By dixon9
January 13 2008

We are very used to getting one over Spurs but it still brings a glow of satisfaction to take the 3 points from the north London side. We also find ourselves edging closer and closer to the top 2 – a situation which many of us felt was unthinkable after all the upheaval and worryingly long queue to the treatment room of most of our key players.

Our injury crisis is slowly reducing in its severity and despite important absentees due to the ACN we are maintaining the look and cohesiveness of a well drilled squad with an extra touch of flair that is becoming more and more noticeable since the introduction of ex-Barcelona coach, Ten Cate.

The purchase of Anelka looks to be an astute one.  Despite an unplanned final half hour on the Stamford Bridge turf and no training with the squad beforehand there were enough indications that the Frenchman will add a new dynamic to the team.

With just 2 minutes into his debut a smart turn and shot from a clever Wright-Phillips back heel brought a fine save from Cerny.  Later, Anelka was to see a whiplash shot from a loose ball crash off the underside of the bar – so close to scoring in his first appearance.

Spurs were playing with a weakened midfield and coupled with Makelele as ever, shackling any feed to their forwards, the away side’s opportunities were few and far between.

Belletti found himself in a similar position to when we were away at Wigan earlier this season before unleashing his powerful 30 yarder into the top corner. 

Spurs had been under pressure and after a long clearance from a corner, they elected to hold position and await the next attack.  Nobody was going to close Belletti down and after recovering from the surprise of being allowed so much time on the ball, decided to try his luck.

Malbranque came close with a volley and was later lucky not to have received a second yellow after – Wiley, as at the Emirates just a few weeks ago was on hand to bottle another decision in our favour.  Malbranque was swiftly removed from the fray by Ramos.

Boateng appeared to have briefly thought he was at Twickenham and not Stamford Bridge when he bizarrely rugby tackled after struggling with the eel-like movement of Joe Cole – how that was only a yellow? See above!  If the likes of Mikel or Essien would have done so though…

Pizarro had been looking livelier than normal but picked up a knock – cue the introduction of new boy Anelka to enthusiastic applause.

Spurs did muster some movement near our box but appeared to lack belief.Wright-Phillips was to seal the encounter with a low drive into the far corner after a slalom exercise from Joe Cole.

Anelka´s near miss off the cross bar came at the end – but whilst not turning out to be a fairy-tale beginning, I’m convinced the striker will play an important part in other dreams becoming reality in the future.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/chelsea+tottenham/video/x4158i_resume-chelsea-tottenham_sport

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ashley Cole, Malouda (Bridge 84), Makelele, Ballack, Wright-Phillips (Sidwell 90), Pizarro (Anelka 58), Joe Cole.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.

Booked: Makelele, Ballack.

Goals: Belletti 19, Wright-Phillips 80.

Tottenham: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Lee, Lennon, O'Hara (Defoe 77), Boateng (Kaboul 84), Malbranque (Taarabt 59), Keane, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Gunter.

Booked: Boateng, Malbranque, O'Hara, and Lennon.

Att: 41,777

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).  

Grant on the debut of Anelka:

"Normally he would not have played in this game because he did not train with us but we do not have strikers.  

"So we put him on the bench and he is such an intelligent player that he knows how we play and how to fit in."