PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER, 2024
(4.30PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(2) CHELSEA 4(1)

Spurs scorers:-
Solanke, 5
Kulusevski, 11
Son, 90+6

Chelsea scorers:-
Sancho, 17
Palmer, 61, 84 (both pens)
Fernandez, 73

Attendance:- 61,184

Referee:- Anthony Taylor
Assistants:- Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official:- Lewis Smith
VAR:- Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR:- Mark Scholes

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-1-3):- 20. Forster; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (sub 6. Dragusin, 15), 37. Van de Ven (sub 14. Gray, 79), 13. Udogie; 29. Sarr, 8. Bissouma (sub 15. Bergvall, 79); 21. Kulusevski (sub 10. Maddison, 79); 22. Johnson (sub 16. Werner, 53), 19. Solanke, 7. Son (Capt.)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 24. Spence, 3. Reguilon; 42. Lankshear

Booked:- Sarr (foul on Cucurella), Bissouma (foul on Caicedo)

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):- 1. Sanchez; 25. Caicedo, 5. Badiashile, 6. Colwill, 3. Cucurella (sub 40. Renato Veiga, 90); 45. Lavia (sub 27. Gusto, 46), 8. Fernandez (Capt.); 7. Pedro Neto (sub 11. Madueke, 86), 20. Palmer (sub 14. Joao Felix, 90+1), 19. Sancho; 15. Jackson (sub 18. Nkunku, 76)

Subs not used:- 12. Jorgensen; 2. Disasi, 4. Adarabioyo; 22. Dewsbury-Hall

Booked:- Lavia (foul on Kulusevski), Pedro Neto (foul on Udogie), Sanchez (time)

Dreamland, then despair.

The dream began with the news that both first choice centre-backs would start for Spurs. Neither made it to the end of the game. Then when Spurs went two-up inside eleven minutes, we dared to dream that we might see one of our better performances of the season.

Indeed, it was one of our better games, but we surrendered the points with poor defending for Chelsea's first goal and foolishly committing clear penalty fouls in the second half. Cole Palmer does not fail from the spot and even delighted his fans with a cheeky Panenka for his second penalty and Chelsea's fourth goal. That was the cue for a mass exit of the disheartened home support.

Sky viewers will have been delighted with an entertaining end to end game. Played on a very cold and wet and windy night it was not as chaotic as last year's 4-1 defeat, but in conceding those penalties, Spurs did once again lose their heads.

"Audere est Facere" was the TIFO displayed before kick-off. The team dared, but ultimately did not do enough. The South Stand fans used the cards to pester Chelsea's first half corner takers, which was quite pathetic really.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand. Inside the first minute Kulusevski advanced in the Chelsea half and passed to Johnson, whose shot was blocked, giving us a corner on the right. Chelsea soon won a corner at the other end after some Cucurella trickery. However, Cucurella slipped in his own half which allowed Johnson to get forward and cross quickly to the near post where Solanke cleverly flicked the ball into the net.

Cucurella soon slipped again, and Pedro Porro fed Kulusevski who cut in from the right before beating Sanchez with a well-placed left foot shot just inside the keeper's left post. The dream was on! Cucurella changed his boots!

Romero needed treatment and had to be replaced by Dragusin. Apparently, this was a new issue for Romero, reporting a problem with his quad muscles.

Sadly, it wasn't long before Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho was allowed the freedom to come in from the left wing before scoring with a right-footed driven shot inside Forster's left post. The game was on!

Chelsea's 20-year-old midfielder Romeo Lavia took the first booking of the game when he upended Kulusevski. Son went close with a right-footed curler which just passed the far post. There was some exciting play down the right flank by Pedro Porro and Johnson who passed to Kulusevski, but he was adjudged to have handled the ball when receiving.

Sarr was booked for fouling Cucurella. Spurs failed to close down Palmer who had a shot well-saved by Forster, who then managed to block Pedro Neto's follow-up.

Sarr won a corner which was taken by Son. When he swung the ball in, it was Sarr's header which hit the top of the bar. Sanchez hit a poor play-out pass and Spurs came back via Sarr and Son before Solanke's shot was on target but lacked strength.

Spurs came under some pressure before half-time. There was danger when Pedro Neto and Jackson broke out, and also presented by Cole Palmer. Spurs defended well and conceded corners where necessary. We were informed via the screen that VAR had examined the issue of possible serious foul play by Caicedo on Sarr, but I don't think referee Anthony Taylor had even awarded a foul. As is Mr. Taylor's nature, he was letting a lot go. He did play an advantage to Spurs, but that didn't work out for us.

At half-time Enzo Maresca replaced Lavia with Gusto who was very effective down the right flank against Udogie. Chelsea kicked off and put us under more pressure. Forster made another good save, this time from Sancho, after Cucurella's cross.

Pedro Porro sent Kulusevski away down the line, but that move ended with a poor cross. Fernandez hit a right foot shot just wide from 20 yards.

Now Johnson needed treatment, and he too had to be replaced by Timo Werner.

Forster saved from Gusto after another Chelsea corner, but soon after that Bissouma committed a suicidal foul on Sancho towards the right side of the box. Bissouma was also booked, and Palmer did not fail. It was 2-2 and I think we all knew which way this game was going.

Solanke played a ball towards Udogie, who appeared to be offside and did not touch the ball. Son took it on and really should have scored but hit his shot low and wide across the target. No offside was given against Udogie, but perhaps VAR would have intervened, if a goal had been scored. It might have been argued Udogie affected play, despite being a long way from goal. Son's miss makes it academic anyway.

Spurs had a free kick on the right, taken by Pedro Porro, but headed just wide by Van de Ven. Chelsea went 3-2 up when Gusto broke forward before Palmer was involved and Fernandez scored inside the right post with another 20-yard shot. Chelsea fans chanted "It's happened again."

Pedro Porro offered a great block to a Sancho shot and Chelsea had another corner. Micky van de Ven didn't see any more action and had to be replaced by Gray. Ange Postecoglou said the plan was always for Van de Ven to play about 60 minutes, so hopefully he can play next week. It was also time for Maddison to replace Kulusevski and Bergvall to take over from Bissouma.

All too soon, Sarr was the offender for another reckless foul just inside Spurs' left side of the box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot where Palmer took delight in scoring with that Panenka.

The exodus of home support began. Son's right-footed goal in the 96th minute after good footwork by Maddison came all too late to change the result.

Spurs remain in 11th place, above Newcastle and Manchester United. A win at Southampton next Sunday is imperative before we host Liverpool just before Christmas. First up though is a difficult trip to Rangers in the Europa League. "Big Ange" is sure of a hot reception from those who follow the blue half of Glasgow!

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