please log in to view this image Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 8th May 2013 (KO 19:45) in the 36th round of 2012-13 Premier League matches in a game which was postponed due to Chelsea's FA Cup involvement. Chelsea come into the game in 3rd place on 65 points with Spurs in 5th place on 65 points in a game which will have a dramatic impact on the race to secure Champions League football for the 2013-14 season. This will be the 190th time the two teams have met each other. Chelsea are one of the few major English football teams who never played Spurs during the Victorian Era, as they were only founded in 1905 and were admitted into the Second Division of the Football League without ever having played a match before. This was due to the rivalry that existed at the time between the Football League and the Southern League with the former desperate to make in-roads into the lucrative markets which London and the South-East provided. The first meeting between Spurs and Chelsea was a friendly played at Stamford Bridge in February 1908 and ended in a 2-2 draw. The same venue saw the first Football League Division One encounter in December 1909 and Chelsea won that match 2-1. The return fixture at White Hart Lane was won by Spurs 2-1 and in between those two matches the clubs met in the old second round (today's fourth round) of the FA Cup in a match which Spurs won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Spurs and Chelsea would meet for another three seasons in the First Division before the outbreak of World War One with honours even at two wins for Spurs, two wins for Chelsea and two drawn matches. 14 games were played during the First World War and these featured many players who 'guested' for both clubs. Five of Tottenham's "home" games were played at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium. Spurs and Chelsea had finished in the bottom two places in the last season of the First Division when war broke out and when football resumed in 1919, the Division was expanded from 20 to 22 teams. Arsenal engineered a 'promotion' to the First Division at Spurs' expense but Tottenham easilly won the Division Two Championship and the next season had two emphatic wins over Chelsea 5-0 at home and 4-0 at the Bridge. The teams would meet for another five seasons in the First Division and two seasons in the Second Division during the inter-war period - season 1929-30 was the last time Spurs & Chelsea played League games outside the Top Flight of English Football. Spurs only lost two of those 14 League matches. During World War Two, 16 games were played between Spurs and Chelsea Spurs returned to the First Division in season 1950-51 and did the 'double' over Chelsea winning 2-0 away and 2-1 at home on their way to the first Football League Championship. Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea contested the first all-London FA Cup Final in 1967 at Wembley with Spurs winning 2-1 thanks to goals scored by Jimmy Robertson and Frank Saul. The first meeting in the Football League Cup came in the 1971-72 Semi-Finals with Chelsea winning the first leg at Stamford Bridge 3-2 and Spurs only managing a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane. Both clubs were founder members of the Premier League in 1992-93 and both have been ever-present for the 21 seasons of the competition, along with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United. Chelsea have very much had the upper hand during the Premier League Era with 23 wins to Tottenham's 3 with the remaining 15 matches drawn. A second domestic Cup Final was contested in 2008 when Spurs beat Chelsea in the Football League (Carling) Cup Final 2-1 after extra time at Wembley. A Dimitar Berbatov penalty and a Jonathan Woodgate header ensured the silverware would once again reside in North London. The 2010-11 fixture in December at White Hart Lane resulted in a 1-1 draw with Roman Pavlyuchenko scoring for Spurs after 15 minutes and Didier Drogba getting Chelsea's equaliser after 70 minutes. Drogba's injury time penalty was saved by Heurelho Gomes. The reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in April was won by Chelsea 2-1 with Spurs taking a 19th minute lead through Sandro and Frank Lampard equalising on half time. Salomon Kalou scored the winner after 89 minutes. The 2011-12 match at White Hart Lane in December resulted in a 1-1 draw with Emmanuel Adebayor putting Spurs ahead after 8 minutes and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge getting the equaliser in the 23rd minute. The game at Stamford Bridge in March ended in a goalless draw. Chelsea won the 2012 FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley 5-1 with the turning-point coming from a 49th minute Juan Mata goal which never crossed the line. Didier Drogba had put the Blues ahead just before the interval and Spurs managed to pull a goal back in the 56th minute through Gareth Bale. Three further goals from Ramares, Lampard and Malouda were added for Chelsea. Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as Chelsea's manager in March 2012 and became the manager of Tottenham Hotspur on 3rd July 2012. The match at White Hart Lane in October 2012 was won by Chelsea 4-2. A Gary Cahill volly after 17 minutes was the only goal of the first half and Spurs went ahead with goals from William Gallas and Jermain Defoe. A brace from Juan Mata and a Daniel Sturridge goal gave Chelsea the three points. Overall, Spurs have won 68, Chelsea have won 74 and 47 of the 189 matches between the two clubs have been drawn. Full History of Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea Matches 1908-2013 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image They Played for Spurs & Chelsea.... Clive Allen Les Allen Jimmy Armstrong Frank Arnesen (Director of Football both clubs) Eddie Bailey Ted Birnie Danny Blanchflower (Spurs player, Chelsea manager) Derek Brazil Johnny Brooks Bill Cartwright Sid Castle David Copeland Carlo Cudicini Jason Cundy Kerry Dixon Gordon Durie Mark Falco William Gallas Lee Gardner George Graham (Chelsea player, Spurs manager) Jimmy Greaves Frode Grodas Eidur Gudjohnsen Tommy Harmer (Spurs player, Chelsea coach) Alan Harris (Chelsea player, Spurs asst. manager) Micky Hazard Glenn Hoddle (Spurs & Chelsea player & manager) Stewart Houston (Chelsea player, Spurs asst. manager) Percy Humphries Steve Kelly John Kirwan Colin Lee Scott Parker Gustavo Poyet Graham Roberts Max Seeburg Buchanan Sharp Bobby Smith Neil Sullivan Andy Thompson (Spurs player, Chelsea coach) Sid Tickridge Jimmy Townley Terry Venables (also Spurs manager) Andre Villas-Boas (manager at both clubs) Keith Weller Ernie Walley (Spurs player, Chelsea asst. manager) Harry Wilding Clive Wilson Vivian Woodward please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2012-13 Chelsea Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2012-13 Premier League London Derbies Season 2012-13 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Biggest game of the season. I have not got a clue about this one, could be a hell of a game. Great job 6061, if only our team were as consistently brilliant as your match threads.
What chirpy says! I am DREADING this game. I was optimistic about the city game, but I have a bad feeling about this one. Chelsea is just one of those games where our lack of luck is more apparent than ever. And of course, it's at SB where our record is abysmal. I just hope that at the very least, the game is officiated properly and there's no ridiculous decisions against us.
Top job with the thread. This fixture is the same as Arsenal away, we go there every season with some hope and end up leaving with nothing. It's a horrible fixture for us. This season we need to go there and pick up something, a win as their goal difference is vastly superior to ours, or a point at least. However, I can only see us losing. We're not playing well, lack creativity, lack urgency and more worrying is that I'm struggling to see a leader on the pitch to push us on. Our recent form is poor whilst Chelsea look ok. We have to go for it in this one, set up to attack and use the pace out wide. I'd go for Llorris Walker, Dawson,verts,BAE Lennon, holtby, hudd, Bale Siggy Adebayor Plenty of pace, Holtbys got plenty of energy to chase and close down, thud to dink the ball wide. Adebayor looked up for it yesterday and put in a good shift, we need his ariel presence. I'm going to this one with a lot more hope than expectation!! C.O.Y.S.
I don't think that this is a game for Huddlestone. We need to make sure that Mata's closed down instantly whenever he's on the ball, so Parker needs to start and if he's not fit then I'd go with Livermore. Lennon, Dembele and Defoe all looked miles away from match fitness yesterday, so I'd leave them all out of the starting line-up, even if they're available. Looks unlikely for the Belgian, unfortunately. I'd start one of two sides: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Parker/Livermore, Carroll; Bale, Holtby, Sigurdsson; Adebayor or Lloris; Naughton, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Walker, Parker/Livermore, Carroll, Bale; Sigurdsson; Adebayor. I don't think that Villas-Boas will change much from yesterday though, I'm afraid. Chelsea's game today could have a big influence on this. A loss would be damaging and force them to go all out for a win, whereas a win would allow them a little breathing space.
Agree that Ade needs to start and that Hudd would probably leave us exposed. The injury situation clouds the picture, but as long as Dempsey (and Naughton) don't appear in the 11 starting I will be happy. Such a big game - and I just hope that we find some sort of mojo that doesn't just centre around one player, even one as good as Bale. The lack of coordination and energy yesterday for 80 minutes was bizarre. Either/both the coaching staff and players need to work out what isn't working - and correct it, fast!'
I think that this was down to the selection of a bunch of half-fit players. Dembele, Defoe, Lennon and even Bale looked way off the pace. We picked up when Adebayor came on and then pushed on more when Sigurdsson was introduced.
I'm not sure about Parker. I feel that over the last 6 games or so his form has dipped alarmingly. Last season he broke up play and got rid of the ball quickly. Whereas recently he gets the ball, holds onto it or tries to run with it and ends up losing it. I'd take young Livermore or Carroll over him at the moment. If we pack our team with players to stop Chelsea playing, then there's little or no threat from us. Its going to be difficult for AVB to select the right team and tactics for this one.
