Carvalho strike nets points for Chelsea

FT: Chelsea 1 Tottenham 0

Ricardo Carvalho’s second-half strike earned Chelsea a vital victory over Tottenham and cut Manchester United’s lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership to three points.

The Portuguese defender decided the outcome of a competitive encounter at Stamford Bridge when he sent a 35-yard drive into the bottom corner in the 52nd minute.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was twice forced to make telling saves to deny Mido and Jermain Defoe but the champions held on to apply brief pressure on United at the Premiership summit.