Chelsea remain firmly in the running for UEFA Champions League football next season after getting a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League clash on Thursday night at Stamford Bridge, thanks in part to Cole Palmer.
The English midfielder was absent from the loss at Arsenal before the international break, with his return to the Chelsea starting line-up proving crucial eventually although it was another player returning from the sidelines that nearly gave the Blues a first-minute lead.
A long pass over the top found Nicolas Jackson on the run, with the striker – out for the past two months – bringing the ball down before knocking it past Spurs keeper Vicario, only for Micky Van de Ven to deflect the ball off the base of his own post and clear the danger.
It set the tone for a stream of chances created and missed by Chelsea as the visitors – without a point in the last three meetings against the Blues – barely managed to keep the score level as Palmer, Jackson, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho failed to find the back of the net.
Following a goalless first half at the Bridge, Chelsea finally found the breakthrough five minutes into the second half of the London derby through Enzo Fernandez with a header off Palmer’s cross into the Spurs area.
Moises Caicedo then thought he had doubled Chelsea’s advantage six minutes later after meeting the ball cleared from danger with a volley into the Spurs goal, only for VAR to cancel the strike due to Levi Colwill being offside in the build-up to the goal.
Spurs were next to be denied by VAR with 20 minutes left when Pape Matar Sarr caught Caicedo in possession before striking low from 30 yards past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, only for the goal to also be chalked off for a foul on Caicedo in the build-up, with Sarr getting booked instead.
Palmer then had two chances to get a second goal for Chelsea, while Van de Ven and Son were also denied potential equalisers late on for Spurs as the Blues held on for a crucial win.
The result sees Chelsea move back to fourth on the Premier League standings and keep up their push for Champions League football, while the visitors are condemned to a 16th loss in the league this season to have them languishing in 14th with 37 points after 30 games.
Next up for Chelsea is another London affair when they go on a tricky trip to the Gtech Community Stadium for a clash with Brentford on Sunday, while Spurs welcome bottom club Southampton to North London also on Sunday.