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Tottenham go eight points ahead of Chelsea with 3-1 win at the Bridge

By Gary Pearson

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on March 11, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on March 11, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Dele Alli’s second half brace puts Spurs eight points ahead of their bitter West London enemy with only six matches left to play.

The 3-1 win was Spurs first at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era, and the three points couldn’t have come at a more pivotal stage of the season.

Eric Dier and Dele combined magnificently on the go-ahead goal early in the second half. Wilfredo Caballero didn’t come out to cut down the angle fast enough, and Dele made the Argentinian pay for his indecision. Dele’s first touch was sublime and his second was lethal.

Dele capitalized on some calamitous Chelsea defending on his second, slotting home for the deserved insurance marker. Christian Erisken got the move going with an extraordinary first-time pass to Son Heung-Min, whose driving run into the box put Chelsea in a perilous position.

First half

Spurs were, for the most part, outplayed in the first half. Marcos Alonso caused Spurs trouble down the left wing. Eden Hazard was dangerous on the counter and Álvaro Morata scored the opener in a somewhat sedate first 45 for the visitors.

Hugo Lloris misjudged Victor Moses’ cross in the 30th minute, and Morata beat Davinson Sánchez to the aerial ball to give the home side the early 1-0 edge.

Tottenham looked susceptible on the counter attack in the opening stanza but Christian Erisken’s astonishing dipping long-range effort in injury time equalized for the away side.

Some will fault Caballero, in for the injured Thibaut Courtois , who was caught slightly off his line. However, the drive was hit with such venom and dip that it’s hard to find the 28-year-old stand-in goalkeeper at fault.

Spurs two shots on target in the first 45 both came from Eriksen, who attempted a similar long-range effort just over 10 minutes before his equalizer.

Willian, Moses, and Alonso all tested Lloris, who made up for his earlier mistake with three solid saves, two of which from uncomfortable deflections. Alonso’s low drive in the latter stages of the half was Lloris’ standout save, the Frenchman getting down well with a strong left arm.

With six matches to play, Spurs are in pole position to secure a top-four spot, and deservedly so. They’re only two points behind Liverpool for third with a match in hand.

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