tonight was no different – Spurs turned up with their strongest line-up in months yet walked away with another defeat and more questions than answers.
It’s what fans had been waiting for: Romero and Van de Ven back in the Premier League XI, no fatigue excuse, and a proper London derby to set things right. Ange made five changes from the Fulham humiliation, had options on the bench, and still – still – it was just another day at Stamford Bridge.
First half: Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
It nearly unravelled in under 60 seconds. A long ball from Chelsea’s defence tore through Spurs’ high line. Nicolas Jackson found himself one-on-one with Guglielmo Vicario, who just about got something on it before Micky van de Ven’s desperate touch saw the ball clip the post and stay out. Inches away from another nightmare start.
Both sides kept the tempo high in the early exchanges. Djed Spence linked up well with Son Heung-min on the left, while Malo Gusto volleyed just wide on the other end.
Bergvall and Bentancur were surprisingly more energetic and involved than James Maddison in midfield, yet neither managed to pick out Solanke’s runs through the defence. On the rare occasions they did, Solanke struggled to put in the right foot.
At the back, Spence stood up well against the flair of Jadon Sancho (probably better than Pedro Porro would have) but Chelsea still found ways to test Vicario. The best came when Sancho laid it off to Cole Palmer, whose pass across goal nearly ended in an Enzo Fernández tap-in, but Destiny Udogie’s block and Vicario’s dive saved the day.
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Vicario himself had looked shaky early on but redeemed himself with a stunning save just before the break. Sancho had the entire goal to himself, and his strike looked destined for the top corner, only for Vicario to get fingertips to it and deny Chelsea what looked a certain goal.
Add in a few heated shoves, yellow cards, and of course a Romero moment, and we reached half-time goalless; somehow.
Chelsea had the better chances as Palmer, Sancho and Jackson all came close, while Spurs only forced one real save from Robert Sánchez via Son.
Second half: Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
What didn’t the second 45 minutes have? It had everything you’d expect in a London derby; except a Spurs goal.
Palmer forced a save from Vicario just four minutes after the restart, and moments later, Chelsea found the breakthrough. Spurs gave Palmer far too much space out wide, and he made them pay with a pinpoint cross. Enzo Fernandez, unmarked, nodded the ball home with ease. 1-0, and deserved.
Chelsea looked like they scored again shortly after. A floated free-kick fell for Moises Caicedo, who volleyed it into the bottom corner. The goal stood; until VAR stepped in. Levi Colwill was offside, and the goal was disallowed after a lengthy review.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou got heat of his own after subbing off arguably Spurs’ best player, Bergvall, for Pape Sarr.
Spurs then thought they equalised through Pape Matar Sarr, who dispossessed Caicedo and rifled one in from 30 yards out. But again, VAR intervened; this time to judge Sarr’s challenge as too high.
The incident that lit the fuse, though, was Ange Postecoglou cupping his ears toward the away end after the goal. Son followed it up by shushing the travelling fans. The manager. however, later clarified that it was just a celebration gesture.
Tottenham had their biggest moment late on. Johnson used his full pace (a rare sight), took on Cucurella (another rare sight) and drilled a low cross into the box for Son. The Spurs skipper did all he could to stretch and connect. But Sanchez made himself big and blocked with his chest.
Plenty of yellow cards, random crosses and twelve minutes of stoppage time followed, but Spurs never truly looked like scoring.
FT: CHELSEA 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
What’s next for Spurs?
Even though this wasn’t the worst performance of the season, losing a London derby – again – stings. There’s no defending this form anymore, and patience with Postecoglou is starting to fray.
Spurs still haven’t won a London derby in the big six this season. With eight games to go, this is already shaping up to be their worst league campaign since 1977.
Next up? Southampton at home. Time to play the kids and rest the first-teamers for Eintracht Frankfurt.
COYS