Premier League - Chelsea see off Spurs challenge

Eurosport - Mon, 21 Sep 09:07:00 2009

Chelsea restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over bitter rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Premier League Chelsea Ashley Cole - 0

Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba were on target as Spurs' top-four aspirations were dealt a second blow in a week.

Having beaten Liverpool on the opening day of the season, hopes were high in the white part of North London that the dominance of the so-called Big Four could finally be ended this season.

But this reverse, off the back of last weekend's defeat to Manchester United, has served to prescribe a sharp dose of reality to Harry Redknapp's side: mixing with the big boys is not going to be easy after all.

That is not to say Redknapp should not be encouraged by his team's performance. He should, and had referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty when Ricardo Carvalho tripped Robbie Keane in the box with the score at 1-0, the outcome could have been far different.

As it was, Webb waved away Keane's furious claims - the Spurs skipper offering for his name to be taken as, if not a penalty, surely it must have been a dive - and Chelsea took a two-goal lead just three minutes later.

Cole opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, continuing his great recent form by diving in to head Drogba's far-post cross past Carlo Cudicini.

Jose Bosingwa had earlier signalled Chelsea's intent with a fiercely-struck effort that crashed against the angle of post and bar while Frank Lampard saw a header bounce wide and Nicolas Anelka hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

But it was by no means all Chelsea early on. Indeed, Spurs went to Stamford Bridge full of attacking intent and the in-form Jermain Defoe could, and perhaps should, have got his name on the scoresheet on 11 minutes.

The England striker saw his shot repelled by the legs of Petr Cech after he was played in on goal by a precision Wilson Palacios through pass.

Midfield duo Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas then saw crisp drives from outside the penalty area cause Cech concern; the first he was forced into saving, while the second whistled inches wide of the post.

The penalty decision on 55 minutes was a blow for Spurs, and Ballack's goal soon after knocked the stuffing out of them.

Cudicini could only parry Drogba's shot out to Lampard, who spun and sent the ball back into the danger area where the Germany midfielder was on hand to bundle over the line.

Two-nil seemed harsh on Spurs, who had contributed much to an open and entertaining game, so when Chelsea's third hit the back of the net Spurs' disappointment was understandable.

It was Drogba who got it, although there was an element of luck to the Ivorian's strike after Alan Hutton - a replacement for the once-again injured Ledley King - slid in to make a challenge only to succeed in knocking it past the advancing Cudicini. Drogba was left with the easy task of finishing into an empty net.

With Spurs deflated, Chelsea turned the screw and could have added to their three goals when John Obi Mikel saw a long-range shot only just kept out by Cudicini and fellow substitute Salomon Kalou fired against the post from an impossibly tight angle.

Cudicini was brought into further action deep into eight minutes of injury time - added because Sebastien Bassong was stretchered off wearing a neck brace after landing awkwardly in a challenge with Drogba - and saved with his legs to deny Kalou.

But the final action came at the Chelsea end as Peter Crouch, on as a late substitute, finished well only to see his 'goal' disallowed for offside. The decision, this time correct, neatly summed up Spurs' day.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 104 - 123 of 123

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. As already stated false dawn again. Mid to lower table,­ unable to mix with the real
    men.????????????

    From rron, on Thu 24 Sep 12:11PM

  2. eh,let me see,second choice keeper,1.5 working centre­ backs,the first goal should never have happened with­ the blatant foul on Defoe down the pitch on the­ build-up,and we're denied a nailed on penalty.Lost­ Ledley soon after,moved Charlie in,and if we hadn't­ lost the game already it was guaranteed there and­ then.To be honest,I never thought we'd get twelve­ points from the first six games with Woody,Dawson and­ Gomes out,then we lost Modric to boot,we have a strong­ squad but we're much better covered in some areas­ than others.Credit to Chelsea though,they looked a step­ above I've seen them in any of the encounters­ against us over the last few years,and deserved their­ win.Pity Webb ruined it as a contest though,what a­ homer.

    From Iggy, on Tue 22 Sep 12:22AM

  3. I just say, you gave 10 millions to buy Crouch, well...­ LET HIM PLAY!!!
    He can do better than Defoe and­ Keane...

    From theman_who, on Mon 21 Sep 7:50PM

  4. garymurfitt:: yeah!! we pay of ref's with a lap­ dance from the stripper down the pub,
    russian mail­ order brides,and russian vodka...

    From walt jabasco, on Mon 21 Sep 6:42PM

  5. Seen it before: Tottenham start the season well, people­ say they're title-contenders, then they quickly­ collapse and struggle to even get into europe! Has no­ one noticed that this spurs team is virtually the same­ as last season's!?

