Goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson earned Chelsea a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday, dealing a blow to Spurs’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Former academy defender Chalobah headed the ball expertly into the top corner from a Conor Gallagher free kick 35 metres out in the 24th minute.
Senegal’s Jackson calmed home nerves against the run of play in the 72nd minute when he was on hand to head home after a free kick from Chelsea top scorer Cole Palmer hit the bar and bounced down.
The three points, taking them to eighth, were vital for the push by Chelsea, under former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino, towards a Europa League place after a disappointing season but left Tottenham seven points adrift of the top four.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)
Djordje Petrovic – 7.5
Should have brought a crossword to keep him occupied as Tottenham gave him hardly anything to do in the first half. Stayed alert in the second half to keep his clean sheet.
READ MORE: Tottenham’s season of promise and excitement is fizzling into a whimper after 2-0 defeat at Chelsea – who are making a belated climb from the depths, writes MATT BARLOW
Alfie Gilchrist – 8.5
Gilchrist versus Son was essentially the least experienced player on the pitch versus the most experienced, and yet Chelsea’s 20-year-old one of their own handled the occasion superbly.
Trevoh Chalobah – 8.5
Commanding header to give Chelsea a deserved lead – followed by VAR taking way too long to verify it – as Chalobah also showed his defensive nous whenever it was needed on a night of dominance.
Benoit Badiashile – 8.5
After a superb second-half showing at Aston Villa, Badiashile again demonstrated his defensive solidity, as he and Chalobah earned every penny of their clean sheet bonus.
Marc Cucurella – 9
Performance full of positivity as he moved into midfield when Chelsea had the ball, while he did a warrior-like job defensively as Johnson and Co struggled to ever get the better of him. My player of the match.
Moises Caicedo – 8.5
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Caicedo has benefitted from having Gallagher – or at least a partner who is fully fit – beside him in midfield and this was another game in which he showed why Chelsea signed him.
Midfielder Conor Gallagher injected energy into the heart of a injury-ravaged Chelsea
Midfielder Conor Gallagher injected energy into the heart of a injury-ravaged Chelsea
Trevoh Chalobah’s dominant showing in defence was capped with a supreme headed goal
Trevoh Chalobah’s dominant showing in defence was capped with a supreme headed goal
On just his second Premier League start, Alfie Gilchrist looked much more confident than he had at Arsenal
On just his second Premier League start, Alfie Gilchrist looked much more confident than he had at Arsenal
Conor Gallagher – 8.5
Chelsea fans organised a grand display for him pre-match and he injected the energy at the heart of this injury-ravaged team. Assisted Chalobah for his headed opener.
Noni Madueke – 8.5
Curled a 20-yarder narrowly over the crossbar – we’ll blame the bobble – amid what was a positive performance down the right. Never shirked his defensive duties in helping Gilchrist, either.
Cole Palmer – 8
Free-kick from 25 yards crashed back off the underside of the crossbar to set up Jackson to head home Chelsea’s second on a night when every player worked hard for the team.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 8
Energetic force down the left. When Mudryk is playing as confidently as this, he is a joy to watch, and he was inches from curling an effort into the top corner.
Mykhailo Mudryk was a bright presence on the left for the Blues and put in an energetic shift
Mykhailo Mudryk was a bright presence on the left for the Blues and put in an energetic shift
Cole Palmer failed to find the back of the net but came achingly close with a sweet freekick
Cole Palmer failed to find the back of the net but came achingly close with a sweet freekick
Nicolas Jackson (centre) was able to bury its rebound and double the west London side’s lead
Nicolas Jackson (centre) was able to bury its rebound and double the west London side’s lead
Nicolas Jackson – 8
Tried to slide the ball between the legs of Vicario but Van de Ven got back to deny him on the line. There was no stopping his headed rebound, mind!
