IT was a day when Tottenham proved themselves a bunch of tossers - on and off the pitch.
2024/2025 Premier League
3-4
Match Report
As fans tossed an avalanche of paper missiles at Chelsea players, Ange Postecoglou’s brittle troops tossed away a two-goal lead.
Spurs are now marooned in the bottom half of the table after one win in seven matches in all competitions - while Chelsea are threatening to stage an unlikely title challenge.
Enzo Maresca’s side, two-down in 12 minutes, somehow never looked like losing this spicy derby.
It was a crazy start, with left-back Marc Cucurella was forced to change his boots after his slips led to goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski.
But a Jadon Sancho pearler cut the deficit before Cole Palmer scored a pair of penalties either side of a wonderful assist for Enzo Fernandez to net the decisive third.
Thanks to the postponement of the Merseyside derby, we at least have the illusion of a genuine title race - Chelsea are now within five points of Liverpool, having played a game more than the leaders.
But what a mess for Big Ange - who dropped James Maddison, whose goals set up Tottenham’s only recent victory over Manchester City.
This was the definition of ‘Spursy’. There is no other team in the Premier League who can coast into an early two-goal lead and look scared by it.
And as for the fans, who pelted scrunched-up pieces of card at Chelsea players throughout the first half, they were an utter embarrassment.
Their Aussie boss is struggling to stop a full-scale revolt from supporters - while Maresca, in sharp contrast, has made complete sense of Chelsea’s madhouse.
It was this fixture which ended Postecoglou’s honeymoon period - a crazy VAR-infested match which Spurs ended with nine men and Chelsea won 4-1.
As if taking this as motivation, Spurs went pedal-to-metal and hell-for-leather from the word go - aided and abetted by Cucurella’s boots.
It was a rapid counter attack from which Cucurella made his first slip, allowing Brennan Johnson to speed down the right and lash in a cross to the near post where Solanke got in front of Levi Colwill and poked home.
Chelsea’s chaotic start was exemplified by Moises Caicedo, taking a free-kick just outside his area, lamping at free-kick straight into the body of Romeo Lavia, five yards away.
Inside 12 minutes, it was 2-0, another pratfall from Cucurella, handing Kulusevski the space to dart inside, past three defenders, and steering his shot into the bottom corner.
Cristian Romero, just back from injury along with his central-defensive partner Micky Van de Ven, was forced off early on and replaced by Radu Dragusin.
Soon, Chelsea cut the deficit, with an outstanding individual goal from Sancho, who cut in from the left and filleted three defenders before he leathered his shot in off the far post.
The assist, by the way, was Cucurella’s - just as it was for Tottenham’s two.
The paper-chucking antics soon reached epidemic proportions, a Palmer corner delayed at length.
At half-time Spurs fans would be warned to stop being silly.
The match itself was wild, end-to-end and toe-to-toe - Palmer fell over his feet when Sancho offered him a glorious opportunity, Son curled one just over.
And then Fraser Forster made a magnificent double save to deny Palmer and then Pedro Neto.
It was feisty out there. Caicedo escaped a VAR check for a red card when he went studs up into the shin of Pape Matar Sarr.
And Sarr then produced a bar-trembling header from a Son Heung-Min corner.
Son was getting lively now, cutting back for Solanke, who shot straight at Robert Sanchez.
But Chelsea were right at it after the break and Sancho forced another great save from Forster, sticking out a big left hand to thwart the winger from close range.
Enzo Fernandez pinged one wide, as former Blue Timo Werner arrived in place of the limping Brennan Johnson to a chorus of boos from the away end.
Soon, Chelsea were level - a crazy challenge from Yves Bissouma upending Caicedo and, inevitably, Palmer walloping home the spot-kick.
Son should have restored Tottenham’s lead when he was sent clean through but shot wide across goal.
And then came the winner - Palmer’s crazy dancing feet toasting Destiny Udogie before his deflated pass was rammed home by Enzo Fernandez.
Sarr then barged over Palmer, who completed the job with a Panenka from the spot.
Son netted a consolation, stabbing home in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' Match Event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
3' Match Event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
4' Cole Palmer eventually delivers a good cross, which Levi Colwill heads over!
4' Home fans shame themselves by throwing objects at star Palmer during corners!
5' GOAL! Mistake from Cucurella & Solanke movement is great! Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea
8' Cristian Romero attempts a Cruyff turn in his own box and strains his groin!
10' Match Event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
11' GOAL! Kulusevski snakes a lot shot home at the near post! Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea
12' Marc Cucurella sprinted straight to the sidelines and changed his boots!
13' Destiny Udogie threads a shot across goal and just wide!
14' Cristian Romero limps off and Radu Dragusin is on! What an opening 15 minutes!
17' GOAL! Sancho cuts in from left & pings low swerving shot! Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea
21' Cole Palmer misfires from six yards after a strong Chelsea break on the left!
24' Son breaks away down the left, cuts inside Levi Colwill & bends a shot too high!
30' Match Event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
30' Yellow Card! Pape Matar Sarr booked for clattering Marc Cucurella!
31' Palmer takes 20-yard left-foot shot, Forster parries it & saves Neto follow-up!
33' Moises Caicedo is high in a challenge and this is not good!
34' Spurs win a corner and Pape Sarr flicks a header against the bar!
35' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
41' Nicolas Jackson takes a touch and shoots, but Radu Dragusin deflects it over!
42' The game is held up again as fans pelt Cole Palmer with cardboard!
46' Chelsea have substituted Gusto for Lavia, likely moving Caicedo to midfield!
48' Sancho swaps passes with Marc Cucurella and toepokes in an effort but saved!
49' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
52' Enzo Fernandez bends just wide!
53' Johnson needs some treatment and hobbles off with Timo Werner on in his place!
57' Fraser Forster's bold call & catch from a corner relieved pressure on his team!
59' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
61' Penalty Goal! Palmer fires a left-footed shot into corner! Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
67' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
68' Play continues despite a likely offside & Son overlaps Udogie but shoots wide!
72' Porro puts in a testing free-kick & Van de Ven is on the stretch and heads wide!
73' GOAL! Enzo Fernández volleys in a brilliant strike! Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea
73' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
76' Nicolas Jackson is off and Christopher Nkunku coming on!
77' Jadon Sancho twists and turns and gets a shot off but it's deflected wide!
79' Spurs send on Bergvall, Maddison & Gray for Van de Ven, Kulusevski & Bissouma!
82' Penalty Goal! Palmer dinks it down middle & into the net! Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea
86' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
90' Maresca sends on Joao Felix and Renato Veiga for Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella!
93' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
94' Highlight from Tottenham vs Chelsea
Line-ups
Tottenham XI: Fraser Forster, Son, Solanke, Bissouma, Romero, Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr, Micky van de Ven
Subs: Werner, Maddison, Reguilon, Austin, Djed Spence, Radu Drăgușin, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Will Lankshear
Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Sancho, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Benoît Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Roméo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson
Subs: T.Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Noni Madueke, Filip Jørgensen, Malo Gusto, Renato Veiga