Tottenham Hotspur (0) 0 v 1 (1) Chelsea
24 Jorginho (pen.)
Played at an empty Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday 4 February 2021.
Timo Werner may not have scored but it was the foul by Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier on him which led to the penalty put away by Jorginho just wide of Hugo Lloris’s right hand to give Chelsea the win. It was new Head Coach Thomas Tuchel’s first Premier London Derby (PLDs) win; opposite number Jose Mourinho’s first PLDs home defeat; the first time he has lost back-to-back league home games in any league; and for Spurs the first time since 2012 that they have lost 3 premier League (PL) matches in a row. They were abject with only 2 attempts on goal both saved by Edouard Mendy compared to the Blues 7 from 18, only 48% possession, and 20 fouls. Chelsea were worthy winners but may worry they only scored one.
Earlier last week in the Women’s Super League (WSL) Chelsea Women had comprehensively beaten Tottenham Hotspur Women 4-0 on Sunday 31 January 2021. Melanie Leupolz, Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr all scored in the first half, and the midfielder Leupolz the fourth in the second from the penalty spot after Kerys Harrop’s hand ball. It was home Manager Rehanne Skinner’s first defeat. Four (4) goals is one thing but six (6) is another, and that was the margin of victory when Chelsea Women were back in action on Wednesday 3 February 2021 thrashing West Ham United Women 6-0 in the F.A. (Continental Tyres) League Cup semi-final. They will meet Bristol City Women, currently bottom of the WSL, who overcame Leicester City Women 1-0 on the same day, in the Final on Sunday 14 March.
It is the turn of West Ham United’s men in our next PLDs match when they travel across London to Craven Cottage Fulham on Saturday 6 February 2021. This fixture was last played in the 2018-19 season (the last PL “normal season”) when Fulham’s 0-2 defeat was one of all five home PLDs matches they lost against this seasons’ PLDs Clubs. With West Ham United in the ascendance in the Premier League (PL) another home defeat looks mostlikely for Fulham, bringing the spectre of relegation again ever closer, but fortunes may change.
Until next time “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football whatever the score, Andrew at PLDs.