Chelsea - Then and Now

Hot on the heels of our 4-0 win over Ludogorets in the Europa League on Thursday, we return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as we make the trip to Chelsea (4.30pm kick-off).

Ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge, we take a look back at our previous outings against the Blues before analysing all the game’s key information and statistics, as well as the pre-match view from our opposition.

Chelsea v Spurs – Then

Just over a century ago, we achieved our biggest-ever victory over Chelsea as we put five past them without reply at White Hart Lane on 9 October, 1920. In what was our first season back in the top flight, inside forward Bert Bliss fired home a hat-trick, while Jimmy Dimmock and Charlie Wilson were also on the scoresheet. A week later, we headed to the Bridge for the second league meeting of the campaign and came very close to repeating the scoreline. Again Bliss, Dimmock and Wilson were all on the scoresheet - the latter bagging a brace - as we ran our 4-0 winners in west London. Later that term, we were back at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s home hosted the 1921 FA Cup Final. Once again, we were victorious in SW6 as we clinched our second FA Cup with 1-0 win over Wolves.

Our 5-0 win over Chelsea, in the first meeting between the sides of the 1920/21 season, kick-started a run of just three defeats against the Blues over the next 32 years as we continued to build towards our first ever First Division title. That ambition was realised in the 1950/51 season when, under the management of Arthur Rowe, we won the top flight by four points, despite having only just won promotion from the Second Division in the previous season. In that title-winning campaign we completed the double over the Blues, triumphing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Len Duquemin and Sonny Walters, before running out 2-1 winners at the Lane with goals from Ron Burgess and Alex Wright.

This season, we have won all four of our away games so far - a feat we have only managed in two previous campaigns in our history. The first of those was in 1960/61 - our second league title-winning season - as we won our first six away games of the year and, like 1950/51, we also went on to complete the double over Chelsea. We cantered to a 4-2 triumph over the Blues at the Lane in March, 1961 with goals from Les Allen, Cliff Jones (two) and Frank Saul before coming from behind to win at the Bridge in the April with Bobby Smith, Terry Medwin and Maurice Norman all on target - our all-time record goalscorer Jimmy Greaves scored for Chelsea in that game.

The only other season in our history in which we have managed to win our first four away league games was far more recently than 1961. Just three years ago, we defeated Newcastle United on the opening day at St James’ Park before picking up wins at Everton, West Ham and Huddersfield - the run ended on matchday 10 with a 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

That year, we didn’t manage to complete the double over the Blues as we came unstuck against them in our opening home game, losing 2-1 at Wembley. However, later that season, we pulled out our joker on April Fool’s Day as we stormed to 3-1 victory at the Bridge. Despite falling behind on 30 minutes to an Alvaro Morata header, we rallied and were level through a stunning Christian Eriksen strike on the stroke of half time. Dele then showed his class in the second half, putting us ahead on 62 minutes with a goal to rival that of Eriksen’s earlier effort, as he took Eric Dier's long-floated ball down with a sublime touch before stroking it home on the half volley. He then made it three just four minutes later. That was our first win at the Bridge for 28 years and our most recent to date.

Last five meetings

29 September, 2020 – Spurs 1-1 Chelsea (5-4 on penalties) – Carabao Cup fourth round
22 February, 2020 – Chelsea 2-1 Spurs – Premier League
22 December, 2019 - Spurs 0-2 Chelsea - Premier League
27 February, 2019 – Chelsea 2-0 Spurs – Premier League
24 January, 2019 – Chelsea 2-1 Spurs (4-2 on penalties) – Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg

Chelsea v Spurs – Now

Sunday’s meeting has all the ingredients of a classic encounter between the two clubs. Both sides have enjoyed encouraging starts to the campaign, just two points separate us, Jose is once again back at Stamford Bridge and we have the chance to retake top spot.

Chelsea come into this encounter unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions – they haven’t lost since September. The last team to overcome the Blues was us as we progressed in the Carabao Cup, winning 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the tie having been level at 1-1 after extra time.

In the league, the Blues are unbeaten since 20 September, when they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to current table-toppers Liverpool, and they have won each of their last three games in the competition, scoring nine goals, conceding one. Ahead of this game, Chelsea have no major injuries concerns with Christian Pulisic expected to return to the fold after a lay-off with a hamstring issue, while summer signing Kai Havertz was back in action for the Blues on Tuesday night against Rennes.

“Chelsea against Tottenham is extra special anyway because of the rivalry between the two teams, but the fact we’re both in good form and towards to the top of the table definitely adds spice,” Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said as he previewed Sunday’s clash.

“We’re all fighting for those kinds of positions so all eyes will be drawn to it. I certainly don’t put anything on the fact we beat them twice last season. Every new year brings something else and Tottenham invested heavily in the break to bring in some very good players to strengthen what was already a really strong squad. I’m expecting a tough match - their start to the season has shown that.”

We are currently enjoying the longest unbeaten run (eight games) in the Premier League having not lost since the opening day. We have also won each of our last four games in the league and will be looking to make that five with victory this weekend - a feat we haven’t managed since December, 2018. A draw or defeat against the Blues will make it nine league games unbeaten for us - our longest such run since December, 2017 to April, 2018.

Prior to Liverpool’s draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, we had spent seven days at the top of the Premier League table. Between August, 2010, and August, 2020, we had managed just six days at the table's summit combined.

The message ahead of the game from Head Coach Jose Mourinho, though is simple, 'we go to win'.

“Maybe we don’t go there top, maybe Liverpool get a point or a victory at Brighton (on Saturday) and then we don’t go there top of the league, so we don’t know. Going there top or Liverpool top doesn’t change anything for us,” Jose stated ahead of the weekend fixtures.

“As I’ve said since the beginning of the season, we are only contenders to win the next match, nothing more. So, we are going to be there, three possible results, we know anything could happen, but we go there, and our objective is to win the game.”