Before kick-off, it was easy to poke fun at the eternally optimistic Tottenham supporter who laid a heavy sum on his team to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United at odds of 14-1. Well, well, well. One thing is sure, Carlo Ancelotti will be desperate for Spurs to put in such a sparkling performance next weekend at Old Trafford.
Harry Redknapp's team are suddenly surfing atop a wave of adrenaline, and two outstanding results have led them to bounce back into a Champions League position. Chelsea departed White Hart Lane with their momentum battered and their egos bruised. Their lead at the Premiership summit has been trimmed to a single point, and a goal difference only two better than the scrapping, lurking, defending champions.
It was a dreadful evening for Chelsea, who lost their captain to a red card, their tempers to a situation they couldn't handle, and their comfortable cushion in the title race.
But what an extraordinary week for Spurs. Floored by Portsmouth in the FA Cup over two hours on the Wembley quagmire, they responded to scalp two London rivals who like to consider themselves superior. Top marks for character as well as ability.
The lunchtime result at Manchester made an impression on both teams –Tottenham were encouraged by City's setback and Chelsea tensed by United's demonstration of championship mettle.
Harry Redknapp's team set about their task with relish, evidently bouyed by their long-awaited win over Arsenal in midweek. Luka Modric used the ball craftily, Gareth Bale galloped forward with his engine on overdrive. Roman Pavluchenko's drifting movement and willingness to shoot stretched the Chelsea defence.
Tottenham upped the pressure with a rush of big appeals just before the quarter-hour. All were debatable to those without a white shirt on their chests. First, John Terry tangled with Jermain Defoe on the edge of the box, next Bale tumbled fractionally ahead of Mikel John Obi's challenge, then Pavluychenko's acrobatic flick was brushed away by a vague combination of Terry's nodded head and upper arm.
It was third time lucky. To Terry's astonishment the referee, Phil Dowd, pointed to the spot. Defoe, who choked with a couple of penalties earlier in the season, was eager to take responsibilty and he nervelessly cracked his shot past Petr Cech.
Defoe cantered off to celebrate. Terry argued with Dowd. Mind you, perhaps there was some karmic force at work which evened out some of the fortune that smiled on Chelsea regarding penalty appeals for Bolton last week.
There were plenty of opportunities to double the home advantage before half time. Pavlyuckenko took aim with a dipping shot which Cech palmed away. David Bentley's close-range jab was deflected by Terry. Younes Kaboul came up for a corner and headed powerfully but straight at Cech.
But Bale delivered. Two minutes before the interval, he made mincemeat of Paulo Ferreira, jinked inside his man, and proved himself surprisingly deadly with his right foot. Cech was certainly stunned as the effervescent Welshman arrowed his shot in at the near post.
Chelsea to replicate their commanding performance at Old Trafford at the beginning of the month. Hmmm. For 45 minutes here his team were second best. Outmanouevred in midfield, outrun at the back, and snuffed out up front, they were startled.
They managed a couple of efforts from Malouda – one saved and another ruled out for offside – and Heurelho Gomes came to Tottenham's rescue once again as he repelled Frank Lampard's volley. But, uncharacteristically, they struggled to mount any sustained pressure. Ancelotti, who had already brought on Michael Ballack in the first half for Mikel, threw on Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka for the restart. Ridiculously, Didier Drogba pulled up jusr before the whistle, feeling his groin, and limped to the touchline. Ancelotti wasn't interested. Drogba had no choice but to play on.
Chelsea cracked again, as Defoe was released for a one-on-one. Cech clawed away. Frustration began to gnaw, and Lampard kicked out at Tom Huddlestone. Tempers frayed as both sets of players sprinted to the scene of a little dust-up.
Just what they needed at such a delicate moment was for Terry to start lunging into tackles with reckless imprecision. So soon after the dangerous pounce at James Milner's knee, Fabio Capello again watched as the deposed England captain overstepped the line of riskiness. Two late tackles within three minutes left Dowd with no option but to dismiss Terry for two bookable offences.
Cech kept the scoreline respectable when he backpedalled to tip over Bentley's lob. Then Michael Dawson dispossessed Drogba with a cool, clean tackle as the Ivorian shaped to strike with seven minutes remaining. Chelsea did cause some late nerves when Lampard poked in Ballack's cross in stoppage time, and Pavluchenko flunked the chance to wrap it up on the counter-attack. Tottenham deservedly hung on for another huge result.
