Match Preview: Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London SW6
Sunday 20th September 2009, Kick Off 16:00
Premier League, Match 6
Live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Chelsea: 1st Premier League, 15 points from 15
Tottenham Hotspur: 4th Premier League, 12 points from 15
Latest odds: Chelsea 1/2, Draw 3/1, Tottenham 6/1
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Simon Bennett
COMMENT:
Tottenham Hotspur visit to League leaders Chelsea on Sunday will be another stern test for Harry Redknapp's men after the game against Manchester United, which was Spurs' first defeat of the 2009-10 season.
Chelsea still have a 100% record this season and it will be a very tough task to take anything off them at the moment. Spurs can take some comfort in the fact that recent meetings with the Blues have gone very well, with two wins (including the 2008 League Cup Final) and two draws in the last four meetings.
Going back a little further and it's honours even over the last nine meetings with three wins, three draws and three defeats.
It's vital for Spurs to maintain their early season momentum, despite the setback of losing to United last time out and although Chelsea have a perfect start to the League some of their performances have been a little shakey.
The last Spurs League win at Stamford Bridge was way back in February 1990 when goals from David Howells and Gary Lineker helped Tottenham to a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the old Football League First Division.
TEAM NEWS:
Chelsea's Joe Cole will not be involved as boss Carlo Ancelotti is saving him for the Carling Cup match with QPR.
Didier Drogba and Jose Bowsingwa will both return to the side after their Champions League suspensions.
Jermaine Jenas injured his calf in Tottenham’s final pre-season friendly against Olympiacos, but finally returned, as a half-time substitute for Wilson Palacios against Manchester United at White Hart Lane.
"When you've been on the sidelines for so long it gets you down, you see the lads out there and you just want to be part of it," said Jenas.
"It's been enjoyable being back in training and getting 45 minutes under my belt in what was a tough game.
"I've only trained so to go into a match situation and come through unscathed is ideal."
Jenas claimed his teammates looked weary after such a good start to the season, adding: “A lot of the lads had been away on international duty and we just didn't have that spark we needed in the last 20 minutes.”
Jenas could be joined at Stamford Bridge by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian goalkeeper injured a thigh muscle at Hull in only the second game of the season, and has missed the last four.
But he returned on Saturday on the bench and is set to replace for Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini when Spurs cross London to face the Premier League leaders.
Meanwhile, both Gareth Bale and Heurelho Gomes played in the 3-2 friendly win at Spurs Lodge against a very strong QPR side on Wednesday. Spurs' goals came from Harry Kane, Jesse Waller-Lassen and Giovani Dos Santos.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 19 home games against Spurs in the league (W13, D6)
• Chelsea have gained more wins (20), scored more goals (63) and accumulated more points (72) against Tottenham in the Premier League than any other club.
• Tottenham went an English record 32 league games without a win against Chelsea until beating them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in November 2006.
Chelsea
• Chelsea have won 10 straight Premier League matches, equalling their club record.
• Beating Spurs would surpass the previous mark set by José Mourinho's side from November 2005 to January 2006. That run was ended by a 1-1 draw with Charlton at Stamford Bridge.
• If the Blues win it would also become the joint-fourth longest winning run in Premier League history.
• Chelsea have already won three games from losing positions this season.
• The Blues are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League matches - their last league defeat was against Tottenham Hotspur on 21 March, 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
• Chelsea could become the third team in Premier League history to win their first six matches of the season after Newcastle United in 1994-95 and themselves who won their first nine matches under Jose Mourinho in 2005-06.
Tottenham Hotspur
• Spurs last won a league game at Chelsea in February 1990, when Gary Lineker scored the winner and they haven't won away at a top four side since 1993.
• Tottenham have failed to score in 15 of their 34 Premier League matches against Chelsea.
• Spurs have kept only one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League away matches.
• The Lilywhites have not won three league games in a row away from home since December 2004.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Chelsea
Drogba: 4 goals (4 league); Anelka: 3 goals (2 league)
Tottenham Hotspur
Defoe: 5 goals (5 league); Lennon: 2 goals (2 league)
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Chelsea (W 2-1 v Stoke City, a):
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel (Belletti 83), Ballack (Essien 66), Malouda, Lampard, Kalou (Anelka 64), Drogba. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Sturridge, Hutchinson.