    From Goatlips, on Mon 21 Sep 6:39PM

  6. Ooh ,JW i hit a nerve there.

    From garymurfitt, on Mon 21 Sep 5:49PM

  7. gary the muppet murfitt get a life , get a brain , and­ get f*#ked, you have no idea what your talking about

    From J W, on Mon 21 Sep 5:11PM

  8. Is there not a referee in the premiership who not being­ payed off . By manu/ chelsea . Webb is the perfect­ example

    From garymurfitt, on Mon 21 Sep 4:53PM

  9. It is high time that second zoneretired player and low­ rank columnist of Paul Parker should belt up and stop­ writing about Chelsea. This victory should seal­ definitely off both his mouth and labtop. DON'T­ TALK ABOUT CHELSEA AND KEEP YOUR COMMENTS FOR YOURSELF.­ ANY PIECE OF WRITING THOUGH POSITIVE, I doubt that one­ day you'll do, ON CHELSEA IS NOT WELCOMED. FORGET­ ABOUT US FOR GOOD, for GOD SAKE, PP

    Chelsea till I­ die.

    From Bel, on Mon 21 Sep 4:35PM

  10. spurs mid table team at best

    From Ken A, on Mon 21 Sep 4:34PM

  11. Cant believe Robbie Keane didnt get a yellow and­­ ballack didnt get a Penalty! Howard Webb at it again,­­ favouring the lesser teams!

    From Ryan, on Mon 21 Sep 3:50PM

  12. What is it with referees and time in the latest Super­­ Sunday? Two great games despite two idiots in charge,­­ first up we have Mr Atkinson with his Manchester­ United­ donated Mickey Mouse watch consult with the­ fourth­ official and decide there are 4 yes united fans­ 4 added­ minutes before playing 7, what happened the­ hands­ stick? Then we have that other idiot Mr Howard­ Webb who­ despite Spurs defender Bassong being laid out­ and in­ need of treatment prior to being stretchered­ off which­ took 10 yes 10 minutes, then we have Drogba­ stretchered­ off another 4 minutes, Howard and co add 8­ minutes. Now­ stick with me here guys while we do the­ Maths, 90 - 14­ = wait for it 76 yes 76 minutes so if­ we add the 8­ minutes, 76 + 8 = 84 yes 84 minutes. So­ the Chelsea ­ Spurs game did not run to regulation­ time????? And just­ before you Spurs lot start yes the­ Keane incident was a­ pen but so was the deliberate­ handball your full back­ (in the wall inside the­ penalty area) used to block­ Lampards free kick. So­ what score line would you prefer­ 3-0 or if both pens­ scorede 4-1?

    From Forever Blue, on Mon 21 Sep 3:37PM

  13. Dear K Time you went to Spec Savers, Mr Webb missed two­ clear penalties. Remember the one with lampards free­ kick on the edge of the area where your fullback jumped­ put his hand in the air and blocked the ball? No ?­ Second half your wall were insode the penalty area,­ ring any bells?

    From Forever Blue, on Mon 21 Sep 3:28PM

  14. keep up the good work boys

    From Sydney, on Mon 21 Sep 2:27PM

  15. I care about you Jenny ! im thinking you are about 80­ years old & confused , this site is for football­ fans to comment on , go back to your chat line , theres­ a good girl ! LOL

    From Charlie, on Mon 21 Sep 2:11PM

  16. As a Spurs supporter, I am naturally disappointed by­ the last two results. However, I was encouraged by the­ tactics and play for the first 15-20 minutes of the­ Chelsea game. This is the first time this season I have­ season the Chelsea put back into defense. There is no­ shame in losing to what I consider to be the best two­ clubs in the world. Tottenham have made great strides­ but they are not an elite club yet. They will most­ likely finish the season 6th with an outside chance at­ 5th place. Chelsea/ManUtd/Liverpool/ManCity are too­ strong. Spurs and Villa will be battling all season­ looking up at Arsenal in the end. The team need Modric­ and Woodgate healthy to have a chance. Without King and­ Woodgate in center defense, Spurs lack of pace against­ top strikers is exposed. Corluka is a liability when he­ moves to center back. He's much more effective on­ the right. I'd like to see Harry begin to bring­ Naughton on. I don't understand why he rates Hutton­ so highly.

    From WilsonJet, on Mon 21 Sep 12:14PM

  17. THE MATCH BETWEEN CHELSEA AND SPURS IS LIKE A WAR­ BETWEEN GOLLIAT AND DAVID

    From wmatamwa, on Mon 21 Sep 11:48AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    chelsaw dont have the muscle to carry on like this.­ drogba is a diving cheat for
    penalties. totenham should­ have won the game. they are a better team compared­ to
    the indisciplined blues.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 11:47AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    chelsaw dont have the muscle to carry on like this.­ drogba is a diving cheat for
    penalties. totenham should­ have won the game. they are a better team compared­ to
    the indisciplined blues.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 11:45AM

  20. CHELSEA IS THE BEST CLUB IN THE WORLD. SPURS WERE LUCKY­ ENOUGH TO BE BEATEN ONLY BY 3-0. FOR MAN U IT IS­ OBVIOUS THAT YOU CAN'T WIN IN OLD TRAFFORD ANY WAY.­ ROBBING REFEREES I HOPE IS FIRST TASK IN OLD TRAFFORD­ THAT TEACHING HOW TO PLAY LIKE CHELSEA, ARSENAL AND­ LIVERPOOL.

    From wmatamwa, on Mon 21 Sep 11:45AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account