João Pedro Ends Goal Drought As Chelsea Earn Narrow Victory At Tottenham

The days erstwhile Tottenham were tin of ending this fixture pinch 9 men trying to propulsion disconnected a high statement against Nicolas Jackson are over, but connected existent grounds nan determination to switch nan excesses of Angeball pinch thing much restrained and grown-up has simply invited soul-searching of a different nature.

The loud, sustained blast of booing that collapsed retired erstwhile nan last whistle arrived astatine nan extremity of this sorry conclusion to Chelsea said overmuch astir nan personality situation gripping nan Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There are ways to suffer a derby but Spurs chose 1 of nan worst routes. They created almost thing of statement during an unremarkable game, truthful overmuch truthful that they vanished pinch an xG of 0.05, and it must person been worrying for Thomas Frank to perceive unrest flare connected much than 1 juncture successful nan stands.

There has been tentative advancement nether Frank, though astir of it has travel connected nan road. Spurs person taken 13 points from their past 19 location games, a grounds which represents nan worst of immoderate nine to person been successful nan Premier League during that period, and mustered only 1 changeable connected target arsenic they fell to their 5th consecutive conclusion to Chelsea.

One extremity was capable for Chelsea to climb into 4th spot and spell level connected points pinch Spurs. João Pedro ended his barren tally and Moisés Caicedo was superb successful midfield. Chelsea, though, did not person to beryllium thing much than objective and businesslike to win.

It was worthy recalling that Spurs took nan lead successful this fixture successful each of nan past 2 seasons, only to suffer because they were excessively gung-ho connected some occasions. Frank, though, is much of a chameleon than Ange Postecoglou. The Dane is prepared to accommodate his strategies and he met nan threat posed by Chelsea by looking to compress space, pinch João Palhinha sticking to Enzo Fernández and Spurs’ container midfield afloat of runners but possibly a small ray connected ideas pinch nan ball.

The interest for Spurs had to beryllium a deficiency of invention. Certainly location was small going connected during nan early stages. Spurs lacked earthy width connected nan near and were forced to tweak their scheme erstwhile a concussed Lucas Bergvall made measurement for Xavi Simons successful nan seventh minute.

There was not overmuch to unsettle Chelsea. The mobility was whether they had nan wit to unlock a heavy Spurs defence. Breaking down debased blocks has made an rumor for Enzo Maresca, who made 2 changes aft past week’s conclusion to Sunderland. He had Reece James alongside Caicedo successful midfield, ensuring that Chelsea were ne'er going to beryllium overwhelmed physically, but creating clear openings was difficult. Alejandro Garnacho testing Guglielmo Vicario from 20 yards was astir arsenic bully arsenic it sewage during nan first 25 minutes.

João Pedro fires location Chelsea’s victor from a Moisés Caicedo pass. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Spurs were painfully constricted successful attack. Randal Kolo Muani was swallowed up by Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana. Simons, targeted by Chelsea past summer, looked frail against Malo Gusto.

Chelsea’s moves were slicker, peculiarly pinch Garnacho many times creating overloads connected nan left. One of nan biggest positives for Maresca was seeing assurance travel backmost into João Pedro’s crippled aft scoring nan victor successful nan 34th minute. The Brazilian has looked tired successful caller weeks and is not training astatine afloat velocity but he led nan statement present pinch a operation of robust hold-up play and slippery activity successful spot of Marc Guiu and nan suspended Liam Delap. Spurs, by contrast, had nary of that punch.

They should person trailed erstwhile an correction playing retired from nan backmost led to João Pedro going done and shooting astatine Vicario’s legs. The informing went unheeded, though. Spurs were soon overplaying again, inviting Caicedo to press. The midfielder won possession once, past muscled connected to a soft walk from Simons and dominated a 50-50 pinch Micky van de Ven earlier uncovering João Pedro, who lifted nan shot past Vicario for his first extremity since August.

Spurs flickered, Mohammed Kudus drafting a plunging prevention from Robert Sánchez, but they should person been retired of it by half-time. Vicario repelled a piledriver from João Pedro and location was fury from Chelsea erstwhile a be aware for Rodrigo Bentancur’s disfigured lunge connected Reece James was deemed sufficient.

Chelsea remained superior, Fernández heading narrowly complete astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half. Caicedo took an robust grip successful midfield. João Pedro barged Kevin Danso disconnected nan shot and made a shooting opportunity for Pedro Neto. Garnacho, released by Caicedo, almost group up Neto for a tap-in.

It was clip for Spurs to make their move. Cristian Romero replaced Danso successful cardinal defence and Richarlison went up beforehand aft coming connected for Bentancur. Kolo Muani shifted to nan left, allowing Simons to person a spell arsenic a No 10.

The research lasted different 13 minutes, ending erstwhile Brennan Johnson replaced nan dismal Simons, who could person nary complaints astir being a substituted substitute. Spurs still huffed and puffed. Chelsea will not person galore easier wins this season.