Tottenham beat Chelsea to claim London derby bragging rights

Tottenham Hotspur claimed London derby bragging rights as they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. The result piles more misery on Blues manager Graham Potter whose side have one won just one game in 11 games across all competitions.  The visitors, however, started the game on the front foot, looking lively […]

Tottenham Hotspur claimed London derby bragging rights as they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The result piles more misery on Blues manager Graham Potter whose side have one won just one game in 11 games across all competitions. 

The visitors, however, started the game on the front foot, looking lively with their intricate passing. Joao Felix and Enzo Fernandez found pockets of space, but the Tottenham defense stood firm to restrict any clear-cut openings. 

Chelsea had a penalty appeal waved off when Raheem Sterling went down in the box. Minutes later, Potter’s side lost influential defender Thiago Silva as the Brazilian picked up a knee injury. 

The hosts, however, grew into the game after sustaining early pressure and almost took the lead in the 27th minute when Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg’s strike took a deflection off substitute Wesley Fofana to hit the post. 

VAR SPREADS CONFUSION

Neither team carved out any clear-cut chances, and the slow burner match soon reached its flash point just at the stroke of halftime.

There was confusion as Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech received a red from referee Stuart Atwell for shoving Emerson Royal after a coming together.

After a long delay, Atwell went to monitor and the Moroccan’s punishment was reduced to a caution. 

Skipp thunders Spurs into lead

Tottenham took the lead seconds after the restart when Oliver Skipp thundered in an audacious half-volley past Kepa Arrizabalaga. This was the Spurs youth academy graduate’s first goal for the club.

As they chased the game, Chelsea looked short of ideas. The lack of a clinical striker was displayed as they hardly tested Fraser Forster in the opposition goal.

Harry Kane sealed the three points 8 minutes from the final whistle when he steered in Eric Dier’s flick from Heung Min Son’s corner at the far post. 

Last-gasp substitutes fail to ignite

Potter did throw in Pierre Emrick Aubameyang and Mykhailo Mudryk, but neither the attacking substitute caused any trouble to the home defense. 

The result sees Spurs stay in fourth place with 45 points from 25 games, four away from Manchester United in third. Chelsea, meanwhile, are tenth, 14 points adrift of a Champions League berth as their disastrous campaign continues.

Photo credit: IMAGO / Colorsport