Premier League
Chelsea
May 8, 2013 7.45pm
2
2
HT : 2 1
FT
Spurs
  • Oscar 11' goal
  • Ramires 39' goal
  • Ramires 90' yellowcard
  • goal Emmanuel Adebayor 26'
  • yellowcard Jan Vertonghen 79'
  • goal Gylfi Sigurdsson 80'
  • yellowcard Gareth Bale 87'

Live Commentary: Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur - Chelsea bias - as it happened

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Chelsea 2-2 Spurs - Chelsea bias - as it happened
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Chelsea hosted Tottenham Hotspur this evening in a key game in the race for a Champions League finish in the Premier League.

The Blues twice squandered the lead as Spurs earned a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge to keep their hopes of finishing in the top four alive.

Read how it all unfolded from a Chelsea point of view in our minute-by-minute updates below.

9.45pmI'll leave you with Jack's match report. See you again soon.
9.43pmThanks for joining Sports Mole for our Blues-orientated updates this evening, we hope you enjoyed it!
9.40pmHere's the latest Premier League table. We're still third, two points clear of Arsenal and three clear of Spurs. Our goal difference is 16 better than Spurs though so we're effectively four clear of fifth. Another season in the Champions League is on its way!
9.37pmIt's a point which isn't too bad but we twice squandered the lead in that game. Spurs will be far happier with the point, that's for sure.
90+5 minFULL-TIME: Chelsea 2-2 Spurs
90+3 minChance for Fernando but that's classic from him at the moment as he dilly-dallies before being tackled on the edge of the box. One minute or so left.
90+3 minNo good! The number 11 gets it up and over the wall but there's not as much power as normal and Cech is there to catch easily.
90+2 minGet your wall right Petr and keep your eye on the ball!
90+1 minWe need to be careful at the back though. Dempsey's just had a shot saved by Petr and now Bale is brought down 25 yards out, right of centre. Perfect for the Welshman and nervous times for the Blues...
90+1 minIt's FOUR added on. Come on lads, find a winner!
89 minHuddlestone's had a real stinker on set pieces for Spurs tonight. His latest free kick harmlessly bobbles out of play. We're into the final minute now. How many will be added on?
87 minYELLOW CARD! Bale is booked for bringing down Rami when he was trying to break. Cynical stuff from the 'wonderboy'.
85 minBLUES SUB: Boos all around the stadium as Rafa takes off Oscar for Benayoun! Not sure about that one at all. Frank is surely the obvious option?
84 minSpurs are the side looking more dangerous at the moment as Bale unleashes from distance but it's comfortably over the bar.
81 minMoments later and Adebayor is through on goal but this time is flagged for offside. Replays indicate that that decision was also marginal. The Blues need to rediscover the composure we showed earlier in this half.
80 minDeary me, we've been done by an incorrect offside decision here. The Spurs goal was actually a rather nice one but Adebayor was just offside in the build-up. Assou-Ekotto's played the ball into the striker and he flicked it cleverly inside to Sigurdsson who finished with aplomb into the far corner. Come on Chelsea, sort it out.
80 minGOAL! Spurs equalise again through Sigurdsson
79 minYELLOW CARD! It took 79 minutes but we have our first booking and it's for Vertonghen, who slid in on Fernando from behind. To be far to the Belgian, he did get the ball but was actually booked for kicking the ball away in frustration.
77 minCesar's fuming that a corner has been given to Spurs, no matter though as two Huddlestone deliveries are dealt with comfortably.
75 minAnd just as I say that Dempsey has a shot from the right of the area but it's superbly blocked by Ashley.
74 minGoodness me, what a terrible delivery from Huddlestone. Really can't see anything coming from Spurs at the moment.
73 minBLUES SUB: No, it's Eden who is taken off. Surely Victor's pace can cause the Spurs defence problems on the counter?
72 minVictor is being readied on the touchline. I reckon it will be Oscar to come off.
71 minThe first thing Dempsey does is clatter into Branislav, giving away a free kick. Good going Clint.
70 minSPURS SUB: AVB makes his second change as Dempsey comes on for the invisible Holtby.
69 minHmmmm, that was very un-Mata like! Eden beat Walker with ease and then laid in Juan down the right. Fernando is ready and waiting in the middle but for once Juan's cross is overhit.
67 minBale wants a free kick as he knocks the ball past Ashley but our number three is clever in simply easing out the winger, who went down far too easily.
64 minSpurs win a very soft free kick out on the left but Vertonghen's hooked effort is miles over from Huddlestone's delivery. Down the other end and it's more slipping from the Blues as Oscar twice loses his footing in the area after a great flick-on by Fernando.
61 minOh no! What an unfortunate turn of events for the Blues! It was a wonderful counter-attack as Hazard flicked it on to Juan who was past the last man. Walker was too quick so he had to check back and then play in Ramires who would have had a free shot on goal had he not lost his footing moments before shooting. The Brazilian stays down because he smacked his face on the ground when falling. He'll be fine to carry on though, good lad.
59 min"CHEAT, CHEAT, CHEAT!" chant the Chelsea fans as Walker goes down very easily in a shoulder-to-shoulder with Eden. Huddlestone takes the free kick but it's a pants one and we clear it.
