Published: 29 November, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 0, CHELSEA 0

SPURS were held to a goalless draw against champions Chelsea in Sunday's lunchtime kick-off, leaving manager Mauricio Pochettino frustrated at a missed opportunity to jump into the top four after dominating the game but not having quite enough to win it.

“Chelsea only had one shot on target. That shows the work my players put in,” said Pochettino.

“But I am not happy – I am a bit disappointed. We deserved more than we got. We created enough chances to score. We shot four times on target, and three or four more off target.”

He added that the respect shown to his side by Chelsea was a mark of their progress, which includes a 14-game unbeaten stretch.

“We played the defending champions and it is good that you get the feeling that Chelsea was a small team and Tottenham feel they can win every game,” he added.

“It is not easy. We are one of the youngest teams in the Premiership. Chelsea played one of their best games of the season, and I think when you make the effort we showed today, and the maturity, you have to be happy with your players.”

Chelsea's Asmir Begovic was the busier keeper, having to deal with efforts from Heung-Min Son and a rasping drive from Mousa Dembele in the first half. Son, particuarly, should be disappointed. His was the best chance of the opening 45, but having lost his marker, could only direct his backpost header into Begovic's arms.

With Spurs missing the suspended Dele Alli, Ryan Mason was restored to the line-up. He worked to little effect on the right, but on 54 nearly broke the deadlock – and while doing so, crocked himself. The midfielder played a neat one-two with Son but got in a tangle as he shaped to shoot. He hobbled off, to be replaced by Erik Lamela.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, the other stand-out moments was a Begovic save from Son after he cut open Chelsea with a give-and-go, while at the other end, Eden Hazard found his goalward volley spectacularly blocked by Hugo Lloris. Spurs had flown 5,000 miles for a Europa League game in Azabaijan on Thursday, so it is understandable they lacked the spark needed to overcome the stalemate – but it's another point on the board, and for Pochettino the impressive autumn keeps rolling.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Mason (Lamela, 56), Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Son (Njie, 73), Kane.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

TOBY Alderweireld was absolutely ruthless. He took responsibility every time Chelsea went forward, and in a clear man of the match display, he dealt with everything with minimum fuss.

This was not the exhilarating, flowing football we have come to expect, and it is a mark of this season's confidence that this feels like two points dropped. November, with its tricky games against Arsenal, West Ham and Chelsea, sandwiched in between Europa ties and the international break, has brought with it eights points from 12. The fixtures for December read kinder: West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton, Norwich and Watford. All look winnable.

As well as the late flight back from Azerbaijan on Thursday, the energy was further sapped by the absence of Dele Alli. Ryan Mason was played in a fairly unusual right-hand spot, and with Mousa dropping a little deeper, Spurs missed the zest and zip young Alli has brought to the line-up.