Spurs Top With Battling Draw At The Bridge

A dogged defensive display saw Tottenham frustrate Chelsea and consolidate their early lead of the Premier League title race. That is what we must now believe Spurs are in – having followed up their statement victory over Manchester City with an away point here against another of the genuine contenders.

It is the quality of their defensive work that has transformed Spurs this season. This was a fourth clean sheet in five league matches. All the more impressive given that Tottenham were without Toby Alderweireld and gave a first start to rookie defender Joe Rodon at the heart of their defence. After an understandably nervous start, the young Welshman excelled.

Fundamentally though, this was a result born of team play and tactical discipline rather than individual brilliance. In Hojbjerg and Sissoko Mourinho has found a screen for his back four that even the best teams struggle to penetrate. Neither is world-class with the ball at their feet but, without it, there are few better midfield combinations in the division.

Chelsea started the game brightly and looked to have opened the scoring inside 11 minutes. Mount found a corridor down the Tottenham right with which to play in Werner. The timing of the German’s run appeared perfect, enabling him to collect the pass inside the box, cut on to his right foot and finish with customary aplomb into the far corner. Serge Aurier, who had slipped when giving chase, was glad to see the assistant referee’s flag raised. It was a close call but not close enough to warrant any VAR interference.

Spurs grew from that point on. Ndombele, excellent in midweek against Ludogorets again shone here. His bravery in possession is finally winning him the recognition in England his talent deserves. The speed of his turns to wriggle past two and three players in spaces only he can conceive, combined with the quickness of his feet would light up Strictly never mind the Premier League. The Frenchman’s ability to work the ball on to Kane – enabled Tottenham to pose a regular threat on the counter, without compromising their defensive solidity. Had the industrious Bergwijn been more composed with both his shooting and final ball Tottenham may have even taken an early lead.

Instead, it was Serge Aurier who drew a fine save from Mendy with fifteen minutes played. The Ivorian full-back pounced on a weak Chelsea clearance from a corner and sent a low drive towards the bottom corner. Only the rangy Chelsea shot-stopper’s right arm kept the scores level.

That was the only piece of notable work by either goalkeeper in the first period. Time and again Chelsea failed to get beyond the Tottenham full-backs, leaving Dier and Rodon to repel with relish the speculative crosses that came into the box. As the interval approached, it was pressure without danger from the home side. Reguilon’s surging run, carrying the ball into Chelsea territory before drawing a foul, was enough to ensure Spurs went into the dressing rooms unscathed.

The start of the second half was more fraught for the Tottenham rearguard. Ziyech and James combined to free the young England man, who crossed menacingly from advanced positions. Tammy Abraham had three chances in quick succession from these deliveries. Tottenham were grateful for Abraham’s profligacy and Lampard’s preference for him over Giroud.

The pattern of the rest of the match was now set. Spurs continued to sit deep but were no longer able to find Kane’s feet and buy their overworked backline a breather. Son, now totally starved of the ball, could only contribute to the cause by furiously chasing back to help Aurier and Reguilon extinguish the Chelsea threat from wide. It took the introduction of Lo Celso, on for Ndombele with just over twenty to play, to bring the away side some respite.

The corner he chiselled out by knocking the ball against James and a free-kick he won on the half-way line elicited high volume praise from the Tottenham bench. Eric Dier, in contrast, received a different type of feedback when he twice gifted possession to Chelsea in dangerous areas with misplaced passes under no pressure. That it was Dier rather than Rodon who was feeling the tension speaks volumes about the youngster’s temperament.

With nine minutes to play Spurs were indebted to their most experienced campaigner Hugo Lloris for a fine full-stretch save from Mason Mount’s twenty-yarder. The French keeper has been quietly outstanding this season. Perhaps more than any Tottenham player he has enjoyed a renaissance since Mourinho arrived at the club.

As the clock ticked down, the Portuguese employed his full tactical timewasting repertoire to secure the result he came for. Frank Lampard, who sat under Mourinho’s learning tree longer than most, knows only too well about the momentum-killing deployment of subs in the game’s dying embers. Davies and Moura replaced Bergwijn and Son and barely touched the ball. But with Chelsea unable to build a head of steam they’d fulfilled Mourinho’s remit to the letter. Son even managed to depart the pitch via the furthest possible exit. Textbook Jose.

And yet despite these best-laid plans, it almost all went wrong. In the final seconds, Rodon unwisely attempted to head a long looping ball back to his goalkeeper. There wasn’t sufficient pace on the header to get it there safely and Giroud – belatedly on for Abraham – snuck in with Lloris stranded. The striker failed to apply the required elevation to his half-volleyed lob, and Lloris was able to catch it comfortably.

It would have been harsh on Rodon had his only real error been punished at the death. But the fright of a near-miss will serve him well as his Premier League baptism continues with fixtures against Woolwich and Liverpool next for Spurs in quick succession. If Tottenham negotiate those games unbeaten, it really will be time to remind the rest of the top flight that it’s lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one.