Chelsea beats off-color Spurs to boost Euro hopes

Tottenham's Champions League hopes dashed after defeat to Chelsea. Analysis of the match and Chelsea's European aspirations.

Nicolas Jackson celebrates after heading home the second goal against Tottenham on Thursday to boost Chelsea's hopes of European football next season. (Photo credit: EuroSport)

Things have gone from bad to worse for Tottenham Hotspur, their dream of returning to the Champions League has gone up in flames after another defeat against Chelsea on Thursday night.

Spurs trail Aston Villa by seven points in the race for fourth but with a game in hand, a win over Chelsea would have taken them closer to Unai Emery’s men who were away on Europa Conference League duties right about the same time Spurs filed out against the Blues.

After losing at home to Arsenal in the North London Derby last weekend, Tottenham made few changes to the starting eleven, notably dropping James Maddison to the bench with Emerson Royale coming in for Ben Davies and, Yves Bissouma restored to the starting lineup.

Chelsea made some changes to the side that fought back to 2-2 against Aston Villa, handing a role at right-back to Alfie Gilchrist and Mykhailo Mudryk on the flanks. Chelsea started quickly, mounting attacks, and forcing Spurs to defend deep.

The visitors grew into the game, Djordje Petrovic made a good save and Trevor Chalobah made a good block to deny Richarlison. The game swung from end to end until midway into the half, a Connor Gallagher free kick was met by Chalobah’s head, handing the hosts a deserved lead.

Tottenham lost interest in the game from thereon. Their record at Stamford Bridge didn’t help matters, they haven’t won more than once away at Chelsea with their solitary win coming in 2018. The half ended with Chelsea feeling they could have had more.

The second half saw a host of changes from Postecoglou. The Australian manager sent on Maddison and Pierre Emile Hoijberg but it was the Blues that scored again. Cole Palmer’s free-kick cannoned off the crossbar but, Nicolas Jackson headed home the rebound to make it 2-0.

Chelsea dominated the closing exchanges, boosting their own hopes of making it to Europe. The win took the Blues to 8^th on the log with one game in hand; Chelsea has a realistic chance of finishing sixth but, they must win all their remaining games and hope some teams drop points along the way.