Tottenham (L 1-3 v Man Utd, h):
Cudicini, Corluka (Hutton 69), King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios (Jenas 46), Defoe, Crouch, Keane (Kranjcar 72).
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Naughton.
MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):
By Sunday evening Tottenham will have an idea what's in store for them this season. They will have to go to Stamford Bridge carrying an attacking threat but also get the balance of the team right.
That's hard to judge when you haven't got the ball, and against Chelsea they're playing against an outstanding team. They're all top-class internationals and they've not lost a game under Carlo Ancelotti.
Verdict: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Sunday afternoon's match will be the 182nd meeting between Spurs and Chelsea. The two clubs have met in two major Domestic Cup Finals with Spurs coming out on top in both the 1967 FA Cup Final and the more recent 2008 League Cup Final.
Chelsea were admitted to the Football League in 1905 without ever having kicked a ball in anger before and they, along with Bradford City, are the only two clubs where this has happened.
Here are the results of all the previous 181 games with Spurs' score shown first:
22-Feb-1908
Friendly
-
A
D
1 - 1
Seeburg
18-Dec-09
Division 1
50,000
A
L
1 - 2
Minter
05-Feb-10
F.A. Cup 2
31,766
A
W
1 - 0
Humphreys
30-Apr-10
Division 1
35,000
H
W
2 - 1
Minter, Humphreys
03-Oct-10
Lon Prof Charity Fund
9,000
A
W
3 - 0
Minter, Brown (2)
10-Oct-10
LonCharCup2
8,900
H
W
3 - 0
Minter, Brown, Steel R
07-Dec-12
Division 1
36,771
H
W
1 - 0
Tattersall
12-Apr-13
Division 1
50,500
A
L
0 - 1
06-Sep-13
Division 1
65,000
A
W
3 - 1
Grimsdell, Cantrell (2)
27-Dec-13
Division 1
29,355
H
L
1 - 2
Fleming
21-Feb-14
Friendly
-
H
L
3 - 7
Sparrow, Banks, Bliss
05-Sep-14
Division 1
26,000
H
D
1 - 1
Cantrell
15-Oct-14
Friendly
-
A
D
1 - 1
Sparrow
02-Jan-15
Division 1
31,000
A
D
1 - 1
Middlemiss
25-Sep-15
London Comb1
8,683
H
L
1 - 3
Bliss
04-Dec-15
London Comb1
8,000
A
L
1 - 8
Rance
02-Sep-16
London Comb
4,000
H
L
0 - 2
25-Nov-16
London Comb
10,000
A
W
4 - 2
Clay (pen), Banks (2), Bliss
08-Sep-17
London Comb
12,000
Hi
L
0 - 4
03-Nov-17
London Comb
8,000
A
D
0 - 0
29-Dec-17
London Comb
8,000
Hi
W
2 - 0
Banks, Peake
23-Feb-18
London Comb
20,000
A
L
0 - 3
13-Apr-18
LondComb Sub
5,000
A
D
1 - 1
Peake
20-Apr-18
LondComb Sub
5,000
Hi
L
0 - 1
05-Oct-18
London Comb
12,000
Hi
W
2 - 1
Goldthorpe, Thomas
30-Nov-18
London Comb
14,000
A
L
1 - 3
Peake
25-Jan-19
London Comb
25,000
Hi
D
1 - 1
Goldthorpe
