Second-half goals see Chelsea to victory - report and reaction

Three second-half goals from Chelsea did the damage as we lost a second straight Premier League game 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.

On a day when we announced the sad passing of our greatest-ever goalscorer Jimmy Greaves, who played with distinction for both teams, it was his first-ever club Chelsea that came out on top after a dominant performance after the interval.

Prior to kick-off there was a stirring and poignant minute’s applause for Greavsie, with a number of Spurs Legends in attendance pitchside, including the likes of Glenn Hoddle, Steve Perryman, Ossie Ardiles, Ledley King and Michael Dawson.

It was an entertaining first half which we probably shaded, our high press and intensity in possession allowing us to push Chelsea back although the only real sight of goal for the opening 45 minutes came when Giovani Lo Celso slipped a ball in behind for Heung-Min Son but Kepa Arrizabalaga was quick off his line to smother the chance.

Just two minutes into the second half, the visitors had their first shot on target, Marcos Alonso’s volley on the stretch pushed over the bar by Hugo Lloris but moments later they were ahead, Thiago Silva heading home from Alonso’s corner. Eric Dier then prevented further damage on 53 minutes when he was in the right place to clear Alonso’s side-footed effort off the line, but unfortunately could do nothing four minutes later as substitute N’Golo Kante’s 25-yard shot flicked off him and spun in off the post with Lloris helpless.

We struggled to get a foothold in the game in the second half, Harry Kane’s shot saved low down by Arrizabalaga as we looked for a response but instead it was Chelsea with the better chances, coming close to adding to their tally through substitute Timo Werner, Alonso, Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic - Lloris making some excellent saves - before Antonio Rudiger fired home their third in the second minute of stoppage time.

Bright start fails to reap reward

With the atmosphere crackling at kick-off for this eagerly-awaited London derby, we fed off the buzz of the crowd with a really strong opening and had a solid five minutes of pressure on the Chelsea goal with a succession of corners and a Kane free-kick which he smacked against the Blue wall.

Nuno Espirito Santo had fielded an attacking side with Tanguy Ndombele and Lo Celso joining the likes of Dele Alli, Son and Kane and our first-half display was one of real passion and determination, limiting a dangerous Chelsea side to a handful of counter-attacks. One of those came on 15 minutes when they had a three against two, Mason Mount playing a one-two with Lukaku but Emerson Royal came across superbly to block his shot. Five minutes later, we broke down the left with Sergio Reguilon racing into the area but his attempted low ball to Lo Celso was cut out.

Blues defender Andreas Christensen then fired just over from 20 yards and on 33 minutes, Ndombele and Lo Celso combined, the latter threading a ball in behind for Son but Arrizabalaga was quick off his line to gather the ball.

Chelsea failed to have a shot on target in the first period, but by the time the final whistle blew, they could add 10 to that tally on the stats of the game as they controlled long periods after the interval. Having seen his excellent volley well saved by Lloris two minutes into the second period, Alonso then delivered a corner which Thiago Silva headed home and then saw Dier deny him with a goal-line block. Our England defender was helpless on 57 minutes as Kante’s on-target shot flicked off his boot, hit the far post and dribbled across the line for 2-0.

Kane looked for a way back into the contest when he picked the ball up and hit a fierce drive but Arrizabalaga saved low down and that was our only shot on target in the second period. It became a difficult afternoon as the visitors took control, Lloris superbly saving another Thiago header before denying Werner and Kovacic from close range and then keeping out a Lukaku header right on his goal-line.

The third goal duly arrived in the first minute of stoppage time when Werner’s cut-back was swept home by Rudiger, rounding off a tough day at the office.

In team news, Nuno made four changes from our last Premier League outing against Crystal Palace – Romero, Ndombele, Lo Celso and Son coming in for the suspended Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp, Harry Winks and Lucas Moura. There were nine changes from the Stade Rennais draw on Thursday with only Ndombele and Kane keeping their places.

Reaction on Spurs TV

'The fans deserve more'

Nuno told Spurs TV after the game: "The team was punished. In the first half, we went into half-time with positive energy to go again, because we did an amazing job in the first half. Now the next challenge it to try and sustain that through all the game. The fans deserve more, the way they supported us, and it’s up to us to sustain now to keep that energy going."

Highlights on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Chelsea – Thiago Silva 49, Kante 57, Rudiger 90+2.

Yellow card: Chelsea - Werner.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Light cloud, light winds, 18 degrees.

Attendance: 60,059.