Tottenham 0-2 Chelsea

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Asier del Horno scored his first goal for Chelsea and Damien Duff was also on the scoresheet as the Premiership champions defeated 10-man Tottenham.

Del Horno was in the thick of things all afternoon and took a forearm to the head from Mido, who was then shown a straight red card in the 25th minute.

The Spaniard had sufficiently shaken off the blow 13 minutes later to head home Frank Lampard's corner.

After the break, Damien Duff sealed victory with a miss-kicked volley.

Chelsea have not lost a league match at White Hart Lane for 18 years and once Mido was dismissed the unbeaten run never looked like ending.

Mido had caused the Chelsea defence problems, linking well with Jermain Defoe as Spurs began brightly.

But the Egypt striker's participation ended early after he leapt into Del Horno with his arm raised.

And thereafter, despite the influential Edgar Davids' foraging and menace, Spurs were easily contained by Chelsea.

In a first half most notable for flaring tempers rather than quality football, the goalkeepers were almost reduced to bystanders.

Petr Cech was called upon once, just before the break, when he was forced into a smart save from Michael Carrick's free-kick.

Before that, Paul Robinson did enough to thwart Dider Drogba, who had over-run the ball when through in goal.

But the England keeper could only watch as Del Horno's header arrowed past him into the bottom left corner via the post on 39 minutes.

That was about the extent of the first-half goalmouth action, with the game being played out in midfield - mostly in a personal battle between Davids and Michael Essien.

Shame Mido got sent off otherwise we could have had a classic tussle on our hands From MM Have your say on 606

Chelsea's Ghanaian was in danger of following Mido down the tunnel prematurely after being booked for one challenge on Davids and frequently risking another caution.

Tottenham's numerical disadvantage was not as obvious after the break, although Chelsea appeared to play within themselves.

And in truth, the Blues still looked the more dangerous side, albeit on the break.

Joe Cole scuffed a shot when he looked certain to double his side's lead and Hernan Crespo - on for Drogba - could have scored with his first touch.

Reduced to long-range efforts, Tottenham offered little more than an Aaron Lennon strike over the bar.

And when Duff fortunately directed substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips' pull back into the bottom corner, Spurs' last hopes of salvaging something vanished.

And only a superb late save from Robinson to deny Crespo prevented Spurs from conceding their third league goal of the new season.

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Tottenham manager Martin Jol:
"There was no intention from Mido to hurt anyone. Maybe another referee would have only booked him.

"But there was lots of effort, we did well and at times I thought we played better than Chelsea.

"When we were 1-0 down we wanted to change the way we were playing but they scored a second and it was too late."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:
"It was a very important victory and a solid performance. People may say it is easier against 10 men than against 11 men but the game was difficult.

"They were better than us for a period and put pressure on us, but we were still comfortable.

"We scored one goal on the counter-attack and could have scored two more through Hernan Crespo."

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Tottenham: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, Gardner, Kelly, Tainio (Lennon 45), Carrick, Davids, Reid, Mido, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Naybet, Keane, Brown, Cerny.

Sent Off: Mido (25).

Booked: Gardner, Reid, Davids.

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Del Horno, Lampard, Makelele, Essien, Duff (Huth 89), Drogba (Crespo 67), Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 63).
Subs Not Used: Gudjohnsen, Cudicini.

Booked: Essien, Joe Cole.

Goals: Del Horno 39, Duff 71.

Att: 36,077

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).