PREMIER LEAGUE
THURSDAY 3RD APRIL, 2025
(8PM)
CHELSEA 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)
Chelsea scorer:-
Fernandez, 50
Attendance:- 39,852
Referee:- Craig Pawson
Assistants:- Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
Fourth official:- Robert Jones
VAR:- Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR:- Craig Taylor
Teams:-
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):- 1. Sanchez; 27. Gusto, 23. Chalobah, 6. Colwill, 3. Cucurella; 8. Fernandez (Capt.) (sub 22. Dewsbury-Hall, 90+1), 25. Caicedo; 7. Pedro Neto, 20. Palmer (sub 4. Adarabioyo, 90+1), 19. Sancho (sub 11. Madueke, 68); 15. Jackson (sub 24. James, 82)
(Armband to James when he replaced Jackson)
Subs not used:- 12. Jorgensen; 5. Badiashile, 34. Acheampong; 32. George; 18. Nkunku
Booked:- Chalobah (unsporting conduct), Jackson (foul on Romero), Cucurella (dissent), Pedro Neto (foul on Son), Palmer (delaying free kick)
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1. Vicario; 24. Spence, 17. Romero, 37. Van de Ven (sub 23. Pedro Porro, 88), 13. Udogie; 15. Bergvall (sub 29. Sarr, 64), 30. Bentancur; 28. Odobert (sub 22. Johnson, 64), 10. Maddison (sub 11. Tel, 88), 7. Son (Capt.); 19. Solanke,
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 33. Davies; 8. Bissouma, 14. Gray, 47. Moore
Booked:- Romero (unsporting conduct), Sarr (foul on Caicedo), Pedro Porro (dissent), Johnson (dissent), Spence (foul on Madueke)
Spurs fall to inevitable defeat
Thanks to Cassim Patel for capturing this image
Spurs fell to an inevitable 21st defeat in 33 away Premier League games against Chelsea. It was also our 37th defeat in 66 Premier League games against our nemesis. On the subject of defeat (an all too common theme this season), Ange Postecoglou became the first Tottenham manager to lose his first four games against Chelsea. We have now lost 16 of our first thirty league games for the first time since 1977 - our last relegation season.
Spurs cling onto the hope of a Europa League win, but in my opinion that is a) unlikely and b) will not disguise an awful season when I have spent too much time simply bored by our football. Postecoglou is under pressure and is becoming more and more tetchy. The atmosphere among the Spurs fans is becoming increasingly toxic towards him and the team with their persistent and inept play-out style. Chairman Daniel Levy of course comes in for the usual criticism.
Spurs were able to field Romero and Van de Ven together at the start of a game for the first time since our home defeat against Chelsea in December. That was 25 games and 11 defeats ago. Indeed, Postecoglou was able to field a strong side, but they failed to manage even one shot on target in the first half. The tally in the second half was two. Solanke had the least touches of any player on the field. Poor delivery was one reason for that. The other was that he was not sharp enough on the ball.
Indeed, Chelsea were faster, sharper and far more dangerous than Spurs. Palmer was back to his best and Nicolas Jackson, starting for the first time in two months gave both Romero and Van de Ven a torrid time.
Spurs kicked off and played away from their fans in the Shed End but could have been one down inside 50 seconds when Jackson raced onto a long ball. Both Vicario and Van de Ven challenged with the ball rebounding off Jackson and Van de Ven off the post and clear.
After that scare, Udogie led a break out and fed the ball to Son, who won a corner but failed with the dead ball. Caicedo was struggling after a challenge with Djed Spence and needed treatment.
More Chelsea threats came. Cucurella crossed from the left and ultimately, his opposite full back Gusto hit a right foot shot just wide. The much maligned Jadon Sancho had a shot deflected for a corner after Udogie had lost the ball in Chelsea's half. Vicario pushed rather than hold a cross, but Jackson fired wide.
Bentancur found Solanke with a cross and he went down in the box, but referee Craig Pawson had little interest in any foul there. The first rendition of "We want Levy out" was voiced in the away end.
Udogie and Fernandez challenged for the ball at close range after Palmer crossed from the left before Vicario managed to pick the ball up on his goal-line.
Bergvall showed skill and determination in taking the ball deep on the right. Son was unable to deal with his cross. Chelsea were constantly finding better positions than Spurs. Jackson fired wide after another ball over the defence. Bergvall had a left-footed shot blocked at the other end after Odobert had crossed from the right. Son had a low cross/shot cleared and a subsequent corner came to nought.
Vicario made a great left-handed save from Sancho's rising shot after Pedro Neto's ball from the right wing.
As is the norm for these games, tempers were high and there was a melee in the Spurs half, after which Romero and Chalobah were shown the first yellow cards of the game. Mr. Pawson waved his card 8 more times in the second half.
Palmer had an early shot saved after a Sancho cross, but Chelsea soon had the lead after Palmer crossed from deep on the left and Fernandez beat both Romero and Van de Ven to head home all too easily. Even with our best centre-backs we are vulnerable.
It looked as if Chelsea had got a second goal in the 56th minute after a Maddison foul and a free kick from the right. The ball was headed back to Caicedo who hit the net with a right-footed shot. A lengthy VAR review found an offside at the time the free kick was hit and Spurs escaped.
Vicario put down a Palmer cross inside his 6-yard box and another pathetic play-out led to another Chelsea free kick. Postecoglou was booed by the travelling fans who chanted "You don't know what you're doing" when he replaced Bergvall with Sarr. Johnson also replaced Odobert.
After a corner, Micky van de Ven recorded Spurs' first shot on target, but the ball basically rolled into Sanchez's arms.
It looked as if Sarr had scored a fantastic 69th minute equaliser from 25 yards after winning a challenge against Caicedo. Mr. Pawson was called to the monitor by VAR Jarred Gillett and after an all too lengthy review decided not only had Sarr fouled Caicedo, but his offence was worthy of a yellow card. The cards were certainly stacked against Spurs at this moment.
The perception in the crowd when Sarr "scored" was that Postecoglou cupped his hands towards them with reference to their thoughts on his substitution, but he insisted that he was just celebrating what he thought was a great goal. The coach did not go to the fans at the end of the game, and there is a definite disconnect between the two parties now.
Fernandez threatened after a cross from the left, but the Spurs defence cleared. Pedro Neto was booked for a foul on Son just outside the area. Maddison's free kick was blocked. Following the corner a shot by Spence was well over the target.
Vicario pushed away a cross by Palmer who soon also went into Mr. Pawson's notebook for delaying a Spurs free kick deep in their own half. Van de Ven was replaced by Pedro Porro. Djed Spence took up central defensive duties. Spurs managed a break out of defence and Solanke fed the ball to Johnson, whose cross reached Son at the back post. Son hit a close range shot saved by Sanchez, who was applauded by his team-mates. After the corner, Udogie fired over.
There were 12 minutes of added time, during which Sanchez held a cross by substitute Mathys Tel. Pedro Porro went wild after he should have had a corner decision. Both he and Johnson were booked for arguing too forcefully with the referee's assistant.
The best that can be said about this defeat is that it was narrow, and that Chelsea fans were baying for the final whistle. We were however second best, as has been happening too often since April last year. Wins against bottom club Southampton on Sunday and against Eintracht Frankfurt next Thursday are vital both for morale and for continuing hope in Europe.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. London derby results since 1997.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
