Tottenham given the Blues

Tottenham's Sergei Rebrov gets a rare shot in on target

Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Chelsea

Tottenham fell to their first defeat under the tutelage of Glenn Hoddle to one of his former clubs, Chelsea.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's 21st goal of the season set the visitors on their way in the first half.

And their superiority was rarely threatened in the second half by 10-man Tottenham following Willem Korsten's sending off on the stroke of half-time.

We had a bit of luck with the sending-off but apart from that, we created opportunities and played well

  Gustavo Poyet

Gustavo Poyet doubled Chelsea's advantage on the hour before Eidur Gudjohnsen scored a third moments before the final whistle.

The Blues now find themselves knocking on the door to European qualification after an indifferent start to the season.

Meanwhile this result, after two Premiership victories, has given Hoddle a more realistic idea of what he faces at Tottenham after sitting through a lacklustre performance from his team.

Early storm

It is Chelsea's away form that has been their Achilles heel throughout their campaign but this is one trip that Chelsea's players and supporters have always looked forward to.

Some things in life that are as certain as the sun coming up.

Tottenham going down at the hands of Chelsea is one such certainty.

The west Londoners have now not lost to their London rivals in 25 outings and they last left White Hart Lane hanging their heads in defeat in 1987.

And after weathering an early storm Chelsea comfortably extended that run.

Simon Davies almost seized on a long throw but he saw his overhead kick screw just wide of the far post.

But after John Terry and Marcel Desailly got to grips with the diminuitive Sergei Rebrov, Chelsea's confidence, and subsequent ascendancy, grew.

Stalwart Sullivan

After a flowing counter-attack Hasselbaink threaded the ball through to Dennis Wise but Neil Sullivan was equal to the challenge in Tottenham's goal.

However when the pair combined on the half hour mark Sullivan was left clawing in vain at the ball at the near post after Hasselbaink flicked on Wise's inswinging corner.

To lose Willem for a mis-timed tackle was frustrating and at 1-0 down it was a massive hill that proved too big for us to climb

  Glenn Hoddle,
Tottenham manager

Chelsea looked to immediately double their advantage but Sullivan, who was outstanding throughout, tipped over a fizzing effort from Hasselbaink.

However when Korsten was sent off after committing fouls on Dalla Bona and Mario Melchiot the result was never in doubt.

Poyet was on hand to sweep in Graeme Le Saux's fierce cross from the left to finally double Chelsea's advantage on the hour.

Sullivan kept the score down with a brace of fine low saves from Hasselbaink and another from Wise as the game ebbed towards a conclusion.

But he was unable to prevent a third when his paper thin defence, minus Chris Perry who went off injured in the first half, was breached in injury time.

Hasselbaink, who was central to Chelsea's inventiveness in attack, fed Gudjohnsen who walked round the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into an empty net.

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Tottenham Hotspur: Sullivan, Carr, Doherty, Perry, Young, Thelwell, Sherwood, Davies, Clemence, Korsten, Rebrov.
Subs: Walker, Leonhardsen, Etherington, Gardner, Piercy.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Desailly, Babayaro, Dalla Bona, Wise, Poyet, Le Saux, Zola, Hasselbaink.
Subs: de Goey, Jokanovic, Stanic, Gudjohnsen, Gronkjaer.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).