22-Mar-19
London Comb
25,000
A
W
2 - 1
Minter, Banks
09-Oct-20
Division 1
47,000
H
W
5 - 0
Wilson, Bliss (3), Dimmock
16-Oct-20
Division 1
76,000
A
W
4 - 0
Wilson (2), Bliss, Dimmock
17-Dec-21
Division 1
44,035
H
D
0 - 0
24-Dec-21
Division 1
54,000
A
W
2 - 1
Bliss (2)
13-May-22
Friendly
-
N
D
1 - 1
Seed
16-Dec-22
Division 1
50,000
A
D
0 - 0
23-Dec-22
Division 1
33,068
H
W
3 - 1
Smith, Seed (2)
27-Aug-23
Division 1
40,000
A
W
1 - 0
Lindsay
03-Sep-23
Division 1
31,996
H
L
0 - 1
02-Feb-24
Friendly
-
A
D
0 - 0
08-Dec-28
Division 2
45,840
A
D
1 - 1
Armstrong
20-Apr-29
Division 2
24,356
H
W
4 - 1
O'Callaghan, Harper (3)
28-Sep-29
Division 2
46,770
A
L
0 - 3
01-Feb-30
Division 2
33,623
H
D
3 - 3
Thompson, Harper, Cook
27-Oct-30
LonCharCup2
5,000
A
W
2 - 1
Rowley, Hartley
30-Sep-33
Division 1
67,454
A
W
4 - 0
O'Callaghan, Hunt GS (3)
10-Feb-34
Division 1
39,652
H
W
2 - 1
Hunt GS, Evans W (pen)
15-Sep-34
Division 1
46,715
A
W
3 - 1
McCormick, Hunt GS, Evans W
30-Jan-35
Division 1
28,121
H
L
1 - 3
Hunt DA
30-Sep-39
Friendly
-
A
L
2 - 4
Ludford, Medley
24-Feb-40
FL South C
14,073
A
W
2 - 0
Hall GW, Dix
25-May-40
FL South C
4,824
H
W
3 - 2
Burgess, Duncan (2)
14-Sep-40
Reg Lge Sth
1,622
H
W
3 - 2
Ward, Ludford (2) (Restarted after air raid warning)
21-Sep-40
Reg Lge Sth
1,756
A
L
1 - 4
Duncan
22-Nov-41
London WarLge
6,718
A
D
1 - 1
Duncan
28-Feb-42
London WarLge
6,558
H
W
2 - 0
Ludford (2)
31-Oct-42
Football Lge Sth
12,625
H
D
1 - 1
Martin (pen)
06-Feb-43
Football Lge Sth
12,125
A
W
1 - 0
Gibbons
06-Mar-43
WW2 Lge Cup
13,438
H
W
2 - 0
Ludford (2)
27-Mar-43
WW2 Lge Cup
11,707
A
W
2 - 0
Ludford, Broadis
30-Oct-43
Football Lge Sth
10,375
H
W
5 - 1
Beasley, Rowley (2), Smith, Jones
08-Apr-44
Football Lge Sth
25,000
A
D
1 - 1
Russell og
14-Oct-44
Football Lge Sth
21,087
H
L
1 - 5
Stevens
27-Jan-45
Football Lge Sth
20,540
A
W
2 - 1
Walters, Rowley
17-Nov-45
Football Lge Sth
35,343
A
W
2 - 1
Dix, Lyman
24-Nov-45
Football Lge Sth
43,717
H
W
3 - 2
Broadis (2), Gibbons
02-Mar-46
Friendly
-
H
W
4 - 2
Foreman (2), Dix, Whitchurch
14-Oct-50
Division 1
65,992
A
W
2 - 0
Walters, Duquemin
03-Mar-51
Division 1
59,449
H
W
2 - 1
Burgess, Wright
17-Nov-51
Division 1
48,985
H
W
3 - 2
Nicholson, Bennett, Duquemin
30-Apr-52
Division 1
46,574
A
W
2 - 0
Bennett, Medley
25-Oct-52
Division 1
62,688
A
L
1 - 2
Ramsey (pen)
14-Mar-53
Division 1
47,903
H
L
2 - 3
Willis (pen), Bennett
07-Nov-53
Division 1
44,795
H
W
2 - 1
Walters, Baily
27-Mar-54
Division 1
49,315
A
L
0 - 1
13-Nov-54
Division 1
52,961
A
L
1 - 2
Gavin
02-Apr-55
Division 1
53,159
H
L
2 - 4
Duquemin (2)
