Chelsea dealt a huge blow to Tottenham’s top-four hopes and boosted their own chances of European qualification with a 2-0 victory over their London rivals at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts went in front through Trevoh Chalobah’s towering header from Conor Gallagher’s free-kick in the first half as Spurs’ set-piece frailties were exposed again following their defeat to Arsenal.
Ange Postecoglou was visibly incensed with his side’s poor display in the first period and Chelsea doubled their lead in the 72nd minute, despite some Spurs improvement, when Nicolas Jackson headed home after Cole Palmer’s free-kick came back off the crossbar.
The victory ensures Mauricio Pochettino has completed the double over his former side following Chelsea’s 4-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November and puts them only two points behind Newcastle in eighth. Spurs, meanwhile, remain seven points off fourth-placed Aston Villa, now with only one game in hand.
How Chelsea powered to victory
Spurs were fortunate not to fall behind as early as the fifth minute, when the dangerous Mykhailo Mudryk played in Jackson, whose low effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Micky van de Ven, with Palmer unable to turn home the loose ball.
As Chelsea continued to tear through Spurs, Postecoglou, normally a figure of calm on the touchline, became increasingly furious, raging at the concession of a free-kick by Emerson Royal from which his side’s much-discussed set-piece frailties were again exposed.
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Trevor Chalobah put Chelsea in front in the first half
Chalobah did superbly to direct his towering header over Guglielmo Vicario and into the net from Gallagher’s delivery, but the defender was unmarked, with Marc Cucurella blocking Brennan Johnson and VAR deeming the goal fair after a lengthy check.
Postecoglou remained animated on the touchline, berating his players during breaks in play, but Spurs did improve as the half wore on and should have levelled when Cristian Romero headed wide from close range at the far post. Pape Sarr sent another chance just wide.
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Cristian Romero missed a golden chance for Spurs
Spurs pinned Chelsea back at the start of the second half but struggled to carve out chances, not even mustering a shot on target until just after the hour-mark, when Pedro Porro’s diagonal effort was parried away by Djordje Petrovic.
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Nicolas Jackson headed in Chelsea’s second goal
Chelsea remained a threat on the break but it was from another set-piece that they got their second goal, Palmer’s superb free-kick crashing back off the underside of the bar, with Jackson reacting quickest to loop a header into the net.
Johnson spurned an immediate chance to pull a goal back at the other end, but Spurs never really looked likely to rally after that, with Postecoglou’s first-half rage replaced by a look of resignation as his side suffered a third consecutive defeat, leaving their top-four hopes hanging by a thread.
Chelsea’s remaining fixtures
May 5: West Ham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 11: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 15: Brighton (A) – Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
May 19: Bournemouth (H) – Premier League, kick-off 4pm
Tottenham’s remaining fixtures
May 5: Liverpool (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 11: Burnley (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 14: Man City (H) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 19: Sheffield United (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4pm
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