Tottenham secured a surprise 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer sent off and goalkeeper Mike Penders scoring a comical own goal. The result gave Spurs back-to-back Premier League wins within a week, while Chelsea's run of successive victories came to an abrupt end.
Penders punched a corner into his own net to give the away side the lead in the 77th minute, before Palmer was dismissed for a second yellow card three minutes later. Mathys Tel then added a second late on to seal the points against the 10 men.
Spurs' Strong Left Side
Tottenham dominated the early exchanges, with Andy Robertson's enterprising runs from left-back causing Chelsea constant problems. The former Liverpool star combined well with Tel, with the duo regularly getting the better of Pedro Neto and Josh Acheampong.
The issue, as has often been the case for Spurs this season, was the end product. Omar Marmoush failed to make the most of a perfect Robertson cut-back, while Tel was flagged for offside after forcing another save from Penders before the break.
Pedro's Absence Felt
Chelsea's team news was met with a collective groan from the Stamford Bridge faithful, with Joao Pedro absent from the matchday squad. The Brazilian has been excellent in front of goal this season, scoring five and assisting three in six Premier League matches.
Palmer and Morgan Rogers - the other two pieces of the league's sharpest attack - had efforts on target in the first half, but in truth Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky was not really troubled. The nature of Pedro's injury is yet to emerge.
Palmer Sees Red
The game burst into life when Palmer clashed with Bruno Fernandes in the 70th minute. The Spurs midfielder had cynically handled the ball to stop Palmer going into a dangerous area, and the Chelsea star's reaction was costly.
Palmer pushed his hip into Fernandes's face, prompting a melee. Both players were booked, along with Micky van de Ven, but the reprieve did not last long. Minutes later, Palmer's studs connected with Conor Gallagher's ankle and he was sent off.
"Cole Palmer's lost his head," Gary Neville said on co-commentary for Sky Sports.
Spurs' Late Show
It looked like a bore draw until Penders caved in, punching the ball into his own net under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke. But the way Spurs frustrated Chelsea arguably meant they deserved the points.
Tel has often embodied Spurs' frustration in the final third, so it was fitting to see the French winger drive forward, cut inside and find the bottom corner from distance to make the points safe.
