Key events
22 mins: Postecoglou is getting visibly irritated by his team, who are offering nothing in attack while also looking shaky at the back.
20 mins: The ball did ricochet off Udogie’s arm on the way through to the keeper, but there’s no further action – natural position and all that. Having said that, after James Tarkowski didn’t get sent off last night, I’m wondering if the monitors are even plugged in.
18 mins: Another excellent chance for Chelsea as Palmer rolls the ball across goal towards Fernandez – but Udogie does just enough, getting a boot to the ball before Vicario scoops it up on the goalline.
16 mins: The early stats show Tottenham edging possession, but Chelsea creating more chances – which is maybe not what we might have expected.
14 mins: Maddison clips a cross towards Lucas Bergvall, but Sanchez is there to collect it. At the restart, Romero runs forward to clatter Jackson in midfield. He’s certainly in the mood tonight.
12 mins: A full minute goes by with the ball out of play as Colwill and Romero hustle and a-tussle, despite 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 mins: Udogie loses the ball and a lovely backheel from Fernandez frees Palmer. He picks out Sancho ahead of him, and his shot is deflected behind for a corner.
10 mins: Tottenham enjoy a spell of possession in midfield with Chelsea content to sit and wait …
8 mins: Both these teams like an early goal – Spurs have 12, Chelsea nine in the first 15 minutes this season – and we’ve started at a suitably brisk pace.
6 mins: Chelsea go close again! Sancho and Palmer hold the ball up in Spurs territory before Gusto cracks a shot from 20 yards that zips into the side netting. Half the crowd thought it was in – and it was close.
5 mins: There’s been a delay while Moises Caicedo receives treatment – he’s carrying on but moving a little awkwardly.
3 mins: I think all three players involved there – Jackson, Vicario and Van de Ven – could have done better. But Spurs escape and Son wins a corner at the end, which Chelsea are able to clear away.
2 mins: Yikes! How have Chelsea not scored here?! Nicolas Jackson gets in behind the Spurs defence from Chalobah’s long-distance pass, but his toe-poke is saved by Vicario. Van de Ven’s clearance rebounds off Jackson, and clatters the post!
1 min: Thomas Tuchel is in the building! The England manager provided us with another great derby moment – ‘The Handshake’.
Peep!
Craig Pawson gets us under way. Could be lively, this one.
St. Totteringham’s Day thoughts:
“The whole point of the gag was that it happened every year, had done for yonks and always would. So that ship’s sailed,” says Nick Scott. It’s a fair point.
“2015-2016 is, of course, when Tottenham managed to finish third in a two-horse race, with the decisive implosion at Stamford Bridge,” writes Andy Flintoff.
“The narrative around both teams has been similar for the last three months, so I assumed both of them were down in the Manchester United section of the table,” writes Sir Jim Steven Hallett. “Sixth? Chelsea fans really have nothing to complain about.”
Chelsea fans, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts on this season.
Here’s Ange! “The squad is getting there in terms of personnel, numbers and match fitness – the international break was good for us. We’re in a better place. It’s going to be in a tough game tonight, against a top-quality team.”
On Romero and Van de Ven starting together, he says: “We’ve missed that, the understanding that those two seemed to have from day one. Having those two back, it gives us real good opportunities to build from the back.”
“Hello there young man, is it St Totteringham’s Day? Every year it seems to come earlier and earlier – now it’s here before Easter,” hoots Eagle Brosi. Yes, if Spurs fail to win here, they will no longer be able to catch Arsenal in the table – it’s definitely an early one, but I should point out that the day never came between 2015 and 2023.
Enzo Maresca talks to Sky after including Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson in his starting XI. Has he missed Jackson (hooo)? “Nico is very important for us, not only the goals and assists, also off the ball. With him, we press aggressively. We have missed a lot of players but now they are back for the end of the season.”
On the top-five race: “It’s how we manage the emotion, if we win or lose a game, seeing teams go ahead of you … we are there, we’re going to be there at the end and want to bring this club back to where it has to be.”
“With Chelsea vying for a European spot and Spurs battling for an Australian’s place in the dugout, this Cockney clash has the feel of an international night,” writes Peter Oh. I should warn you – I’ve already had words from a disgruntled, West Ham-following colleague about calling either of these teams Cockneys.
Team news
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández (c); Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Subs: Jörgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Acheampong, James, Dewsbury-Hall, 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, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Johnson, Tel.
Pre-game reading
Preamble
From the Cockney Cup Final to the Battle of the Bridge, Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur is a rivalry that rarely disappoints. The Blues’ last two trips to Spurs have seen them win 4-1 and 4-3, punishing two of the Angiest performances of their rivals’ Postecoglou era.
Tottenham’s permanently embattled manager needs a win, but must try and get it done at a ground where Spurs have won just once in the league since 1990. Having finished three points clear of Chelsea last term, Postecoglou’s side are 15 points adrift as it stands, playing out their games while Enzo Maresca’s team chase a top-five finish.
Despite that, there’s a debate to be had over which of these two coaches is more popular with the fans. Postecoglou remains loved and admired by a significant chunk of Spurs fans, with anger at their plight trained on Daniel Levy. Maresca, meanwhile, appears to be tolerated rather than cherished by Chelsea fans.
In fact, the Italian is only a couple of rungs below his opposite number in the “sack race” betting, with his team drifting from surprise title contenders. Chelsea can go back up to fourth with a win tonight, and shake off the nagging doubt that they lack the extra gear many of their top-five rivals are deploying with the season’s end in sight.
Kick-off is at 8pm. Will anyone actually enjoy it? We’ll find out.
Source From: Premier League | The Guardian
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