Tottenham Hotspur played host to Chelsea this afternoon looking for only their fourth win over the Blues in the Premier League era.
They looked to be on course for a positive result when Gylfi Sigurdsson put them in front in the first half, but his strike was cancelled out after the restart by Chelsea captain John Terry.
In the closing stages the away side were reduced to 10 men when Fernando Torres was handed his second caution of the clash, but Spurs were unable to make their numerical advantage count.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Morning all. This is not a bad way to start the Premier League weekend is it? Two teams that have been tipped to challenge for the title and what's more, they are both from the same city. Everything is in place for Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea to be a thrilling contest - let's hope that it lives up to expectation.
Right, before we look into all the pre-match talk surrounding this fixture, the team news from White Hart Lane has just started to filter through. Let's start with who has been included for the home team...
TOTTENHAM XI: Lloris; Walker, Naughton, Dawson, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Dembele, Townsend, Eriksen, Sigurdsson; Soldado
Well, that is pretty much what you'd expect from the Spurs starting XI. They may have impressed in the League Cup during the week, but there is no place in the team for either Jermain Defoe and Lewis Holtby - both have had to settle for slots on the bench. Roberto Soldado will feature as a lone frontman, while Christian Eriksen and Andros Townsend also come into the side.
And as for Chelsea...
CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Torres
Despite his talent, it would be more of a surprise to see Juan Mata in the Chelsea team rather than out of it these days. Once again Jose Mourinho has opted not to start the Spaniard, with Oscar and Eden Hazard filling the attacking midfield roles. There is a place for David Luiz at the back, though, while Fernando Torres's performance against Swindon Town during the week was good enough to earn him a lone centre-forward's role.
Mata, as expected, is back on the bench after his midweek exploits. Before we go any further, let's take a look at who else has joined on there...
TOTTENHAM SUBS: Friedel, Chirches, Lamela, Holtby, Chadli, Sandro, Defoe
CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Essien, Mata, Schurrle, Eto’o
You'd have to argue, on paper at least, that Spurs can boast the stronger of the two benches. They've got a goal threat in Defoe, while the likes of Holtby, Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli all have the potential to create chances. Aside from Mata, there is not too much among the Chelsea replacements that the home side will fear.
Right, let's address the problem between the two managers shall we? Neither has said why, but both have admitted that they no longer talk, despite Villas-Boas successfully working under Mourinho for some time. It will be interesting to see if they shake hands before the start of this match.
"I felt I could give him much more. But he didn't feel the need for somebody near to him or in another position as an assistant, and because of that it was decided that it was time, after Inter Milan, to continue our careers [apart]," AVB said earlier this week of his relationship with Mourinho. "I don't think we need explanations. But our relationship broke down. I think we have the mutual respect for each other and we understand what we have been through cannot just disappear, but it's not like it was before."
Meanwhile, a seemingly angry Mourinho hit back: "I don't care what he says. I'm not here to do that. I'm not interested. I managed a Champions League final against a manager who was important in my career and taught me to grow up and I did it in a professional way, and that is a way you have to do it.
"I have had so many assistants in my career. I was always an open book to them and with the coaches in the academy. Will I go for a glass of wine with him? When people invite me I always go. I never refuse."
More quotes and this time from Spurs midfielder Eriksen, who has just been talking to BT Sport. The Dane is expecting a tough clash: "It's going to be really difficult, but everyone is really excited. Every game against a London club is really important. It's going to be a fight in the midfield and we are going to have score our chances. They are really good on the counter. It's going to be tense."
Meanwhile, turning our attention back to Chelsea, BT Sport have attempted to explain while Mourinho has opted for Oscar ahead of Mata:
Pic: How Oscar and Juan Mata compare for @chelseafc #btsportfootball pic.twitter.com/ECowHAJU48 — BT Sport (@BTSport) September 28, 2013
In all honesty, is there any reason why both can't play? They did last season and didn't appear to have too many issues.
Also, a penny for Willian's thoughts right now. The Brazilian playmaker may very well be injured, but if not, the fact that he has not been included in the Chelsea squad must hurt. Of course, it could have been all so different. Reports have claimed that he had a medical at Spurs before opting for a move to Stamford Bridge. No doubt everyone connected with Tottenham will be slightly pleased how it has panned out for Willian so far.
Someone that Tottenham did manage to land during the summer, among many others was Roberto Soldado. You feel that it is a big game for the Spanish international today because he has not produced his best form yet. He's got two goals this season, both of which have come from the penalty spot. Finding the net today would no doubt settle him down. Mind you, if he doesn't, Spurs have a decent replacement on the bench in Defoe.
PREDICTION: Right, with not long now until the action gets underway, let's have a stab at predicting the outcome. This fixture finished 4-2 last season, but it would be a big surprise if there were that many goals this time around. Mourinho is a very tactical coach, while Villas-Boas could well sound his side out with an element of caution. As a result, there is a chance that both teams could cancel each other out. With that in mind, let's say 1-1.
There is a great atmosphere inside White Hart Lane as the players start to filter through into the tunnel. The photographers are also getting ready in front of the dugouts as well as they prepare for the Mourinho-AVB handshake.
