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· Last Year's Game - 4-4
· This season's away game - 1-1
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 30 2007-08
· NEW! - See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams!
Full Record of Tottenham Hotspur -v- Chelsea
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 16 1 6 9 15- 31 9
Away 17 0 6 11 11- 32 6
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Total (Prem) 33 1 12 20 26- 63 15
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 42 20 9 13 79- 57 51
Away (Div 1) 42 19 6 17 63- 50 46
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Total(Div 1) 84 39 15 30 142-107 97
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 2 1 1 0 7- 4 3
Away (Div 2) 2 0 1 1 1- 4 1
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Total(Div 2) 4 1 2 1 8- 8 4
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Total (Prem) 33 1 12 20 26- 63 15
Total(Div 1) 84 39 15 30 142-107 97
Total(Div 2) 4 1 2 1 8- 8 4
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Grand Total 119 41 28 52 176-178 116
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Last Six Premiership results:-
Spurs
Bolton 3-2 Spurs
Spurs 0-0 Arsenal
Hull 1-2 Spurs
Spurs 4-0 M'brough
S'derland 1-1 Spurs
A. Villa 1-2 Spurs
Chelsea
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea
Chelsea 0-0 Hull
A. Villa 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea 2-1 Wigan
P'tsmouth 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
2 Chelsea 29 18 7 4 49-16 33 61
11 Spurs 29 9 8 12 35-34 1 35
Let's make it another Cup Final game!
It is hard to believe that the first point Spurs gained this season was in their third game at Stamford Bridge, after losing at Middlesbrough and at home to Sunderland. Yet at Chelsea on 31st August, 2008 Juande Ramos's Spurs played out of their skins and gained a very creditable point.
Chelsea were flying high with maximum points having won at Everton and at home to Manchester United. Spurs were rooted at the bottom and not expected to come away with anything at all. Success factors included the presence of a dominating Gomes in goal, an in-form Zokora in the midfield, and a Ledley King - Jonathan Woodgate partnership at the back. Lennon came off the bench for Giovani though, and little Aaron has been a primary factor in Spurs recent form, which puts Spurs in the top six form table, along with Chelsea based upon the last six games.
Darren Bent was involved in both goals in the away game, as he failed to clear a Deco corner and the ball seemed to go in the Spurs net thanks to an involuntary movement from Belletti, rather than as a result of a conscious effort. Similarly, before half time, Lampard's involuntary touch when challenged by Modric ran to Bent who scored his first goal of the season, and the first by a Spurs striker of this term.
The corresponding game last year was one of the few games after the Carling Cup Final in which Spurs performed and entertained the crowd. Spurs had been 3-1 down, before Berbatov put us back in the reckoning from a 61st minute corner. Tom Huddlestone had replaced Jenas at half-time, and was the hero when he made it 3-3 in the 75th minute. Sadly, Joe Cole restored the Chelsea lead, before Robbie Keane popped up in the dying minutes with one of the goals of the season with a spectacular shot from just outside the left of the area. Chelsea's goal-keeper that day was Carlo Cudicini.
Despite the fact that Spurs' most appalling Premiership record is against Chelsea, they haven't beaten us in four games since before last year's glorious Carling Cup Final.
By their standards, Chelsea were falling away from the title chase under the stewardship of "Big Phil" Scolari, and since the arrival of Gus Hiddink, they have certainly toughened up a bit and regained some form, with four consecutive wins. They have not been as convincing as usual at home this season, with teams such as Stoke and Wigan making them wait till late in the game for victories.
However, Chelsea are now looking strong on three fronts, as they face an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal next month, and wait to find out who they will face in the last 8 of the Champions League. This game and another game at The Emirates in May look like Chelsea's toughest of their Premier League run-in.
Despite their recent form, Spurs cannot afford to be complacent, as a couple of poor results could lead to us getting tangled up at the wrong end of the table again. Every game for ages has been crucial and like a Cup Final really. Spurs are down to one game a week now till the end of the season, and apart from Hutton and Defoe, have no injury troubles. They have strength in depth, and Harry Redknapp has all the choice he needs regarding team selection.
Chelsea have been missing Joe Cole and Ferreira, who are both out for a long time yet. Deco fell foul to a hamstring in their last game, but we all know they have plenty in reserve.
It should be a good game. Chelsea have a realistic chance again in the title race, whilst Spurs want a win to climb into the top half and perhaps draw closer to a UEFA Cup seventh place in the league. A defeat would not be catastrophic for Spurs, who can surely allow themselevs to relax a little and express themselves with attacking and esciting football in front of their own fans. Lennon's pace and guile will have everything to do with any Spurs success, and once again, an early goal could be a real God-send.
I am prepared for any result, and will predict a 1-1 draw.
· Did you know? Spurs gained their 36th point of last year's campaign in their 30th game at home to Chelsea!
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