15-Oct-55
Division 1
48,195
A
L
0 - 2
25-Feb-56
Division 1
46,767
H
W
4 - 0
Marchi, Brooks (2), Smith R
06-Oct-56
Division 1
55,788
A
W
4 - 2
Stokes (3), Robb
26-Jan-57
F.A. Cup 4
66,398
H
W
4 - 0
Medwin, Harmer, Smith R, Stokes
20-Feb-57
Division 1
20,849
H
L
3 - 4
Medwin, Harmer (pen), Stokes
24-Aug-57
Division 1
52,580
H
D
1 - 1
Stokes
21-Dec-57
Division 1
39,747
A
W
4 - 2
Medwin, Harmer, Smith R (2)
27-Aug-58
Division 1
59,203
A
L
2 - 4
Medwin, Smith R
03-Sep-58
Division 1
50,299
H
W
4 - 0
Medwin (3), Robb
15-Apr-60
Division 1
67,819
A
W
3 - 1
Smith R (3)
18-Apr-60
Division 1
37,200
H
L
0 - 1
31-Mar-61
Division 1
65,032
H
W
4 - 2
Jones (2), Saul, Allen
03-Apr-61
Division 1
57,103
A
W
3 - 2
Norman, Smith R, Medwin
26-Dec-61
Division 1
51,282
H
W
2 - 0
Greaves, Jones
30-Dec-61
Division 1
44,630
A
W
5 - 2
Mackay, Allen, Jones (3)
21-Sep-63
Division 1
57,401
A
W
3 - 0
Baker, Smith R, Shellito og
05-Jan-64
F.A. Cup 3
49,382
H
D
1 - 1
Dyson
08-Jan-64
F.A. Cup 3 Replay
70,123
A
L
0 - 2
01-Feb-64
Division 1
51,007
H
L
1 - 2
Greaves
24-Oct-64
Division 1
52,927
H
D
1 - 1
Jones
20-Feb-65
F.A. Cup 5
63,205
A
L
0 - 1
10-Mar-65
Division 1
51,390
A
L
1 - 3
Gilzean
11-Dec-65
Division 1
42,299
H
W
4 - 2
Gilzean (2), Jones (2)
08-Jan-66
Division 1
48,529
A
L
1 - 2
Mackay (pen), Saul
26-Oct-66
Division 1
54,191
A
L
0 - 3
18-Mar-67
Division 1
48,553
H
D
1 - 1
Greaves
20-May-67
F.A. Cup Final
100,000
Wem
W
2 - 1
Robertson, Saul
18-Nov-67
Division 1
53,981
H
W
2 - 0
Gilzean, Jones
13-Apr-68
Division 1
53,049
A
L
0 - 2
31-Aug-68
Division 1
48,412
A
D
2 - 2
Jones, Greaves
22-Mar-69
Division 1
47,349
H
W
1 - 0
Johnson
27-Aug-69
Division 1
47,661
H
D
1 - 1
Pearce
04-Apr-70
Division 1
44,925
A
L
0 - 1
14-Nov-70
Division 1
61,277
A
W
2 - 0
Mullery, Pearce
13-Mar-71
Division 1
49,292
H
W
2 - 1
Chivers, Peters
27-Nov-71
Division 1
52,591
A
L
0 - 1
22-Dec-71
League Cup SF (1L)
43,330
A
L
2 - 3
Naylor, Chivers
05-Jan-72
League Cup SF (2L)
52,755
H
D
2 - 2
Chivers, Peters (pen)
15-Apr-72
Division 1
45,799
H
W
3 - 0
Chivers (2), Coates
21-Oct-72
Division 1
47,429
H
L
0 - 1
03-Apr-73
Division 1
25,536
A
W
1 - 0
Pratt
03-Apr-74
Division 1
23,646
H
L
1 - 2
Evans
15-Apr-74
Division 1
26,258
A
D
0 - 0
12-Oct-74
Division 1
32,660
A
L
0 - 1
19-Apr-75
Division 1
50,998
H
W
2 - 0
Conn, Perryman
26-Aug-78
Division 1
40,632
H
D
2 - 2
Armstrong, Duncan
18-Nov-78
Division 1
42,328
A
W
3 - 1
Lee (2), Hoddle
06-Mar-82
F.A. Cup 6
42,557
A
W
3 - 2
Hazard, Archibald, Hoddle
24-Nov-84
Division 1
31,197
H
D
1 - 1
Falco
27-Apr-85
Division 1
26,310
A
D
1 - 1
Galvin