SUBS
Cesare Casadei (for Mudryk, 75) – 6, Josh Acheampong (for Gilchrist, 85) – N/A, Jimi Tauriainen (for Jackson, 90) – N/A, Marcus Bettinelli. David Washington, Zak Sturge, Leo Castledine, Tyrique George, Kiano Dyer
MANAGER
Mauricio Pochettino – 8
Given the injury crisis that has taken over Chelsea, he inspired his players into putting up a performance in which they completely deserved the three points.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1)
Guglielmo Vicario – 5
Nick of the ball took the pace off Jackson’s nutmegged attempt in the early exchanges. But there was no reaching Chalobah or Jackson’s headers. Yet again, he was targeted at corners.
READ MORE: THE NOTEBOOK – Mark Clattenburg still scarred by Battle of the Bridge, Chelsea fans pay tribute to Tottenham target Conor Gallagher… and Mauricio Pochettino shares a picture of his pooch!
Pedro Porro – 4.5
Interesting to see how Porro was trying to stop Chelsea’s attackers from distracting Vicario at corners – it seems Postecoglou finally decided to try to address that problem.
Cristian Romero – 4.5
One of Tottenham’s only chances in a substandard first-half showing fell to Romero, but he headed wide when he should been burying this opportunity all day long.
Micky van de Ven – 5.5
The Premier League’s fastest player clocked this season showed his pace when he got back to stop Jackson from scoring – one of several times we witnessed his speed.
Emerson Royal – 4
Poor attempt at winning a penalty when he pretended Madueke had yanked him back. That turned into a good battle, ultimately won by the man wearing the blue of Chelsea.
Yves Bissouma – 4
Postecoglou was as angry as we have ever seen him and Bissouma was on the receiving end of some of his more aggressive tantrums amid a timid showing.
Tottenham captain Heung-min Son had a night to forget at Stamford Bridge on Thursday
Tottenham captain Heung-min Son had a night to forget at Stamford Bridge on Thursday
The player got tangled up with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, unable to keep out Chelsea’s second
The player got tangled up with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, unable to keep out Chelsea’s second
Pape Matar Sarr – 4
Nowhere near enough progressive passes and way too passive as Gallagher and Co controlled the centre. No surprise that he was among those hooked in a triple substitution.
Brennan Johnson – 5
Felt he was blocked by Cucurella as Chalobah headed home but let’s not pretend this was a scandal. Attack-wise, Johnson was arguably the best of a bad bunch.
Dejan Kulusevski – 4
Maddison was benched as Kulusevski started in the middle but they hardly threatened, while it was his foul on Cucurella which led to Chelsea’s second goal from a free-kick.
Heung-min Son – 4
Was facing a green 20-year-old in Gilchrist and yet never truly imposed his experience on the English youngster. Nobody in a Tottenham shirt did enough here, their captain included.
Richarlison – 4
Never looked like a viable outlet as a striker and may as well have been wearing an invisibility cloak as he was substituted after an hour of anonymity.
SUBS
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (for Bissouma, 63) – 5.5, James Maddison (for Richarlison, 63) – 5.5, Rodrigo Bentancur (for Sarr, 63) – 5.5, Bryan Gil (for Johnson, 78) – N/A, Giovani Lo Celso (for Emerson, 86) – N/A, Brandon Austin, Oliver Skipp, Radu-Matei Dragusin, Mikey Moore
Brennan Johnson was one of Spurs’ stronger forwards but was unable to break the drought
Brennan Johnson was one of Spurs’ stronger forwards but was unable to break the drought
Richarlison put in a muted performance before being substituted – and scarcely missed
Richarlison put in a muted performance before being substituted – and scarcely missed
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou (left) veered between rageful and disappointed in the dug-out
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou (left) veered between rageful and disappointed in the dug-out
MANAGER
Ange Postecoglou – 4
Was positively fuming with his players as they never showcased the attacking football he desires and yet again, Tottenham conceded from not one but two set-pieces.
REFEREE
Robert Jones – 6
Much easier evening than the one Mark Clattenburg endured in 2016, even if we did have to wait too long for VAR to rubber-stamp Chalobah’s headed opener.
