Nothing compares to belting the Spurs

A CLUB record of 11 straight victories is a great statistic, but the fact it came against the ancient enemy makes it extra special. For Ashley Cole to score the first goal rubs extra salt in the wounds.

Spurs haven’t won at Chelsea since Sinéad O’Connor was number one in the charts — that’s nearly 20 years if you’re wondering, and they could have played that song — Nothing Compares 2 U — at the end of the game.

Despite Chelsea and Tottenham being virtually inseparable for the first month of the season, no part of Spurs’ side compares to Chelsea’s on any part of the pitch.

I thought our performance was machine-like. The first 20 minutes we absorbed some Tottenham pressure, while still making the odd dangerous foray; but Cole’s goal saw Chelsea stepping up a gear and blowing the opposition away. And then, just as easily, once the goals were scored and the game was won, we played keep ball.

As for Tottenham, all I can say is that rumours of their resurgence have been greatly exaggerated. Again.

Redknapp can moan all he likes about Keane’s denied penalty, but no one seems to be making a fuss that Lampard’s free-kick was saved in the box by Assou-Ekotto’s hand, nor Corluka’s barge on Ballack which should have also have been a spot-kick. So good old ‘Arry should just admit that they were beaten by a better side. A much better side.

My only complaint (and yes I am spoiled) is that the win could have been more comprehensive. It must have been frustrating for young debutant Fabio Borini who, if his team-mates had put him in, could have scored at least two goals. I’m glad he got 15 minutes, though I do wonder why Sturridge is not being given the same opportunity. We will see if he gets his chance in the Carling Cup against QP ha-ha-ha tonight.

As much as we celebrated well into the night, as befits our annual humiliation of Tottenham, I like the fact that Ancelotti is not getting carried away. We are not even two months into the season yet and having seen the form of our African players — especially Drogba — I am dreading the African Cup of Nations and their departure.

The only surprise in Peter Kenyon stepping down from his role at Chelsea was that it didn’t happen sooner. I’d guess that the decision had been made in the closed season (if not before) but rumour has it that it has taken this long to negotiate his severance package. In the end it was Scolari that done him — the Brazilian was his choice and Kenyon chose to continue backing him despite poor performances and player unrest. The fact the manager was sacked without his knowledge while he, the chief executive, was on holiday, should have been enough of a heads up for him to get his CV in order.

On a personal note, I can only speak as I find, and in terms of what he did for the supporters, you won’t find me dancing on his grave. As I was part of a fan forum which met with the club regularly and also privy to other meetings with him and the exec to discuss supporter issues, I found him mostly accommodating (after a rocky start). Under his tenure we saw season ticket prices frozen for four years, prices for Champions League group stages and domestic cups brought down and some free and subsidised travel bought in, as well as a number of other initiatives which eased the financial burden of the fan. His constant banging on about “the brand” did him no favours but was not the monster we all feared when he rocked up here from United.

So the games begin to come thick and fast. We will soon see what Ancelotti and the team are really made of. Hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves without the benefit of the hole in the space-time continuum which seems permanently to hang over Old Trafford or any magic stopwatches.

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