04-Sep-85
Division 1
23,642
H
W
4 - 1
Roberts, Miller, Falco, Chiedozie
28-Dec-85
Division 1
37,115
A
L
0 - 2
13-Sep-86
Division 1
28,202
H
L
1 - 3
Allen C (pen)
20-Dec-86
Division 1
21,576
A
W
2 - 0
Allen C (2)
22-Aug-87
Division 1
37,079
H
W
1 - 0
Claesen
02-Jan-88
Division 1
29,317
A
D
0 - 0
16-Aug-88
Friendly
-
A
D
0 - 0
16-Sep-89
Division 1
16,260
H
L
1 - 4
Gascoigne
10-Feb-90
Division 1
29,130
A
W
2 - 1
Howells, Lineker
01-Dec-90
Division 1
33,478
A
L
2 - 3
Gascoigne, Lineker
16-Jan-91
League Cup 5
34,178
A
D
0 - 0
23-Jan-91
League Cup 5 Replay
33,861
H
L
0 - 3
02-Mar-91
Division 1
26,168
H
D
1 - 1
Lineker (pen)
24-Aug-91
Division 1
34,645
H
L
1 - 3
Lineker
11-Jan-92
Division 1
28,628
A
L
0 - 2
05-Dec-92
FA Prem
31,540
H
L
1 - 2
Campbell
20-Mar-93
FA Prem
25,157
A
D
1 - 1
Sheringham (pen)
01-Aug-93
Makita Int
12,780
H
L
0 - 4
01-Sep-93
FA Prem
27,567
H
D
1 - 1
Sheringham (pen)
27-Feb-94
FA Prem
19,398
A
L
3 - 4
Sedgley, Dozzell, Gray (pen)
23-Nov-94
FA Prem
27,037
H
D
0 - 0
11-Feb-95
FA Prem
30,812
A
D
1 - 1
Sheringham
25-Nov-95
FA Prem
31,059
A
D
0 - 0
27-Apr-96
FA Prem
32,918
H
D
1 - 1
Armstrong
26-Oct-96
FA Prem
28,318
A
L
1 - 3
Armstrong
01-Feb-97
FA Prem
33,027
H
L
1 - 2
Howells
06-Dec-97
FA Prem
28,476
H
L
1 - 6
Vega
11-Apr-98
FA Prem
34,149
A
L
0 - 2
19-Dec-98
FA Prem
34,881
A
L
0 - 2
10-May-99
FA Prem
35,878
H
D
2 - 2
Iversen, Ginola
12-Jan-2000
FA Prem
34,989
A
L
0 - 1
05-Feb-00
FA Prem
36,041
H
L
0 - 1
28-Oct-00
FA Prem
34,483
A
L
0 - 3
16-Apr-01
FA Prem
36,074
H
L
0 - 3
16-Sep-01
FA Prem
36,037
H
L
2 - 3
Sheringham (2)
09-Jan-02
League Cup SF (1L)
37,264
A
L
1 - 2
Ferdinand
23-Jan-02
League Cup SF (2L)
36,100
H
W
5 - 1
Iversen, Sherwood, Sheringham, Davies, Rebrov
09-Mar-02
F.A. Cup 6
32,896
H
L
0 - 4
13-Mar-02
FA Prem
39,652
A
L
0 - 4
03-Nov-02
FA Prem
36,049
H
D
0 - 0
01-Feb-03
FA Prem
41,384
A
D
1 - 1
Sheringham
13-Sep-03
FA Prem
41,165
A
L
2 - 4
Kanoute (2)
03-Apr-04
FA Prem
36,101
H
L
0 - 1
19-Sep-04
FA Prem
42,246
A
D
0 - 0
15-Jan-05
FA Prem
36,105
H
L
0 - 2
27-Aug-05
FA Prem
36,077
H
L
0 - 2
11-Mar-06
FA Prem
42,243
A
L
1 - 2
Jenas
05-Nov-06
FA Prem
36,070
H
W
2 - 1
Dawson, Lennon
11-Mar-07
F.A. Cup 6
41,517
A
D
3 - 3
Berbatov, Essien og, Ghaly
19-Mar-07
F.A. Cup 6 Replay
35,519
H
L
1 - 2
Keane (pen)
07-Apr-07
FA Prem
41,864
A
L
0 - 1
12-Jan-08
FA Prem
41,777
A
L
0 - 2
18-Mar-08
FA Prem
36,178
H
D
4 - 4
Woodgate, Berbatov, Huddlestone, Keane
24-Feb-08
League Cup Final
87,660
Wem
W
2 - 1
(a.e.t) Berbatov (pen), Woodgate
31-Aug-08
FA Prem
41,790
A
D
1 - 1
Bent
21-Mar-09
FA Prem
36,034
H
W
1 - 0
Modric