Tottenham Hotspur put the past nightmares of Chelsea on hold Sunday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning 2-0. It was a proper London derby that featured several rash challenges and a controversial rescinded red card. It was an impressive performance all around from the Lilywhites, with Spurs picking up three crucial points and a second consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s defense holds strong
The Tottenham backline put in a shift against Chelsea. The starting lineup was unchanged from a week ago, with Ben Davies remaining at left wing-back and Richarlison on the left wing. Cristian Romero had yet again another impressive performance, similar to last week against West Ham.
Romero tallied five tackles and won eleven ground duels. Fellow defender Eric Dier made several vital blocks and challenges and looked like the player we saw during the second half of the 2021/2022 season, making six clearances during the match. Clement Lenglet had a quiet but tidy game, getting forward and moving the ball up the pitch, likewise Romero.
The wing-backs, Emerson Royal and Ben Davies performed solidly. Royal won five aerial duels and fifteen ground duels while making seven tackles in the process. Royal also had a shot on target just seconds after half-time, leading to Oliver Skipp’s first goal for Tottenham Hotspur. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who has stepped in for the injured Hugo Lloris, made two saves and looked comfortable passing the ball out of the back. Forster has now kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season. Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are wingers, tracked back plenty of times and defended well on the day.
Tottenham Hotspur’s own on the scoresheet
Tottenham Hotspur’s academy graduates, Harry Kane and Oliver Skipp, scored the only goals of the match on Sunday. In a time when player development is somewhat forgotten at top clubs, this match brought that to justice.
It was fitting that Spurs’ goal scorers should come from their academy, as their opponents have spent north of £600 million since last summer and have found goals hard to come by.
Skipp has performed impressively against Declan Rice and now Enzo Fernandez since stepping in for Rodrigo Bentancur. It was quite the debut goal for the young midfielder, as he sliced a half-volley shot towards the goal that Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga got a hand to, but it was not enough as Skipp gave Spurs the lead.
The other former academy player, Kane, put in a performance that was similar to that of last season. On numerous occasions, Kane would drop into the midfield, receive the ball and spray it out wide to either Royal, Davies, Kulusevski, or Richarlison. Kane’s goal came from a corner where Eric Dier headed it towards the back post where Kane was ready to pounce, which ultimately sealed the victory for Spurs.
Cristian Stellini’s record remains perfect
Assistant manager Cristian Stellini, still filling in for manager Antonio Conte as he recovers from his recent surgery, picked up yet another victory on the touchline for Tottenham Hotspur. Whilst many believe that Conte still influences the team and tactics, and rightfully so, it is still impressive that Stellini can step in and lead the squad to victory.
Not only is it another victory, but it is also another clean sheet in the Premier League with Stellini at the helm, with those coming against Manchester City, West Ham, and now Chelsea.
Many fans have also noticed that there seems to be a difference in the performances with Conte and without him. Conte was back on the touchline for Leicester City and AC Milan, as Spurs were poor in both matches and lost both. But when Stellini has stepped in, the squad seems to be different. Conte is said to be close to returning to Spurs, but a date has not yet been clarified.
Tottenham Hotspur picked up three important points, as they now sit in fourth place in the Premier League with 45 points. Despite Chelsea’s spending and great individual quality, they sit tenth in the Premier League with 31 points. Tottenham needed this victory over their London rivals, and they will hope to pick up another win in the fifth round of the F.A. Cup against Sheffield United when they visit Bramall Lane.