Tottenham increased pressure on Blues manager Graham Potter by defeating Chelsea in the London derby, boosting their chances of finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
After the half, Oliver Skipp’s thunderous 20-yard effort gave the hosts the lead, and Harry Kane’s late turn of Eric Dier’s knockdown clinched their victory.
As the game came to a close, the majority of fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were celebrating, but after Kane’s goal, Chelsea’s previous struggles persisted, and the visitors started to leave.
The Blues currently sit 14 points outside of the Champions League spots after winning two of their previous 15 matches in the top tier.
This result is sure to draw additional attention to Potter, who recently discussed the impact that criticism has had on his family and mental health, as well as Chelsea’s expensively formed team, which includes British record signing Enzo Fernandez, who was at fault for the Spurs’ opening goal.
Things are improving for Spurs, who have won four of their previous five league games and are currently ranked fourth in the standings, four points ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle, who still has two games remaining.
Nevertheless, the home team deserved the three points and had came the closest to opening the scoring when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s deflected shot went past a stationary Kepa Arrizabalaga but struck the right post in the opening minutes.
The most talked-about moment of a lackluster first half was referee Stuart Attwell’s original decision to dismiss Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech following a scuffle in which visitors Kai Havertz and Emerson Prince received bookings.
After giving those players yellow cards, Attwell expelled the Moroccan winger for raising his arm against the advise of his assistant referee. Later, after the video assistant referee suggested that the official reevaluate his choice, Attwell downgraded the dismissal to a yellow.