Chelsea 2-0 Spurs
by Layth Yousif
at Stamford Bridge

MAURICIO POCHETTINO’S side eased past an underwhelming Spurs side desperately in need of a set-piece coach.

Trevor Chalobah’s first-half header was supplemented by Nicolas Jackson’s second-half strike to seal a deserved victory for the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.

The 52-year-old Argentinian, who managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019 and took them to a Champions League final, has now led Chelsea to a double over his former side.

The victory now sees Pochettino’s side sit in eighth place, just two points behind Newcastle United in seventh and a possible European spot — with sixth-placed Manchester United a mere point better off than the Magpies.

“Today we were so competitive. In this way we can grow and do better and improve in all the areas,” said Pochettino after the match. 

Beleaguered counterpart Ange Postecoglou made five changes from the side that lost the north London derby to The Arsenal at the weekend. James Maddison, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur benched while Ben Davies and Timo Werner were ruled out with season ending injuries.

Yet it scarcely made a difference as Chelsea dominated for long spells, while the visitors were prolifically wasteful during dead ball situations throughout this atmospheric London derby that saw Spurs’ hopes of a top-four finish fade dramatically.

Rewind six months to when Chelsea beat Spurs 4-1 at White Hart Lane in a madcap clash back in November with Jackson grabbing an unlikely hat-trick.

Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were sent off as the home side played a foolishly high line and were picked off. Micky van de Ven and James Maddison picked up injuries as Spurs lost four of their next five, and arguably never recovered from that night in terms of their form or league position. 

However, half a year on and Postecoglou’s side have continued to falter, and now face a losing battle with Aston Villa for a coveted Champions League spot.

While Chelsea made a single switch from the 2-2 draw at Unai Emery’s Villa last time out — Alfie Gilchrist in for the soon to be departing 39-year-old Thiago Silva who has served the Blues with distinction — boss Pochettino opted to move Chalobah to the vacant centre-back slot.

On four minutes Cole Palmer missed from a matter of yards out after the mercurial Mudryk played in Jackson who, despite slotting the ball through keeper Guglielmo Vicario’s legs, saw his effort cleared off the line by the pace of Van de Ven, prior to the ball falling to the normally clinical Palmer.

Twelve minutes later — academy graduate and fans favourite — local lad Gilchrist fired over following a spell of pressure by the home side.

Noni Madueke’s effort flew over Vicario’s bar after a driving run that saw the Spurs defence backpedalling on 22 minutes.

Eventually the pressure had to tell, when Chalobah’s header flew past keeper Vicario from Conor Gallagher’s ball into a crowded box. The strike was eventually given after VAR checked for a possible foul on Brennan Johnson by Marc Cucurella — to chants of “F*ck VAR” from the home support — before the goal was confirmed on 24 minutes.

The pre-match talk was of Spurs boss Postecoglou casually dismissing set pieces with his “matey” faux Aussie responses — but the reality is that he risks being labelled a coach lagging behind the times if he doesn’t take them as seriously as he should do. Not least after his side conceded again following a set-piece situation, while also failing to trouble the opposition goal with dead balls.

The issues further underlined when Romero headed wide from a set-piece when well placed in the box as Chelsea went into the break 1-0 ahead.

Six minutes after the interval, Palmer fired over after a sweeping Chelsea move upfield as the home side sought to double their lead.

Pochettino’s side’s second goal eventually came on 72 minutes when Jackson followed up Palmer’s free-kick that struck the woodwork to make the score a resounding 2-0 victory to Chelsea.

“It wasn’t a great night for us,” said a deflated Postecoglou after the match. “We didn't play at the levels we needed to and didn't deserve something from it.”

“We lacked belief and conviction in our game.”

When quizzed just how he would solve the issue of Spurs’ poor form, Postecoglou said: “Just hard work, mate. There’s no major formula. We will work hard and make sure we get it right.”