After the goal Chelsea started to settle down and they could have gone further ahead when Keller could only parry Hasselbaink's free kick, which was put behind for corner. From the corner Marcel Desailly headed over the bar.

On the half-hour mark Steffan Freund was forced off with a knee injury after a challenge with Frank Lampard and Tim Sherwood came on for the German.

Jody Morris making his first appearance in the first team for three months picked up a loose ball but his long range shot ended up in the Matthew Harding stand.

After that Tottenham started to break up Chelsea rythem and started to cause the home side some problems.

Christian Ziege's clever ball across the Chelsea penalty area took a slight deflection off a defender which took it out of the path of the incoming Ferdinand. The German also had a good chance to equalise but his volly went well over.

At the death of the first half Cudicini twice came rushing off his line to deny Simon Davies and Ferdinand shots at goal.

In the second half Tottenham thretened with substitute Albert Ferrer miskicking a clearance straight to Mauricio Taricco, whose first-time shot rocketed narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Hasselbaink nearly made it two from Gudjohnsen's through-ball but he only managed to deflect the ball wide of the far post from a tight angle.

On the hour mark Les Ferdinand found himself alone with only Cudicini to beat but the Italian who has been in superb form in recent week dived at the feet of the striker and saved his shot.

But moments later Ferdinand made amends when John Terry put his side under pressure with a poor pass. Sherwood set up Ferdinand, who this time managed to finish with Cudicini deflecting the ball on its way in.

In the 76th minute Chelsea were awarded a free-kick 30 yard out which Hasselbaink took and he his thunderbolt shot which flew into the net  which left Keller with no chance.

Seven minutes from time Chelsea thought they should have been given a penalty when substitute Mikael Forssell was tripped by Keller in the area. Forsell tried to stay on his feet but could not believe it when the referee failed to point to the spot.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Babayaro, Terry, Desailly, Lampard, Morris (Ferrer 45), Dalla Bona, Zola (Jokanovic 66), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 73).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Keenan.

Tottenham: Keller, Taricco, Gardner, Perry, King, Freund (Sherwood 29), Anderton, Poyet, Ziege,
Ferdinand (Rebrov 88), Davies.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Etherington, Thelwell.
Booked: Anderton.

Att: 37,264
Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood)