Chelsea Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

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Chelsea 4 - 0 Spurs
Eto'o, Hazard (p), Ba (2)
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Spurs: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson (Fryers), Kaboul, Vertonghen; Bentaleb, Sandro; Walker, Lennon, Sigurdsson (Paulinho); Adebayor.
Subs: Friedel, Chadli, Townsend, Kane, Soldado.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Lampard, Matic, Ramires, Hazard, Schurrle, Eto'o.
Subs: Oscar, Mikel, Ba, Willian, Schwarzer, Eto'o, Kalas.

Ref: Michael Oliver

BBC Live Text
19:17 GOAL - Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham - Demba Ba
It's silly season at Stamford Bridge! Hugo Lloris clears to Kyle Walker, who inexplicably heads it back towards the French keeper. Demba Ba nips in front of Lloris to make it 4-0.
19:15 GOAL - Chelsea 3-0 Tottenham - Demba Ba
Chelsea take advantage of another slip at the back - this time by Sandro - which gives Demba Ba a clear sight of goal. He slots it cooly through the legs of Hugo Lloris.
18:59 SUBSTITUTION - Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Fryers for Dawson (injured)
18:52 SUBSTITUTION - Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Tim Sherwood responds to the double blow by bringing on Paulinho for Gylfi Sigurdsson.
18:47 GOAL - Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham - Eden Hazard (pen)
Eden Hazard steps up and, calmly as you like, the mercurial Belgian sends Hugo Lloris the wrong way. How quickly this game has turned.
18:47 RED CARD - - Younes Kaboul
Oliver compounds Tottenham's misery by showing Younes Kaboul a red card. Eto'o was closing in on Eden Hazard's low cross and Kaboul was coming from behind but the contact looked minimal and Eto'o certainly went down easily. Spurs have a mountain to climb now.
18:43 GOAL - Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham - Samuel Eto'o
Taxi for Jan Vertonghen. The Spurs defender slips in possession then compounds his error by playing the ball straight into the path of Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroon striker waits before picking out the far corner, then brilliantly mocks Jose Mourinho's recent comments about his age by staggering towards the corner flag to celebrate like an old man!
18:42 YELLOW CARD Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
Kyle Naughton takes one for the team as he body-checks a dangerous-looking Eden Hazard. Then Sandro joins him in the book with another deliberate foul to thwart Branislav Ivanovic's swift counter.
Substitution, Chelsea. Oscar replaces Frank Lampard.
HALF-TIME - Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
18:10 YELLOW CARD Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
A fully-deserved yellow card for Frank Lampard as he comes in from the side and slides right through Sandro.
17:53 GREAT SAVE! - Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
Sandro tests Petr Cech with a sharp volley from the edge of the area but the big Czech keeper dives low to his left to keep the ball out.
17:40 YELLOW CARD Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
Spurs midfielder Nabil Bentaleb goes into the referee's book for a cynical challenge on Ramires, who was threatening to break clear. Tottenham's high defensive line is playing into the hands of Chelsea's fleet-footed attackers.
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[chrissivad]

Chelsea Vs Tottenham
Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Saturday 8th March Kick Off: 17:30​

For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread​

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Chelsea will be looking to capitalise on their rivals' inactivity in the Premier League title race by going seven points clear at the top of the table when they take on Tottenham on Saturday evening.

With Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all not in Premier League action this weekend, Chelsea can gain a big advantage and build a strong lead at the top with another three points against Tottenham.

Jose Mourinho's men go into the game in great form and they boast a formidable home record against Tottenham.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 26 matches against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, with their last defeat coming way back in 1990 when Gary Lineker scored the winner for Spurs.

The game pits the side with the best home record in Chelsea against Tottenham who have the best record away from home this season.

Tottenham will be aiming to end their Stamford Bridge hoodoo as they look to keep alive their hopes of a top-four finish.

Tim Sherwood's side are four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City, but have played two more games than Manuel Pellegrini's men.

Spurs have drawn on their last two visits to Stamford Bridge and the two sides shared the spoils in the first meeting at White Hart Lane earlier this season.

Tottenham
Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is doubtful for the trip to Chelsea as he struggles with a back problem.

Eriksen missed last weekend's win over Cardiff and he was also forced to withdraw from the Denmark squad for the midweek friendly with England.

Kyle Walker is also facing a race against time to be fit after he missed England's win over Denmark with a thigh injury.

Danny Rose is expected to miss out again with a knee injury meaning Ezekiel Fryers will continue at left-back, while Etienne Capoue is struggling with an ankle problem.

Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela (both back) remain sidelined while Jermain Defoe has now left for Toronto FC.

Chelsea
Chelsea are sweating over the fitness of Eden Hazard before finalising their side to face Tottenham.

Hazard picked up an ankle injury while on international duty, but the Belgian is expected to shake off the knock to play.

Jose Mourinho has no other injury concerns to deal with and he could rotate his squad after a busy schedule.

Long-term absentee Marco van Ginkel is back in training, but the game will come too for the Dutchman after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard should be fit despite suffering a minor ankle injury whilst playing for Belgium in midweek.

Samuel Eto'o played 90 minutes for Cameroon against Portugal, so Fernando Torres, who was not called up by Spain, may start up front.

Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen expects to be available, having sat out Denmark's defeat by England on Wednesday because of a back problem.

But Kyle Walker, who also missed that game through injury, may not be fit.

