Late Penalty Kick Save Keeps Spurs, Chelsea Drawn At The Lane

Some credit must go to Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti who made the changes necessary to get Chelsea back into the match after Spurs dominated most of the first half. With the draw, Chelsea sit fourth on 31 points and Spurs remain just behind in fifth on 27 points.

While the game enters its final ten minutes and with the score now level, the contest seems undoubtedly poised for a winner. Spurs seem the more likely of the two teams to emerge victors but with star attackers Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba on the field for Chelsea, one would be silly to count the Champions out in what’s been an entertaining match.

An exciting first half from White Hart Lane for Tottenham Hotspur supporters and neutrals, but not so much for Chelsea supporters has ended 1-0 to the home side thanks to a 15th minute goal by Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The goal came partially as a result of tactical decisions by Chelsea, but poor effort from their defenders and a great effort by Spurs’ attackers were equal contributors. Carlo Ancelotti elected to start the match by having right back Paulo Ferreira put pressure on Gareth Bale, closing him down and giving him little space to operate. As a result, there was space in behind him on the right hand side that Jermain Defoe was able to exploit. Picking up the ball on the right behind Ferreira, he played a ball into the middle of the box towards Roman Pavlyuchenko. Chelsea captain John Terry gave Pavlyuchenko too much space and he was given a clear shot, hitting a brilliant left footed finish around Petr Cech at his near post. His 15th minute strike would be the only goal of the half as the teams went into the locker room 1-0.

Over in Birmingham, Brum is at the Molineux to visit Wolves in a local derby. Though Birmingham City still sits 16th, they are undefeated in four, a stretch which includes a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Alex McLeish’s side also carries a three match win streak over Wolves into this derby, dating back to the teams’ last season in the Championship. That’s where Wolves are threatening to return, sitting 19th, in the midst of a stretch where they’ve lost five of six.