A season in the shade

When, with just 12 minutes remaining on Wednesday night, Christian Eriksen’s laser-guided 25-yarder found the corner of the net to finally break the stubborn resistance of Crystal Palace, the wild celebrations of the Spurs support – which were mirrored and even magnified on the visitors’ bench — were surely born as much of relief as jubilation, writes Liam Mackey.

Points dropped at Selhurst Park, and not only would the ‘choker’ tag have been dusted down for Tottenham again but Chelsea’s pursuit of the title would have begun to take on all the trappings of a procession.

They’re still the hot favourites, of course, but a four-point gap at least presents the illusion of being more bridgeable than seven, especially with tomorrow bringing a potentially tricky away game at Goodison Park for Antonio Conte’s men before Spurs host Arsenal in an intriguing North London derby.