Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea's title ambitions took a massive blow thanks to goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale as Tottenham won a crucial London derby.

Tottenham took a deserved lead when Defoe blasted home after John Terry had hand-balled in the area, and Gareth Bale then scored a second to effectively seal the victory before half-time.

Chelsea's chances of taking something from the game seemed to totally disintegrate when Terry was sent off for a second bookable offence with just under half an hour to play, and but for goalkeeper Petr Cech, the score could have been much worse.

Frank Lampard netted a late consolation but it was all in vain as Chelsea's lead at the title is now just one point, after Manchester United beat Manchester City 1-0 at Eastlands thanks to a last minute Paul Scholes header in the lunch-time kick off.

The result leaves Chelsea's championship hopes in tatters, with Carlo Ancelotti's side knowing they must win all three of their remaining fixtures, including a daunting away match at Anfield against Liverpool.

Tottenham, on the other hand, have spot up into fourth place and are now favourites to earn themselves qualification for the Champions League next term, and were good value for their victory.

Hammered 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture, Tottenham were clearly buoyed by their historic win over Arsenal in mid-week, putting in a superb defensive performance to beat the Gunners at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham were the fastest out of the traps and had earlier efforts through Bale and Pavlyuchenko that were blocked by Chelsea defenders; the Blues evidently second-best in the opening exchanges.

And despite their lethargic start it was Chelsea who fashioned the first serious chance when Malouda stung Heurelho Gomes' hands with a strike from distance, but the Blues were soon on the back foot.

Unconvincing against Bolton on Tuesday and suspect in defence on more than one occasion, it was no surprise that Spurs began to exploit much of the space behind the Chelsea midfield right from the offing.

The moment that changed the game came with barely sixteen minutes played; John Terry handling inside the area. Up stepped Defoe, who clinically unleashed an unstoppable penalty that would have defied Petr Cech's dive even if he had guessed the right way.

Cech then made a smart save to deny Pavlyuchenko from close range whilst Gomes easily held on to a weak shot from Drogba, who was looking increasingly isolated.

Chelsea thought they had restored parity soon after but Malouda was correctly ruled offside when he stroked home Zhirkov's cross, but no such decision denied Tottenham a second goal just moments later.

It was Paulo Ferreira who was at fault. Consistently good in recent weeks, Ferreira was easily beaten by Bale who cut inside and slammed the ball beyond Cech to seal the win.

Chelsea might have been given a glimmer of hope had Lampard's well-hit volley gone in, but Gomes pulled off a spectacular save to preserve his clean sheet.

Only wastefulness by the hosts managed to keep Chelsea in the match in an intriguing second half that began with Drogba appearing to moan about an injury just seconds after Ancelotti had played all of his cards by making all three of his substitutions.

It might have been better for Chelsea, however, had the moody and wasteful Ivorian hobbled off.

Cech kept Chelsea in the game with one of the best saves of the season when he came out to deny Defoe when one-on-one with the in-form forward, but Chelsea's feint chances were wiped out completely by the stupidity of their captain.

Cautioned already for one foul just two minutes before hand, Terry received a second booking in the 66th minute to extinguish any hopes of a revival.

Cech then made an excellent save to deny Bentley who tried an outrageous chip from 25 yards, and also made a good block to deny Bale a second with a fine save. The Blues keeper was ensuring a speck of credibility about the result.

Lampard did finally break down the Spurs back-line late on when he poked home Ballack's pin-point cross, but it was a case of too little, too late for Chelsea, who lead United now by only a single point.

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Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira (Ivanovic 46), Alex, Terry©, Zhirkov; Deco, Mikel (Ballack 32), Lampard; J Cole (Anelka 46), Drogba, Malouda

Tottenham (4-4-2): Gomes; Kaboul, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley, Huddlestone, Modric (Gudjohnsen 77), Bale; Pavlyuchenko (Crouch 90+3), Defoe

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Tottenham's number 20 - Michael DAWSON

[Sparkie 27]

Matt Dawson? Surely not Gareth Bale!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Dawson was Tottenham's best player without doubt.