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Advantage Chelsea in top four race as Giroud and Alonso goals down Tottenham

Getty Images
Getty Images

Chelsea completed a Premier League double over Tottenham as Frank Lampard once again got the better of his former boss Jose Mourinho in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso saw the Blues earn to a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge and earned a significant three points in the race for Champions League qualification, while Spurs were fortunate to finish with eleven men after Giovanni Lo Celso’s poor challenge.

With Tammy Abraham only fit enough for the bench, Giroud was given the chance to lead the line from the start for the first time in the league since late November, replacing Michy Batshuayi, who was left out of the squad completely after his poor performance against Manchester United on Monday.

Dele Alli was another whose midweek performance cost him his place in the side, dropped to the bench after his public display of frustration at being substituted during the defeat to RB Leipzig, as Jose Mourinho switched to a back three to match Frank Lampard’s side.

The danger signs were there on 12 minutes when Alonso exploited the space in behind Spurs’ wing-backs with a ball up the line to Mason Mount, who tests Lloris with a low strike at his near-post.

The warning was not heeded, and just three minutes later Chelsea took the lead as an even better pass from Jorginho sent Giroud away, and though both he and Ross Barkley were denied, by Lloris and the woodwork respectively, he thundered home at the third time of asking with a vicious effort

Giorud celebrates after putting Chelsea ahead Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Giorud celebrates after putting Chelsea ahead Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Alonso went close with a smart touch and volley on his weaker right-foot, before Spurs finally jolet into life in the final minutes of the half, Cesar Azpilicueta having to make a good block to turn Lucas Moura’s shot behind before Willy Caballero tipped Davinson Sanchez’s header over the bar from a corner.

Immediately after the restart Chelsea doubled their lead with a goal of real quality, Giroud cushioning inside to Mount, whose first touch was perfect and took him into space down the right. From there, he squared for England teammate Barkley who in turn showed great awareness to help into the path of the arriving Alonso, allowing the Spaniard to crash a terrific finish into the far corner.

Alonso doubles Chelsea's lead Photo: Getty Images
Alonso doubles Chelsea's lead Photo: Getty Images

Things should have ended up even worse for Spurs moments later, as Lo Celso put in an awful tackle on the shin of Azpilicueta but somehow escaped both a red card and, more importantly given their paucity of attacking options, a three-match ban.

Reports after the incident have claimed that Stockley Park have since admitted that a red card should have been awarded.

Chelsea twice went close to adding a third, substitute Abraham denied by a superb reflex save by Lloris, before Alonso clanged against the woodwork with a stunning free-kick.

There was a late scare when Antonio Rudiger inadvertently turned Erik Lamela's effort past his own goalkeeper but it was to prove a mere consolation.

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