Steely Spurs tear up Stamford Bridge script

The Spurs sides of the past have crumbled here at Stamford Bridge – just one win in 34 matches going all the way back to 1990 – and have often been undone by their own ambition during that period

Tottenham Hotspurs' Giovani Lo Celso (left) and Chelsea's Thiago Silva battle for the ball at Stamford Bridge. Picture: Justin Tallis/PA

If this match was an audition to find an understudy for the role of title contender in this year’s Premier League title race, with Liverpool and Manchester City both wobbling, then there wasn’t much between the two actors; but it will probably be Tottenham who get the call-back.

The goalless draw was enough to see Jose Mourinho’s side go back to the top of the table and although any right-minded director should be asking for ‘once more with feeling, please’, their organised and practical performance underlined they will no longer be typecast.