The handshakes between the players are now taking place, but no sign of anything between the two managers yet. Mourinho came out to the dugouts early before both sets of teams. Whether that was a ploy of his, who knows?!
And there we have it - Villas-Boas approaches the Chelsea bench and shakes hands with Mourinho. Now, thankfully, we can concentrate on the football! 60 seconds until we get started.
GAME ON! Chelsea, attacking from left to right, get this clash at White Hart Lane started. Big 90 minutes ahead for these two rival clubs.
A real pacey start to proceedings in North London as both sides look to gain an early advantage. Neither has been particularly neat with their passing, though, and so possession has changed hands often. Spurs forced a corner, but Eriksen's whipped effort is easily collected by Petr Cech.
Half an opportunity for the away as Frank Lampard picks up possession on the halfway line. Having got his head up, the England international fires a long pass over the top of the Spurs defence. Waiting there is Hazard, but the Belgian fails to get the ball under control and the chance evaporates. Had his touch been sharper, Hazard would have been through on goal.
A worrying moment for Chelsea as Hazard hits the deck with an ankle injury. After some treatment, though, it seems that it was just an impact complaint and he's back on his feet and rejoins the action. Mata may as well stop his warm-up now!
CHANCE! It's a difficult opportunity for Jan Vertonghen, but one that he is visibly disappointed not to have done better with. Eriksen sends over a cross from the right for the Spurs defender, who gets above his marker. His header flies across goal, but none of his teammates have gambled and the chance disappears.
Chelsea's bright light so far today has been Hazard. Twice in quick succession the 22-year-old has been fouled as he looked to attack the Spurs defence. He's been by no means at his best so far this season, but he's looked much more of a threat this afternoon.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea (Sigurdsson)
What a lovely goal from the home side as White Hart Lane erupts. Summer signings Eriksen and Soldado link inside the area to free Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelander rides a sliding challenge from Chelsea skipper John Terry, before slotting the ball beyond the reach of an advancing Cech. It's the first real shot of note from either side and it's produced the first goal. How will Chelsea respond?
CHANCE! But for Branislav Ivanovic, Tottenham would be 2-0 up. It's brilliant play from Andros Townsend, as his fake shot takes out two Chelsea defenders. He then picks out Eriksen, who drills the ball across. It looks as though Paulinho has the most simple of tap-ins, but Ivanovic slides in at the final second to divert the ball out for a corner. Talk about last-ditch.
Things are really not going Chelsea's way right now. Everything is breaking down whenever they get the ball into the Spurs half. If only they had a creative player on the bench...
SAVE! Easy pickings for Cech, but once again Eriksen was impressive. He runs almost the width of the area to tee up Kyle Naughton. The full-back is under pressure instantly from Ramires, though, and so has to shoot with his weaker right foot. The connection is poor and consequently Cech gets down with ease to hold the ball.
A statistic from BT Sport on Twitter: "No team in Europe’s top five leagues has conceded fewer goals than @SpursOfficial this season (1)." Only Arsenal have breached the Spurs net so far in a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium earlier this month.
Well that's something you don't see too often in the Premier League. Ivanovic, deep inside the Tottenham half, has just committed a foul throw. He argues the decision, but he clearly threw the ball straight into ground and it wasn't even fully behind his head! Poor.
In the last five minutes or so it has been better from Chelsea. They may not have worked Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal, but they have forced a couple of corners. It's a sign that they are starting to get a foothold in this game. It's an important few minutes before half-time.
BOOKING! A yellow card has been coming and the first of the clash goes to Spurs midfielder Townsend for a blatant dive. Lampard does stick his leg out, but makes no contact with the winger, who is deservedly cautioned. Moments later, Oscar volleys straight at Lloris.
OFF THE POST! That's more of what we want to see from Townsend, rather than throwing himself on the floor. He attacks down the right, before threading through a pass to Paulinho, who is all alone inside the Chelsea area. He takes one touch, before firing goalwards. His effort beats Cech, but unfortunately for him and Spurs, it cannons to safety off the upright. Meanwhile, two minutes of stoppage time have been signalled as Eriksen goes into the book for shirt pulling.
HALF-TIME: Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea
The whistle goes just moments after Terry meets a cross from Ramires, but he cannot keep his header on target. You'd expect the Chelsea centre-back and captain to do much better with that sort of chance. It actually sums up the opening 45 minutes from his team's point of view.
Mourinho is bound to have a few choice words for his players over the next few minutes. For 30 minutes they were dominated by Spurs and even when things improved slightly towards the end of the half, they were by no means at the fluent best. Hazard has been lively in patches, but we've seen very little from the likes of Oscar and Torres.
From Tottenham's point of view, Villas-Boas will probably be largely pleased with what he has seen. They haven't created too much, but could well be 2-0 up but for some great Ivanovic defending or Paulinho hitting the post. However, he may cautious over the way that Chelsea came back into the contest towards the half.
