Champions Chelsea held by Spurs stalemate in London derby

Mourinho left Diego Costa on the bench for this game, affording Eden Hazard and Pedro Rodriguez chances to rotate as the Blues’ nominal striker. The latter saw efforts deflected off Tony Alderweireld and Eric Dier, but neither were clear cut.

Son, who had earlier headed on target, and Kane lashed over before half-time. Tottenham then lost Ryan Mason, a replacement in midfield for the suspended Dele Alli, to injury after the break with Erik Lamela coming on.

Tottenham take Premier League point

Mauricio Pochettino’s improving pet project played a clever one-two with Son, but the South Korea international shot tamely and straight at Begovic. The best Chelsea could muster, meanwhile, came from a Willian free-kick, yet Kurt Zouma couldn’t connect.

Hazard drew a sensational save from Hugo Lloris with a quarter of the game to go, however, volleying first-time when a sublime crossfield ball found the Belgian, who has a terrific scoring record against Spurs. It was as close as the Blues would come.

This London derby was far from a great advert for Premier League football, with an emphasis on tactics and decent defending detracting from this as a spectacle. Chelsea have now drifted for a top four finish from 7/2 to 4/1 with Coral, but have a deficit of a dozen points to make up.

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