Chelsea 4-0 Spurs - Tim's verdict

Tim Sherwood cut a despondent figure after our 4-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday.

There was very little in the game until the 56th minute when Samuel Eto’o capitalised on Jan Vertonghen’s slip to fire the Premier League leaders in front.

Just three minutes later and Younes Kaboul was judged to have pushed Eto’o over in the box, referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty, sent the defender off and Eden Hazard slotted home for 2-0, leaving us with a mountain to climb.

It stayed at 2-0 until we conceded two goals to Demba Ba in the final two minutes.

“It’s gone against us,” said Tim. “We were alright in the first half, we were in control, we felt the longer the game went it would be in our hands because they would have to come out and we’d hit them on the counter-attack.

“I thought we were solid enough in the first half. They didn’t create many chances, Hazard had one but other than that, we were making chances ourselves and opening them up.

“Anyone can make a slip but once we gave the first goal away, we seemed to lose our heads. We were spirited up to the first goal, but then the sending off, I’m gutted.”

We have to respond quickly as we face Benfica in the first leg of our Europa League, Round of 16 tie at White Hart Lane on Thursday, followed by the North London derby at the Lane on Sunday.

“The fans were magnificent and the lads owe it to them and owe it to themselves (to respond). They have to take it on the chin, as we all have.”

Meanwhile, Tim confirmed that Michael Dawson had to depart the game in the 71st minute due to hamstring injury.