top
top
Toothless
Tottenham were booed off as Chelsea recorded a fifth straight win over their
London rivals, with Joao Pedro’s first-half goal giving them a 1-0 victory at
the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A sorry Spurs, who could have moved second with victory, recorded the lowest
expected goals (0.05xG) by a Premier League team this season and their lowest on
record since Opta started collecting Premier League xG data in 2012/13.
Tottenham's lack of creativity and spark once again proved a huge issue as the
home fans showed their frustration throughout, as they watched their side fail
to have a shot on target in the second half.
Player ratings
Tottenham: Vicario (8); Porro (5), Danso (5), Van de Ven (5),
Spence (5); Palhinha (6), Bentancur (6); Kudus (6), Sarr (5), Bergvall (n/a);
Kolo Muani (5).
Subs: Simons (5), Romero (6), Richarlison (5), Udogie (6),
Johnson (6), Odobert (6).
Chelsea: Sanchez (7); Gusto (7), Fofana (7), Chalobah (7),
Cucurella (7); James (7), Caicedo (9); Neto (6), Fernandez (7), Garnacho (6);
Joao Pedro (8).
Subs: Gittens (6), Lavia (6), Estevao (n/a), Tosin (n/a).
Player of the Match: Moises Caicedo.
Loud boos greeted the full-time whistle as Chelsea deepened Spurs' home woes,
with Thomas Frank's side suffering a 12th loss in their last 19 league games at
the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp believed it was "one of the worst performances" he
has seen from Tottenham.
Chelsea, who move into the top four, will feel they should have won by a greater
margin after Joao Pedro powered in a 34th-minute opener.
The Brazilian had the outstanding Moises Caicedo, whom Sky Sports' Jamie
Carragher labelled a "monster in midfield", to thank for ending his 10-game goal
drought for club and country as the Ecuadorian robbed Micky van de Ven of the
ball to superbly tee up Pedro.
The goal came after Xavi Simons, brought on in the seventh minute as a
concussion change for Lucas Bergvall, sold Van de Ven short. The £51m signing,
who was linked with Chelsea in the summer, struggled to recover - and his
evening got worse as he was substituted off in the 73rd minute.
A miserable Spurs were fortunate not to concede a second in stoppage time as
Chelsea substitute Jamie Gittens and Pedro missed glorious chances.
Enzo Maresca's side, though, comfortably saw out the win for a fourth straight
away victory in all competitions that puts them fourth in the Premier League and
level on points with third-placed Spurs.
Analysis: Caicedo is a beautiful monster
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
Sometimes this job is a real privilege. Watching Moises Caicedo up close was a
real thrill - even the Tottenham fans would have to agree. This was a
performance that showcased everything you want from a world-class midfielder.
Tenacious, intelligent, full of quality and affecting the game in the final
third. Jamie Redknapp called him "world class, perhaps the best of his type in
world football."
It's hard to argue.
The £115m price tag had seemed to hang around his neck like a glittering weight
in his early days at Chelsea but we're now seeing the player that bulldozed
opposition players at Brighton.
There's something N'Golo Kanté-esque about him, not just in engine or energy,
but in humility. He doesn't crave the spotlight, he craves the ball. And when he
gets it, the whole game dances to his tune. Xavi Simons looked almost frightened
at times to dribble near the Chelsea enforcer such was the domination in the
duels.
He has that fear factor now. And that's one of the main reasons why he's the
best in the world at what he does.
Opta stats: Chelsea spook Spurs yet again
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 18 games against Tottenham in all
competitions (W14 D3), winning each of the last five in a row since a 2-0 loss
in February 2023.
Tottenham have won just three of their last 19 home Premier League games (D4
L12), with no ever-present side winning fewer home matches during this period
(since 10th November 2024 - level with West Ham).
Tottenham have lost three consecutive Premier League London derbies on home soil
for the first time since April 2004, with the third defeat in that run also
coming against Chelsea.
Only Wolves (4) have made more errors leading to opposition goals than Tottenham
in the Premier League this season (3 - level with Man Utd, Nottingham Forest &
Fulham).
Teams
Tottenham Hotspur Vicario; Porro (Udogie 73), Danso (Romero
60), Van de Ven (c), Spence, Palhinha, Betancur (Richarlison 60), Kudus, Sarr,
Bergvall (Simons 7, Odobert 73), Kolo Muani (Johnson 73)
Subs Not Used Kinsky, Scarlett, Tel
Booked Bentancur, Danso, Simons, Kudus
Goals
Chelsea Sanchez; Gusto (Lavia 76), Fofana (Tosin 89), Chalobah,
Cucurella; Caicedo, James (c); Neto (Estevao 85), Enzo, Garnacho (Gittens 66);
Joao Pedro
Subs Not Used Jorgensen, Acheampong, Hato, Andrey Santos, Guiu
Booked Chalobah, Enzo
Goals Joao Pedro 34
Attendance 61,202
Referee Jarred Gillett
VAR Craig Pawson