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Key occasions
18 minutes: One other glorious probability for Chelsea as Palmer rolls the ball throughout aim in direction of Fernandez – however Udogie does simply sufficient, getting a boot to the ball earlier than Vicario scoops it up on the goalline.
16 minutes: The early stats present Tottenham edging possession, however Chelsea creating extra probabilities – which is perhaps not what we’d have anticipated.
14 minutes: Maddison clips a cross in direction of Lucas Bergvall, however Sanchez is there to gather it. On the restart, Romero runs ahead to clatter Jackson in midfield. He’s definitely within the temper tonight.
12 minutes: A full minute goes by with the ball out of play as Colwill and Romero hustle and a-tussle, regardless of two warnings from Craig Pawson. The ball in is scrappily cleared by Vicario, who then punches a catchable cross – and is relieved to see Jackson’s shot roll into his arms.
11 minutes: Udogie loses the ball and a beautiful backheel from Fernandez frees Palmer. He picks out Sancho forward of him, and his shot is deflected behind for a nook.
10 minutes: Tottenham take pleasure in a spell of possession in midfield with Chelsea content material to take a seat and wait …
8 minutes: Each these groups like an early aim – Spurs have 12, Chelsea 9 within the first quarter-hour this season – and we’ve began at a suitably brisk tempo.
6 minutes: Chelsea go shut once more! Sancho and Palmer maintain the ball up in Spurs territory earlier than Gusto cracks a shot from 20 yards that zips into the aspect netting. Half the group thought it was in – and it was shut.
5 minutes: There’s been a delay whereas Moises Caicedo receives therapy – he’s carrying on however shifting just a little awkwardly.
3 minutes: I feel all three gamers concerned there – Jackson, Vicario and Van de Ven – might have executed higher. However Spurs escape and Son wins a nook on the finish, which Chelsea are capable of clear away.
2 minutes: Yikes! How have Chelsea not scored right here?! Nicolas Jackson will get in behind the Spurs defence from Chalobah’s long-distance cross, however his toe-poke is saved by Vicario. Van de Ven’s clearance rebounds off Jackson, and clatters the submit!
1 min: Thomas Tuchel is within the constructing! The England supervisor supplied us with one other nice derby second – ‘The Handshake’.
Peep!
Craig Pawson will get us beneath method. Could possibly be vigorous, this one.
St. Totteringham’s Day ideas:
“The entire level of the gag was that it occurred yearly, had executed for yonks and at all times would. In order that ship’s sailed,” says Nick Scott. It’s a good level.
“2015-2016 is, in fact, when Tottenham managed to complete third in a two-horse race, with the decisive implosion at Stamford Bridge,” writes Andy Flintoff.
“The narrative round each groups has been related for the final three months, so I assumed each of them had been down within the Manchester United part of the desk,” writes Sir Jim Steven Hallett. “Sixth? Chelsea followers actually don’t have anything to complain about.”
Chelsea followers, be at liberty to hit me up along with your ideas on this season.
Right here’s Ange! “The squad is getting there by way of personnel, numbers and match health – the worldwide break was good for us. We’re in a greater place. It’s going to be in a troublesome recreation tonight, towards a top-quality group.”
On Romero and Van de Ven beginning collectively, he says: “We’ve missed that, the understanding that these two appeared to have from day one. Having these two again, it provides us actual good alternatives to construct from the again.”
“Whats up there younger man, is it St Totteringham’s Day? Yearly it appears to return earlier and earlier – now it’s right here earlier than Easter,” hoots Eagle Brosi. Sure, if Spurs fail to win right here, they are going to now not be capable of catch Arsenal within the desk – it’s undoubtedly an early one, however I ought to level out that the day by no means got here between 2015 and 2023.
Enzo Maresca talks to Sky after together with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson in his beginning XI. Has he missed Jackson (hooo)? “Nico is essential for us, not solely the objectives and assists, additionally off the ball. With him, we press aggressively. We’ve missed a whole lot of gamers however now they’re again for the tip of the season.”
On the top-five race: “It’s how we handle the emotion, if we win or lose a recreation, seeing groups go forward of you … we’re there, we’re going to be there on the finish and wish to convey this membership again to the place it needs to be.”
“With Chelsea vying for a European spot and Spurs battling for an Australian’s place within the dugout, this Cockney conflict has the texture of a global night time,” writes Peter Oh. I ought to warn you – I’ve already had phrases from a disgruntled, West Ham-following colleague about calling both of those groups Cockneys.
Staff information
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández (c); Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Subs: Jörgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Acheampong, James, Dewsbury-Corridor, Madueke, George, Nkunku.
Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Son (c).
Subs: Kinsky, Porro, Davies, Grey, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Johnson, Tel.
Pre-game studying
Preamble
From the Cockney Cup Closing to the Battle of the Bridge, Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur is a rivalry that hardly ever disappoints. The Blues’ final two journeys to Spurs have seen them win 4-1 and 4-3, punishing two of the Angiest performances of their rivals’ Postecoglou period.
Tottenham’s completely embattled supervisor wants a win, however should try to get it executed at a floor the place Spurs have gained simply as soon as within the league since 1990. Having completed three factors away from Chelsea final time period, Postecoglou’s aspect are 15 factors adrift because it stands, taking part in out their video games whereas Enzo Maresca’s group chase a top-five end.
Regardless of that, there’s a debate available over which of those two coaches is extra common with the followers. Postecoglou stays cherished and admired by a big chunk of Spurs followers, with anger at their plight skilled on Daniel Levy. Maresca, in the meantime, seems to be tolerated reasonably than cherished by Chelsea followers.
The truth is, the Italian is just a few rungs beneath his reverse quantity within the “sack race” betting, along with his group drifting from shock title contenders. Chelsea can return as much as fourth with a win tonight, and shake off the nagging doubt that they lack the additional gear lots of their top-five rivals are deploying with the season’s finish in sight.
Kick-off is at 8pm. Will anybody really take pleasure in it? We’ll discover out.