Premier League Matchday 20 sees Chelsea take on loathed London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The face-off will be the second between the sides in less than a month, the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge having been contested just 28 days previous....










In said fixture, the Blues expectedly and routinely ran out easy winners over their neighbours from the north. Despite impressing in and taking control of the early proceedings, the visitors failed to turn that dominance into anything of worth, several dangerously close endeavours towards doing so from Harry Kane notwithstanding. Having weathered the adverse opening 15 minute conditions, the home side finally began to take hold of the game, and broke through on 19 minutes through Eden Hazard. The Blues would then double their lead just 2 minutes later when an horrendous goal-kick from Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris found its way straight to Eden Hazard, who played it into Oscar, who himself fed it in to Didier Drogba, who found the back of the net characteristically without doubt. A goal from substitute Loic Remy other side of the break just over 15 minutes from time would finish off the guests, and ensure Chelsea's unbeaten home record over their rivals would be extended to 24 years.













The corresponding fixture last term, however, was a less euphoric affair for the Blues in as quintessential a 'game of two halves' as one is likely to see. The hosts took the lead on 19 minutes through Gylfi Sigurðsson, and were largely dominant throughout that period, but the interval saw a meteoric changes in fortunes, and the second half was decidedly all Chelsea's, who produced something to show for their dominance when John Terry headed in the guests' equaliser 20 minutes after the restart, to ensure the Blues' left the Lane with a well-earned point.













In more recent goings-on, the sides obtained identical results the weekend before in their Matchday 19 fixtures against sides currently sat in the Top 4. Spurs attained a 0-0 home draw against Manchester United in Sunday's early kick-off, while Chelsea negotiated a frustrating 1-all stalemate against high-flying Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium when a superb goal from Eden Hazard in first half stoppage time canceled out Sadio Mané's 17th-minute opener to see José Mourinho's men drop 2 precious points in a game they were utterly dominant in.










The Blues' record at White Hart Lane since their Football League Cup Final loss to their neighbours in white in 2008 has been underwhelming at best, dire at worst. Indeed, in spite of the West Londoners' phenomenal record against Spurs at Stamford Bridge dating back over 2 decades, their form against them on the road in recent times has been less than impressive. In the 7 games since said cup final in March of 2008, the Blues have won just one, racking up 4 draws and 2 losses (including one in their 2010 Double-winning campaign) in the process.










Phil Dowd, who last officiated for Tottenham in their 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool in August and for Chelsea in their 1-all draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford in late October, has been appointed referee for Thursday's affair.





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Everytime we play Spurs I miss AVB

I feel more confident about this game than the Saints one.

Willian, Oscar and Azp will be back, for sure.

I think we'll get a win here.

Kick wrote:I feel more confident about this game than the Saints one.

Really? I don't. Not that I feel worse about it or anything - probably about the same. Maybe it's just my pessimistic nature, but I feel it'll be a pretty tough game. As I included in the preview, our record there recently has been pretty poor, and they'll be well up for this one. Will be difficult.

I always felt Saints was the hardest of the three post Christmas games as it was right after West Ham and was away. This we have a break for and should have a full squad.

Fair enough. Tbf, going into the period I thought Saints would be the easiest as Stoke away is always hard and West Ham are/were doing very well at that point, while Soton's form was awful and tanking even further in the lead-up to it (5 or 6 straight losses I believe it was?), but as soon as they racked up 2 wins on the spin right before our match it became clear that wasn't going to be the case.


In any event, there's no denying Thursday will be a tough one but I've no doubt it's one we can win.

Exactly.

Damn, we own them in the EPL.

Spurz started strongly here. As per normal, really.

COSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

1-1 Kane


Decent goal, that.

He's on such a hot run even though he's not even that good of a player urghhhhhhhh.

Rose 2-1

Jeebus.

Spurs penalty

3-1

Jose straight down the tunnel as the goal spot kick goes in

City top on GD as things stand.

Would take a draw right now...

Ramires coming on for the second half....

This is a bit ridiculous, jokes on chelsea today as lamps wins it for city and we get clobbered by spuds of all teams smh

Salah about to come on. No this is not a joke.

Ugh happy New Years I guess

This is just disappointing. 5 goals?! This is just ridiculous.

We need to have this rectified. Hopefully Mou will kick some sense into the team from preventing this from happening again, because if we concede goals like this, we might as well give City the trophy.