"March is the month." That's a quote from Arsene Wenger just before his Arsenal side were deservedly beaten at Stoke, ensuring a dreadful start to that make-or-break period.

Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood would have enjoyed Arsenal's defeat, but would probably agree with his rival's sentiment. Tottenham have Premier League games against Arsenal, Southampton and Liverpool to fit around a two-legged Europa League tie against Benfica, all following this test of their mettle at Stamford Bridge. March is indeed the month.

If Spurs can qualify for the Champions League, or win the Europa League, Sherwood would surely be allowed to stay for the start of next season. If not then the much touted rumours suggesting Louis van Gaal's arrival at White Hart Lane may become a reality.

It would be shame for the Premier League to lose Sherwood so quickly. His plain speaking has been refreshing and if Spurs can get through March still in touch with fourth place then a relatively kind run-in just might see them sneak into the top four.

Tottenham may now feel that Arsenal, rather than Liverpool, are the team they are most likely to catch; which would, of course, be doubly satisfying.

Jose Mourinho's determination to stick limpet-like to the premise that his side are not real title contenders is becoming comical. Manchester City's games in hand, he reckons, mean that Chelsea cannot even be considered proper league leaders.

City are in cup action again this weekend, so Chelsea have the chance to extend their lead to nine points having played three game more. That would leave City probably needing to win at Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium in the space of five days at the end of March just to stay in touch.

Like the man said, March is the month… at least until April.

Head-to-head

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 23 home league meetings with Tottenham (W15, D8), plus three cup matches (W1, D2).
• Spurs' last win at Stamford Bridge was on 10 February 1990, when Gary Lineker and David Howells got the goals in a 2-1 victory.

Chelsea

• The Blues are unbeaten in 13 league games, winning 10 of those matches. They and Liverpool are the only Premier League sides unbeaten in 2014.
• Andre Schurrle has scored six goals in the eight top-flight games he has started for Chelsea, but has failed to net in 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League.
• Only Wayne Rooney (19) has more assists in the Premier League than Eden Hazard (18) since the start of the 2012-13 season.
• Jose Mourinho has yet to lose a league game at Stamford Bridge (58 wins, 16 draws).
• Chelsea have claimed 38 points on home turf this season - the highest total in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have the division's best away record, with 29 points claimed on their travels.
• A Spurs defeat would see them lose back-to-back Premier League away games for the first time since November 2012, when they were beaten by Manchester City and then Arsenal.
• Emmanuel Adebayor has scored or assisted 11 goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season, all since Tim Sherwood took charge. He has netted seven times in his last six league appearances away from home.
• Roberto Soldado's goal against Cardiff last weekend was his first from open play in the Premier League since 20 October.

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Match Day Chatroom​

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[THFCSPURS19]

Yeah, erm, not really looking forward to this one, I just hope we still have a positive goal difference by the end of the match.

 

[carpediem991]

Any place to meet befroe the game near to the ground? First match for me since the Swansea home game. Exciting...until Willian scores after 2 minutes.

 

[Glenn_Purvey]

Think we will win this one, big week for us.

 

[peter_the_yid]

I hate Chelsea with a passion. If I was ultra rich I'd buy the club, sack everyone and get it liquidated.
I hope we smash them so bad their heathen anti semitic fans make one big 40,000+ suicide pact and end it.

 

[Flashspur]

Looking forward to Ade making Terry his biatch....dont drop the soap John T...COYS

I think Tim is going to throw caution to the winds and go for the 'to dare is to do' result...it will either be a victory where we bathe in glory or it will end in abject tears.

To be fair with just 10 games in hand...its no time for playing it safe. I just hope the football Gods pay us our dues. its time we got something at the Bridge.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

I thought Walker was supposed to be fit for the game but apparently he is doubtful. Were fucked without him tbh

 

[Supersi32]

I thought Walker was supposed to be fit for the game but apparently he is doubtful. Were fucked without him tbh

Were fucked either way tbh.

 

[DiscoD1882]

i dont even want to think about this game. zero expectation

 

[mendesstormer]

We're not losing yet?

Excellent.

 

[SteveH]

I live in hope - COYS

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Its the hope that kills you.

Hoping against hope for some sort of result. Expecting a mullering.

 

[mpickard2087]

My (optimistic) prediction for this game:

 

[beats1]

Im going to stick a quid on us winning 4-2 with odds of 250-1 and perhaps a quid on dembele scoring and tottenham win, with odds of 30-1

I seen the whole season and I think, surely it cant get worse

 

[Mr Pink]

chelsea have been grinding out wins for the most part, they're not free scoring like city and pool. i also expect us to set up to contain them despite sherwood's remarks/attempt at mind games. Tight game they'll probably edge but im going for a 1-1.

 

[Lilbaz]

Soldado hattrick!

Spurs 4-0. Champions league here we come!

 

[riggi]

Gutted I'm not going to this one. Please comfort me and tell me it only went to st in the end?

 

[Lifeson]

Its the hope that kills you.

Hoping against hope for some sort of result. Expecting a mullering.

Meh deep down I will always hope that we win so damage limitation like that doesn't work unfortunately.

 

[Lilbaz]

Its the hope that kills you.

Hoping against hope for some sort of result. Expecting a mullering.

I always thought it was cancer that killed you.

They should have public health warnings against hope. Whoever she is.