The Spurs boss will probably not make any changes, but it may be time for Mourinho to swallow some pride and introduce Mata into the action. The Spaniard oozes class and he shone in this fixture last season, which Chelsea won 4-2. He could come on for Mikel, who has been anonymous during that first half. It would also allow Ramires to move in alongside Lampard in midfield, which is arguably is more natural position.
Chelsea's half can be summed up by just one stat: They've had one shot on target and that was from Oscar, who saw his volley dribble into Lloris's hands. Much needs to change in the second half, otherwise they will be heading back to Stamford Bridge empty headed.
SUBSTITUTION: Well, it seems that Mourinho could well be a reader of Sports Mole! As the second half gets underway, he brings on Mata and coming off is Mikel. It's a much needed alteration for the Blues.
CHANCE! Wow, that was the Torres from his Atletico Madrid and Liverpool days. He tricks his way to the byline and then shows great pace, before drilling the ball across goal. In slides Oscar, who has the goal at his mercy. He can't get a clean contact on the ball, though, and his effort drifts wide of the target. Nevertheless, it's a positive start to the half from Chelsea.
BOOKING! Torres is not a happy bunny, but he can have little argument with the yellow card. He needlessly trips up Vertonghen down in the corner flag, then squares up to the Spurs defender. Following that, he then looks bemused when the yellow card is flashed at him!
SAVE! It's been all Torres during the first few minutes of this half - he looks sharp as well. He turns Dawson one way and then the other, before putting the Spurs skipper on the seat of his pants. Out comes Lloris, who spreads himself well to deny the Spanish striker. Mind you, Torres is lucky to be on the pitch. Replays of his clash with Vertonghen show that he sunk his fingernails into the defender's face.
First real sign of Spurs as an attacking threat in this half and it's Moussa Dembele who causes problems when he beats Ivanovic on the left wing. His cross is by no means poor, but no Spurs player is able to get their head on the ball. Seconds later, Mata has the ball in the net, but he was correctly flagged offside.
BOOKING! Mike Dean's yellow card is out again, this time for Ivanovic, who has been punished for dissent. The Serbian defender then continues his verbal tirade, which isn't the wisest decision that he can make. Dean calls over Terry to have a word with his teammate, which for now seems to have done the trick.
It's all kicked off between Vertonghen and Torres again. The Chelsea striker is very fired up right now and he needs to calm down otherwise he could well be given a second yellow card. The situation has been calmed by the match official, but that is unlikely to be the end of the matter.
SUBSTITUTION: A like for like switch by Villas-Boas as he brings off English youngster Townsend and replaces him with winger Nacer Chadli. The Belgian opened his goalscoring account for Spurs against Villa during the week.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea (Terry)
And that is why Mata should always been in this Chelsea side. It's the Spanish attacker's free kick - awarded after Vertonghen had been booked for a foul on Ramires - that drifts towards the back post. There is skipper Terry, who manages to glance a header past a static Lloris. Chelsea are level and deserve to be for the way that they have played since the restart.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A change apiece as Hazard is given a breather by Mourinho, with German international Andre Schurrle taking his place. It is also the end of the afternoon for Eriksen, who is replaced by Holtby in the Tottenham midfield.
Things have actually settled down in the last few minutes, which will actually have pleased Tottenham. Since the start of the second half, they have been placed under large amounts of pressure by the visitors. Holtby has already been involved in plenty of their passing moves.
BOOKING! The yellow cards are being dished out all over the place now. This time it's Dawson, for a foul that he committed on Torres. The Spurs skipper doesn't argue because it was a deserved caution. The resultant free kick from Mata comes to nothing as Ivanovic is an offside position.
SUBSTITUTION: Another disappointing afternoon for Soldado comes to an end and on in his place is Defoe. It's a popular switch among the Tottenham faithful, who give the England international a positive reception. Moments later, Lloris does well to deny Schurrle from close range, while Dembele goes into the book.
RED CARD! Torres (Chelsea)
I said earlier in the half that Torres was too fired up, but he is very, very unlucky to have been handed his marching orders. He challenges with Vertonghen in the air and both players hit the deck. Replays show that it was a fair battle, but Dean believes that the Chelsea striker has committed an offence. It's a poor decision, but Torres has to walk. Mourinho reacts by bringing off Oscar and putting on full-back Cesar Azpilicueta.
SAVE! What a big opportunity for Defoe, who you'd back every time to score from that position. The ball drops to him inside the area and he opens up his body to free his left foot. He goes for a curling effort, but scuffs it along the fall and Cech gets down well to hold.
CHANCE! Almost a winner from Sigurdsson and what a goal it would have been. Dawson picks him out on the edge of the area and he tees himself up with dinked first touch. He then swivels and strikes for goal, but the ball flies inches wide of Cech's right post. So close.
Right then - these sides will have four minutes of stoppage time to find a winning goal.
This one could go on a little longer as Lampard has gone down clutching his ankle. He's up now, but seems to be in quite a bit of pain.
FULL TIME: Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea
Well that is what you call a fair result. Spurs dominated the first half, while Chelsea were the better side after the restart. That's all we have time for from White Hart Lane - thanks for joining us this afternoon. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole over the course of the day for coverage of all the football from at home and abroad. Until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
