Thanks to Eugene Gasper for capturing this image

PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER, 2026
5.30 PM
CHELSEA 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)

Spurs scorer(s):-
Penders (o.g.), 77
Tel, 87

Attendance:- TBC

Referee:- Chris Kavanagh
Assistants:- Dan Cook, Ian Hussin
Fourth official:- Farai Hallam
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Richard West

Teams:-
Chelsea (3-4-3):- 39. Penders; 34. Acheampong, 5. Lacroix, 6. Colwill; 7. Pedro Neto (sub 18. Welbeck, 88), 25. Caicedo (Capt.), 14. Henderson, 21. Hato (sub 2. Palestra, 65); 10. Palmer, 17. Rogers, 23. Geovany Quenda (sub 41. Estevao, 72)

Subs not used:- 28. Sharman-Lowe; 3. Fofana, 27. Gusto; 4. Barco, 45. Lavia, 32. Nicoll-Jazuli

Booked:- Palmer (unsporting conduct towards Fernandes), Pedro Neto (foul on Pedro Porro), Rogers (foul on Gallagher)

Sent off:- Palmer, 80 (second yellow for foul on Gallagher)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 31. Kinsky; 14. Gray, 6. Van Hecke, 37. Van de Ven (Capt.), 3. Robertson (sub 23. Pedro Porro, 65); 18. Fernandes, 16. Tonali; 20. Kudus (sub 21. Kulusevski, 89), 10. Maddison (sub 8. Gallagher, 51), 11. Tel (sub 33. Davies, 89); 22. Marmoush (sub 19. Solanke, 65)

Subs not used:- 39. Dubravka; 5. Senesi; 52. Olusesi, 68. Williams-Barnett

Booked:- Gallagher (foul on Rogers), Van de Ven (foul), Fernandes (foul on Palmer)

Oh Spurs, you beauties!

Thanks to Andy Park for capturing this image

Roberto de Zerbi's Spurs made all our dreams come true with a dominating performance at Stamford Bridge and a 2-0 win that took us zooming up the table to 12th place - our highest Premier League position since New Year's Day.

My preview was pessimistic and I'll admit to expecting the usual defeat. There was always a hope that, with Chelsea's fragile defence and 21-year-old goalkeeper having to make his first Premier League start due to Emilio Martinez's injury last week, Spurs might be rewarded for putting pressure on the home side. When I saw the line-up and noted the absence of top scorer Joao Pedro (injured in training this week), I did think we might stand a chance of adding to the one solitary win in 36 years at Stamford Bridge.

Both coaches made two changes. Xabi Olonso's absences were enforced (Martinez and Joao Pedro), and they were replaced by Penders and 19-year-old Geovany Quenda, for whom Chelsea have paid Sporting some £42 million. Quenda made his first start for Chelsea. Mathys Tel and Mateus Fernandes replaced Tosin and Solanke. Tosin was absent from the squad, while Solanke as rested on the bench, having reported "fatigue" after the Coventry game.

Tel made his 50th Premier League appearance for Spurs and sealed our win with a stunning individual goal in the 87th minute. It was also Tel's first league start since early September. He scored an impressive hat-trick for the French under-21s early this month. Fernandes was awarded Sky's "man of the match" accolade and his partnership with Tonali in front of the defence has finally come to fruition. In the words of Gary Neville, Fernandes "controlled the game."

Pedro Porro started on the bench. Skipper Micky van de Ven had two fingers on his left hand strapped together.

On a windy, wet night, Spurs turned Chelsea around and played the first half towards the away fans (vocal throughout) in the Shed End. Chelsea kicked off and spent the first minute camped in our half. We soon got forward though and won a couple of early free kicks. The first - taken from the right by Fernandes – was batted away by Penders. The second, taken on the other side by Robertson was poor.

Tel won a corner on the left and Alonso's strategy was to put four of his players forward in a box formation, taking the same number of Spurs players out of Chelsea's area. No doubt this was intended to take pressure off the young keeper.

