Chelsea 4 - 0 Tottenham

Saturday 8^th March from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea 4 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

The concoction of opponent hatred and the fear of losing to a fierce rival always electrifies the pre-game atmosphere when we play Spurs.  You can beat anyone and it justifies the money you spend on a ticket. You can beat Man Utd, Arsenal, West Ham, Man City or Liverpool and it’s even better. Beating Tottenham, wherever they reside in the league, is always one better. Spurs have been trying to win at Stamford Bridge for the last 24 years and with no success. Although that hasn’t stopped them from effectively turning up for the draw in past, and I was worried Tim Sherwood’s side may do the same today.

Injured in the warm-up, Fernando Torres has gone from missing goals to missing games, and so Sammy Eto’o led the line of attack. Spurs have wasted all of the Bale money and their side looked significantly inferior in every department. The visitors began with a high line and this was nearly their undoing when Hazard missed an open goal after 10 minutes. It would be the best move of an otherwise lacklustre first half, with both sides going in goalless at the break.

Onto the second half and we needed a goal – and more importantly 3 points. Sammy Eto’o may be old and slow, but that experience has seen him capitalise on mistakes time and time again. He read a poor back-pass beautifully and the finish matched his anticipation. He also displayed a good sense of humour with his old man celebration – I’m slowly being won over by the veteran. Eto’o would be involved in the second goal too, going down easily after a clumsy push by Kaboul. It was never a sending off, but both Lloris and Sandro should have seen red during the game. Swings and roundabouts is a fundamental rule regarding referees decisions in football.

Two goals to the good, a man advantage and Spurs’ ridiculously high line looked like it could be breached at any moment. The game was won. Demba Ba replaced Eto’o late on and the Senegalese striker took it upon himself to rub salt into Tottenham’s wounds. A detrimental slip coupled with a horrific back-header gifted Ba with a two goals in less than two minutes. Four goals from four mistakes and Tottenham left the bridge embarrassed with problems continuing for Tim Sherwood. I can’t seem him lasting long at Spurs, or in any management job for that matter.