Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer

Just about everywhere you turn these days someone is tipping Chelsea to win their first championship for 44 years.

Tottenham boss George Graham and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger were the latest to join the 'I back Chelsea' brigade this week.

And after they charged to the top of the table for the first time in nine years with this hard-fought, if far from pretty victory, there is every chance that this could be their year.

Gustavo Poyet, the Uruguayan connection in the Stamford Bridge foreign legion, provided the cutting thrust with a simple goal in the 80th minute after Chelsea player-manager Gianluca Vialli had provided the incisive cross.

And Tore Andre Flo supplied a finishing flourish with a last-minute header to convert Dan Petrescu's probing ball.

Poyet wheeled away lifting his shirt over his eyes Ravanelli-style - and it has to be said that soccer purists would have preferred to avert their eyes from much of the action in this match.

It may be the season of goodwill, but there was precious little festive cheer on show at Stamford Bridge today in this tough, uncompromising and ugly London derby.

For more than an hour this bad-tempered match simmered and crackled without art or craft, never more than one mistimed tackle away from boiling over.

And then it inevitably exploded in a mass melee in the 62nd minute when Tottenham striker Chris Armstrong was sent off by referee Graham Poll after a lunge on Chelsea's Albert Ferrer.

It was Armstrong's second yellow card after an earlier booking for throwing the ball away in a gesture of dissent - a needless dismissal which will have angered his manager.

But it was the way Chelsea captain Frank Leboeuf ran 50 yards to get involved in the action as both teams jostled each other which was the ugly side of soccer.

Les Ferdinand was also booked for dissent and while the incident reduced a combative Tottenham side to 10 men it brought a sterile and lacklustre game to life.

Vialli had warned that his side were tiring under the relentless pressure of chasing so many trophies - and they had drawn four out of their last five games.

And the way they began suggested they may well have indulged just a little too heartily at their Christmas party on Thursday.

The first-half especially was a wonderful advert for some last-minute Christmas shopping.

Pushing through the milling shoppers seemed to grow in appeal as these two teams produced a sterile display, full of niggly fouls, persistent shirt-tugging and disruptive stoppages.

Neither goalkeeper was really troubled for more than an hour as the midfield battle lacked any finishing bite.

Indeed, the best chance came in the dying moments of a distinctly forgettable first-half when Ferdinand leapt spectacularly to power a Darren Anderton header goalwards.

And, not for the first time in the afternoon, Chelsea were grateful to Leboeuf, returning after having been rested in midweek, who headed the ball off the line.

The second-half, it has to be said, was just as scrappy, Chelsea desperately trying to wear down a physical Spurs side.

Sol Campbell went close with a powerful header but Graham's side always lacked the finesse to break down a spirited Chelsea defence.

And when you consider Chelsea were without World Cup winner Marcel Desailly as well as Italian midfielder Roberto di Matteo and England's Graeme Le Saux and were able to leave Flo on the bench, the strength in depth of the blue side of London becomes apparent.

No longer are they simply flash ball players, capable of being irresistible one minute and irresponsible the next.

Vialli's men these days possess a shaft of steel to go with their undoubted style. They proved that with their impressive performance against Manchester United in midweek.

And there was real belief in the fans who flocked cheerily back home along the Fulham Road that Chelsea have a side capable of emulating the achievements of Ted Drake's 1955 championship-winning side.

Credit must go, however, to Tottenham, a side whose soft underbelly has been replaced under new boss Graham by a tough hide and a touch of fire.

The threat of David Ginola was muted and the Frenchman was replaced midway through the second-half by Stephen Clemence. These tough and heated derby battles are clearly not the stage for Ginola's magical skills.

The find of Spurs' season, however, is undoubtedly Luke Young, the 19-year-old from Harlow who played alongside Campbell in the heart of the defence with a maturity beyond his years. He clearly has a big future.

Chelsea's Michael Duberry, Celestine Babayaro and Vialli were also booked in a match best forgotten and which referee Poll struggled to control.

Control of the Premiership, however, is firmly in the hands of Chelsea.

Teams:

Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Poyet, Vialli, Duberry, Ferrer, Lambourde (Goldbaek 90), Zola (Flo 71), Morris.

Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Nicholls, Terry.

Booked: Babayaro, Vialli, Duberry.

Goals: Poyet 80, Flo 90.

Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Nielsen, Fox, Anderton, Ferdinand, Armstrong, Ginola, Sinton (Edinburgh 74), Campbell, Young.

Subs Not Used: Calderwood, Baardsen, Allen, Clemence.

Sent Off: Armstrong (61).

Booked: Carr, Ferdinand, Armstrong.

Att: 34,881

Ref: G Poll (Tring).