Harry Redknapp's team are suddenly surfing atop a wave of adrenaline, and two outstanding results have led them to bounce back into a Champions League position. Chelsea departed White Hart Lane with their momentum battered and their egos bruised. Their lead at the Premiership summit has been trimmed to a single point, and a goal difference only two better than the scrapping, lurking, defending champions.
It was a dreadful evening for Chelsea, who lost their captain to a red card, their tempers to a situation they couldn't handle, and their comfortable cushion in the title race.
But what an extraordinary week for Spurs. Floored by Portsmouth in the FA Cup over two hours on the Wembley quagmire, they responded to scalp two London rivals who like to consider themselves superior. Top marks for character as well as ability.
The lunchtime result at Manchester made an impression on both teams –Tottenham were encouraged by City's setback and Chelsea tensed by United's demonstration of championship mettle.
Harry Redknapp's team set about their task with relish, evidently bouyed by their long-awaited win over Arsenal in midweek. Luka Modric used the ball craftily, Gareth Bale galloped forward with his engine on overdrive. Roman Pavluchenko's drifting movement and willingness to shoot stretched the Chelsea defence.
Tottenham upped the pressure with a rush of big appeals just before the quarter-hour. All were debatable to those without a white shirt on their chests. First, John Terry tangled with Jermain Defoe on the edge of the box, next Bale tumbled fractionally ahead of Mikel John Obi's challenge, then Pavluychenko's acrobatic flick was brushed away by a vague combination of Terry's nodded head and upper arm.
It was third time lucky. To Terry's astonishment the referee, Phil Dowd, pointed to the spot. Defoe, who choked with a couple of penalties earlier in the season, was eager to take responsibilty and he nervelessly cracked his shot past Petr Cech.
Defoe cantered off to celebrate. Terry argued with Dowd. Mind you, perhaps there was some karmic force at work which evened out some of the fortune that smiled on Chelsea regarding penalty appeals for Bolton last week.
There were plenty of opportunities to double the home advantage before half time. Pavlyuckenko took aim with a dipping shot which Cech palmed away. David Bentley's close-range jab was deflected by Terry. Younes Kaboul came up for a corner and headed powerfully but straight at Cech.
But Bale delivered. Two minutes before the interval, he made mincemeat of Paulo Ferreira, jinked inside his man, and proved himself surprisingly deadly with his right foot. Cech was certainly stunned as the effervescent Welshman arrowed his shot in at the near post.
Chelsea to replicate their commanding performance at Old Trafford at the beginning of the month. Hmmm. For 45 minutes here his team were second best. Outmanouevred in midfield, outrun at the back, and snuffed out up front, they were startled.
They managed a couple of efforts from Malouda – one saved and another ruled out for offside – and Heurelho Gomes came to Tottenham's rescue once again as he repelled Frank Lampard's volley. But, uncharacteristically, they struggled to mount any sustained pressure. Ancelotti, who had already brought on Michael Ballack in the first half for Mikel, threw on Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka for the restart. Ridiculously, Didier Drogba pulled up jusr before the whistle, feeling his groin, and limped to the touchline. Ancelotti wasn't interested. Drogba had no choice but to play on.
Chelsea cracked again, as Defoe was released for a one-on-one. Cech clawed away. Frustration began to gnaw, and Lampard kicked out at Tom Huddlestone. Tempers frayed as both sets of players sprinted to the scene of a little dust-up.
Just what they needed at such a delicate moment was for Terry to start lunging into tackles with reckless imprecision. So soon after the dangerous pounce at James Milner's knee, Fabio Capello again watched as the deposed England captain overstepped the line of riskiness. Two late tackles within three minutes left Dowd with no option but to dismiss Terry for two bookable offences.
Cech kept the scoreline respectable when he backpedalled to tip over Bentley's lob. Then Michael Dawson dispossessed Drogba with a cool, clean tackle as the Ivorian shaped to strike with seven minutes remaining. Chelsea did cause some late nerves when Lampard poked in Ballack's cross in stoppage time, and Pavluchenko flunked the chance to wrap it up on the counter-attack. Tottenham deservedly hung on for another huge result.