On balance, I'd agree with leaving Huddlestone out. Whilst he could probably expose The Chavs' somewhat suspect defence, I feel that the likes of Mata, Oscar, and Hazard would run rings around him.
Their home form particularly of late has been...well, something that we wouldn't mind! and thats what is bugging me in this game, nobody has taken points off them at SB since Soton and QPR when Harry took over in back Jan. They even seem to be handling the quick succession of games, and regardless of todays outcome imo, Wed night will as usual be a formbook out the window jobby, there's too much on this fixture these days, even without this run-in pressure. Its an intriguing clash as our away form is better than home, and the SB hoodoo also weighs on our minds. If we do lay it to rest in the same season as OT... In summary...flip a coin!
They are a better team but we have the best player . We must put pressure on them in their penalty box . Playing safe will invite them constantly on us with their better ball control and something will go for them. Outside chance but we can do it. what scares me AVB will be very cautious and play Dempsey, Naughton, Siggy from the start.
If Nemesis hears the RDBD, Spurs will reprise their AC Milan San Siro game on Wednesday. Hudd scoring will be a bonus (sick and tired of his effing hairdo) .
Mike Dean's the ref(unless they make another late change and bring in Clattenburg again) and that bodes well for us, he's no nonsense so if we put Chelsea under some pressure they will quickly find their players picking up cards. Of course the same applies to us but I can't see a repeat of some of the awful decisions that have gone against us against them in recent years so the best team on the day should win and that suits me just fine
It's not often at all I'll say this about a Spurs game but this fixture is the one I can never, ever see us winning. In the past we've gone to OT and the Emirates with hope and over the last few years we've come out with a couple of results but the I never give us hope at the Bridge. Combinations of poor play and poorer officiating have scuppered us over the years. It's just horrible that this game carries so much significance, not only as a match with London rivals but in the CL spots as well. However, AVB did break the OT/Man U hoodoo earlier this season, who's to say that he can't get us a win away to Chelsea as well. Big game for him to boot. Regardless, Wednesday is going to be a horrible, horrible day.
When I said not sure I really meant it. We were all dreading our usual loss at OT this year too and look what happened there! Hopefully their fixture congestion will be a factor (although I believe it was maybe Benitez' none too subtle attempt at cultivating a seige mentality.) We have to be combative in midfield, especially in front of the back four, but not at the expense of creativity. Width is a must and without it their neat little short passing will cut us to ribbons. With it we dilute their attacking prowess a little. No Hudd for me either I'm afraid; He is just not mobile enough for this. An unfit Defoe is preferable to me to a mentally unfit Adebayor. Three shots on target for Defoe should bring a goal, whereas AB couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo also, I expect Terry to feature and playing Ade plays right into their hands. I think we have to start with Parker, at least to take sting out the game. If he has specific instructions to stay anchored and not go on his dead end runs, maybe we will be ok although this is dependent on players making themselves available to receive quick ball. We do need a plan b and probably c too though. AVB is a keen student of the game but RB, when he gets it right can look like a genius. Lets hope it is one of his crazy rotation days. Too much to hope for?
Agree with that chirpy. To be honest, an unfit Defoe is better than a fit adebayor in my opinion. I have no doubt terry will play in this one either. They aren't a big side, so we shouldn't be worried about playing Carroll. This could be a game where where he's hugely beneficial to us. The lad can play football and he'll be playing against other midfielders who do the same, so lets give him a game. I have no doubt he'll have a positive impact for us.
Are you sure, Roo?? After yesterday's game I am not so sure at all - and that was with a fit Defoe!! Ade made the difference IMO and Defoe offered FA all game..... Only doubt I acknowledge, is whether the same Ade turns up on Weds. Last season I would have been a lot more confident.....
On the bright side for Weds - we will have had an extra day to recover and that's as well as having most of a team who didn't seem to break a sweat for 75 mins yesterday!!!!!
Yes I'm sure. What did Ade do yesterday other than a flick to Dempsey? He does nothing, yet so many continue to make excuses and clutch at straws over the slightest little thing that is classed as "good", which should a) be expected of him and b) is only ever once in a blue moon!! We need goals... He won't score them as he's managed a pathetic 3 this season. He'll not get a look in against Cahill, terry or Luiz due to the fact he isn't that bothered. - poor touch after poor touch and no hold up play, resulting in us losing possession. Sorry relayer, but I'm sick of it. Yeah, Defoe was **** too yesterday, but so was everyone on the pitch. It was a dismal performance. But at least Defoe carries a threat and has genuine passion for the club.