After 11 minutes, Chelsea had a free kick, after Tonali had lost the ball. The triumvirate of Palmer, Rogers and Henderson produced a poor effort. Kinsky made a good save from Palmer after Fernandes had lost the ball in midfield. Most of the time, Spurs were insistent upon playing out and most of their passes were well-executed.

Fernandes and Tel combined on the left before Maddison thought he had won a corner on the left near the bye-line. Referee Chris Kavanagh decided it was a goal kick. Maddison and Tel won another corner. Tonali fed the ball to Tel who crossed to the far side of the box where Kudus controlled, turned, and hit his shot just wide back across goal.

Every Spurs man played well, but I'd pick out Kudus for his ball-holding skills, successful passing, and decent crosses.

Marmoush held his back and took a while to recover after close attention from Colwill. Tel went down in the box after 24 minutes, but no foul was given. Maddison had provided an effective pass and was an integral part of Spurs' controlling midfield.

Spurs were enjoying 70% of the possession but hadn't managed a shot on target. Tel and Andy Robertson combined on the left. Robertson got to the line and crossed. Marmoush's shot was straight at the keeper. Tel passed inside to Kudus who was to the left of goal. Mo hit a low cross/shot at the keeper.

Tel hit a shot over the target after Marmoush's pass but had been offside anyway. Kinsky made a fine double save from Palmer and then Neto, who had also been offside. Antonin then had to save near his left post from Palmer. Spurs took control again and after Marmoush passed back, Tonali fired over.

There was danger from the home side after Van de Ven mis-passed near halfway. A Chelsea corner resulted. Marmoush missed the target after receiving from Fernandes, before a Chelsea free kick at the other end which ended with a good Kinsky save from Neto's low shot.

There was no added time at the end of the half.

Sadly, soon after the restart, James Maddison sat down and was unable to continue. As he walked off, to be replaced by Gallagher, several Chelsea players offered condolences. Gallagher was booed by his former fans.

Spurs soon took control again. Kudus had a left-footed effort deflected out for a corner which was severely overhit! Another Kinsky save was required from Neto after Fernandes had lost the ball in midfield. It certainly didn't all go right for Spurs.

More substitutions followed with Solanke replacing Marmoush and Pedro Porro coming on for Robertson. Archie Gray switched to left back.

Gallagher had a shot on target, but it lacked strength. Conor was shown the first yellow card of the game and his third of the season for a foul on Neto. A game that had been fought fairly suddenly saw the red mist come down. Van de Ven slid in heavily for a tackle. Fernandes fouled Palmer, who basically kneed Fernandes to the ground. A melee ensued and cards were shown, including one to our coach.

19-year-old Estevao was cheered on when he replaced Quenda and he soon hit the side netting after Palmer's cross. Spurs won a corner when a Fernandes shot was deflected, Chelsea wanted offside against Solanke, but no flag was shown, nor was that decision made. That corner was swung in from the left and Penders tried to punch clear but actually punched the ball backwards over his goal-line with the back of his arm. Technology quickly confirmed the goal, and Spurs had a deserved lead!

Neto was booked for fouling Kudus. Chelsea were losing control of the game and their tempers. Palmer was shown a second yellow for treading on Gallagher's foot. Pedro Porro's free kick was blocked. Solanke hooked a shot from a corner at Penders. Kudus and Gallagher advanced down the right before Penders punched Gallagher's cross in the right direction.

Mathys Tel sealed the win with a magnificent solo goal taking the ball with him on a great run from the left wing leaving two or three players in his wake before hitting a low 20-yard shot into the net beyond Pender's right hand. It was a fantastic moment and Stamford Bridge's home fans began their exodus. They (and we for that matter) are not used to this!

Thanks to Greg Smith for capturing this image

The former Chelsea man Gallagher seemed to be a target of those in blue, whether or not they had actually played with him. Rogers was the last to go in the referee's book.

Early in the second half, I felt that whatever happened, Spurs would soon be climbing the table. This most excellent and memorable result has lifted us to 12th place overnight, and augurs well for the rest of the season. We have five winnable games before the meeting with Arsenal on December 6th.

For the moment, we must gloat in the warmth of this win and enjoy the positive headlines about our team. Spurs, you beauties, have made us very proud today!

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for capturing this image

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