Enzo Maresca's side barely needed to get out of first gear in order to beat their rivals on an ill-tempered night at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League's top four with a 1-0 win at home to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night. The Blues moved back ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle United with the victory, ensuring Spurs' record at Stamford Bridge remains at only one win since 1990.
Contrastingly, the result meant Tottenham remained mired in 14th place with 34 points after 30 games as the pressure mounted on Ange Postecoglou, who clashed with fans during the derby.
Chelsea nearly went ahead inside 60 seconds when a straight ball over the top from Trevoh Chalobah found Nicolas Jackson, who bundled into Guglielmo Vicario and had Micky van de Ven's clearance come off his shin and strike the post. Malo Gusto then hit the side-netting with a fierce strike soon afterwards, with half of Stamford Bridge fooled into thinking it had gone the right side of the upright.
Midway through the first half, a cutback from an unmarked Cole Palmer through the Spurs box found Enzo Fernandez, but Destiny Udogie was on hand to smother the Argentine and keep the ball from rolling across the line. On the stroke of half-time, the Blues should have notched themselves ahead. Pedro Neto's deep cross flew all the way to Jadon Sancho, whose top corner-bound strike was brushed over by Vicario.
Within five minutes of the restart, Chelsea had their opening goal. Palmer shifted out to the left and whipped in a delicious cross for Fernandez to thunder in with his head having escaped the marking of Tottenham's half-committed defenders.
The hosts didn't have to wait long to find the net again, either. Spurs failed to deal with a free-kick into the box, and Moises Caicedo was on hand to volley home from just inside 18-yard area, but after an extremely lengthy VAR check lasting several minutes, it was ruled out for offside on the initial delivery.
Out of absolutely nothing, Tottenham thought they had levelled it up with little over 20 minutes to play. Pape Matar Sarr, just on as a substitute, robbed Caicedo of possession before letting fly from 25 yards, and Robert Sanchez could only parry the shot onto the underside of the bar and in. However, a VAR check led to referee Craig Pawson deciding Sarr had clipped Caicedo's leg with his boot to win possession and Spurs' equaliser was cancelled.
Palmer nearly grabbed a goal for himself when his looping shot had to be swiped aside by Vicario before Sanchez became the hero at the other end for denying Son Heung-min at point-blank range. The Blues' win was confirmed after 12 minutes of added time in light of the two VAR delays.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…
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Robert Sanchez (7/10):
It was a quiet evening for the Spaniard until Son raced to the back post in the last minute of regulation time, coming up with a stretching stop. In that sense, he almost literally saved the points.
Malo Gusto (6/10):
Used as more of a traditional full-back without stepping into midfield as Maresca often demands. Son flew by him early doors but the Frenchman shut up shop after that.
Trevoh Chalobah (7/10):
Was desperately unlucky not to have registered an assist in the first minute with an exquisite pass to Jackson. That got his confidence going and he continually tried his luck with similar balls. Untroubled by Solanke.
Levi Colwill (7/10):
Likewise given no real problem by Spurs' toothless attackers. A mini-brawl ensued late in the first half when Colwill was shoved over by Romero, which was as much trouble as he really got into.
Marc Cucurella (7/10):
Ruthless and aggressive from the off, making Odobert and Johnson's lives misery on that flank. Chelsea didn't need his newfound scoring prowess on this occasion.
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Moises Caicedo (7/10):
Sustained a hefty knock within the first couple of minutes, which required treatment on three separate occasions. The Ecuadorian was able to soldier on and the Blues required his steely relentlessness to win the midfield battle.
Enzo Fernandez (8/10):
Moved back into a deeper role upon Palmer's return. Sought to be the protagonist with an extensive range of passing and crashing of the Spurs box, getting his reward with a goal. Given a rest for 12 minutes of added time, replaced by Dewsbury-Hall.
Cole Palmer (8/10):
Passed fit for this one having missed out on last month's trip to Arsenal and England's two World Cup qualifiers. Took a while to find his sharpness again before bursting into life, first testing Vicario with a stinging shot and then picking out a beaut of an assist for Fernandez. Subbed in added time for another defender in Adarabioyo.
AFPAttack
Pedro Neto (5/10):
Tested Tottenham with whipped crosses in the first half, but that threat couldn't be sustained on his flank.
Nicolas Jackson (6/10):
Made his return from injury and was so close to being back among the goals, only for the ball to get away from him when trying to bring down Chalobah's first-minute long pass. Subbed for James late on.
Jadon Sancho (6/10):
Had the beating of Spence as he pleaded though frustrated the home crowd with his consistent indecision thereafter. Withdrawn for Madueke midway through the second half.
Subs & Manager
Noni Madueke (6/10):
Back from injury via the bench without much to note.
Reece James (6/10):
Wasn't risked from the off and only got a runaround in the final stages.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (N/A):
Much of his work was off-ball for 12 minutes of added time.
Tosin Adarabioyo (N/A):
Slotted into a back five to see out the win.
Enzo Maresca (7/10):
Chelsea should have won by more and a better team than Tottenham would have made them pay, though how much of that blame you can put at the manager's door is questionable.
