There are days when Tottenham go into these big games and find ways to beat themselves. This time, though, they held their nerve at a ground where they have mostly only known doom. Spurs played with control, stayed patient and won at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2018 after waiting for Chelsea to press the self-destruct button during a calamitous and comical ending to a cagey game.
Chelsea were meant to have grown. Xabi Alonso had even praised his side’s emotional control and ability to manage awkward spells during the buildup, but perhaps that was asking for trouble. Chelsea, short of poise on and off the pitch, deserved to be beaten at home for the first time this season and there was plenty of blame to go around after Alonso got his tactics wrong, Mike Penders scored a ridiculous own goal and Cole Palmer was sent off after a lunge on Conor Gallagher when he was already on a booking.
Alonso suggested this could be a learning moment for Palmer. He could have been sent off when he earned his first booking for bumping into the excellent Mateus Fernandes and the frustration is that Chelsea still had time to find an equaliser before their No 10 suffered his rush of blood to the head. It summed up a haphazard display, bringing an abrupt end to talk of Chelsea’s improved discipline.
There was a collective loss of nerve from Alonso’s edgy side and Spurs made them pay by pressing at an obvious weakness. Fernandes targeted Penders with a corner and the young goalkeeper ruined his full Premier League debut by punching the ball into his own net. It would be harsh to pin the defeat on Penders, who started only because Emi Martínez is out with a broken jaw.
Palmer was foolish and Alonso was culpable. Chelsea were muted without the injured João Pedro but their manager’s setup did not help. Playing without a recognised striker and giving Geovany Quenda his first start at this level was a mistake from Alonso, as was his failure to bring on Danny Welbeck until it was too late and Spurs were already coasting towards only their second win in 35 attempts in this fixture.
Chelsea lacked punch and balance without João Pedro up front. They need the Brazilian back soon. Palmer and Morgan Rogers were ineffective as false nines and Spurs had the tactical edge.
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