59 min"Got to say, I'm fearing the worst right now. We've not started this second half at all well." That's what Liam has just posted on the Spurs-biased comm. Hehehe.
56 minCHANCE! Oh Eden, you've gotta put that away! The Belgian is played in down the left and he feints the shot to open up some room but then skies it from a tight angle.
54 minJUST WIDE! Almost a very fortunate goal for the ever-impressive Aziplicueta. It was great ball movement from the Blues as Oscar rolled it out to Cesar advancing down the right and his first-time cross almost crept inside the far post.
53 minJuan drives at Dawson, beating him on the outside before laying it back for Eden to cross but Fernando is just edged out at the back post.
51 minAdebayor's goal really has been his only decent contribution. The Togolese has just run the ball out of play for us and then Fernando almost prods it in.
49 minI'd quite like a third goal early on in this second half just in case Bale does something ridiculous. He's been non-existent so far though. Little to fear.
47 minSpurs try to attack down the left but Cesar is just as quick as Walker. Our new right-back's got some great lungs on him.
46 minKICKOFF! Spurs get the second half underway. No changes from either manager.
8.46pmLooking at the latest league table, this win is basically guaranteeing us Champions League football next season. Lovely jubbly.
8.43pmIf you refresh this page now you'll be able to see a great pic of Rami celebrating the second goal. What a finish that was! Love a toepoke when they come off.
8.40pmIf you've only just joined us and want a recap of a dominant opening half for the Blues, read Jack Prescott's half-time report here.
8.38pmOver on the Spurs comm, Liam is still banging on about that free kick about a minute or two before the first goal. Get over it mate!
8.35pmtalkSPORT commentator Stan Collymore has just tweeted this: "Assou-Ekotto definitely targeted as "weak" link, Chelsea profiting attacking down his area. Azpil excellent dealing with Bale." Bang on!
8.33pmGreat half from the lads there. We're only leading by one goal but it should be more. The Spurs goal was complete against the run of play and I'm sure Adebayor won't score one like that again in his life!
45+3 minHALF-TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Spurs
45 minSHOT! More blistering attacking from the Blues as Cesar's deep cross reaches Eden who lays it back for Oscar. The Brazilian starlet looks to bend it in the far corner but Lloris holds on. Two minutes have been added on at the end of the first 45.
44 minThe boys want a third before the break! Again it's Ramires at the heart of things as he looks to one-two with Juan but can't quite make the pass stick.
43 minWe need to keep our heads in the game here. We were a little sloppy when we first scored and Walker has just scuffed a good shooting opportunity on the edge of the box. Going in ahead at half time would be great.
39 minToepokes can be extremely effective and that's an absolute gem from Ramires. Fernando with some great feet on the right touchline to beat Huddlestone and he then slides it through for the onrushing Brazilian who takes it first time and beats Lloris. Fabulous finish.
39 minWHAT A FINISH RAMI! 2-1 TO THE BLUES!
38 minA quick free kick is laid to Rami and he has a go from 30 yards, striking it well but failing to keep it under the crossbar.
37 minThat's more like the Adebayor we know and love! A long ball over the top finds him with a chance to test Petr but his volley hits his shinpad and flies into row Z.
34 minJuan's corner was punched clear by Lloris but straight to Cesar on the edge of the area. He tried to lob the Frenchman with a header but couldn't quite direct it on target. Unlucky.
33 minBack we come as Oscar wins a corner after a neat pass from Fernando. Let's shut those Spurs fans up.
29 minFinally the Spurs fans wake up and sing a few songs of their own! Talk about needing a goal to loosen those vocal cords eh?
26 minWhat a fluke! Adebayor has been playing like a donkey the past few weeks but he's just scored a real beauty on the counter. Our corner was headed out and Eden's volley blocked en route to goal. Parker then flicked the ball on to Adebayor and he drives into our half before curling it over Petr and into the top corner. Unstoppable and completely against the run of play.
26 minGOAL! Spurs equalise with a stunner from Adebayor!
25 minWOOF! Eden cuts in from the right and lashes a shot that's destined for the far corner until it smashes Dawson in the chops. To be fair, that's brave defending from the Spurs man. Corner to the Blues...
23 minMidway throught the half and it's surprising to see that Spurs have had slightly more of the possession (53%). They haven't done anything with it, though!
22 minHe hits it with his usual power but it's straight into the white wall. Not his best effort.
22 minWe've just won a free kick about 35-40 yards out. David wants it! We know he can hit them...
20 minBranislav is a little sloppy in presenting it to Holtby but he's tackled by Eden tracking back brilliantly. Top work.
19 min"WHEY!" jeer the home faithful as Walker fails to control a long ball. Spurs are all over the place.
17 minCHANCE! It should be two! The free kick is taken quickly and sprayed out to Cesar on the right. His cross picks out Juan but it's on his right foot and he smashes it just over the bar. We're all over them here.
16 minNasty challenge from Dawson coming through the back of Fernando! He's lucky not to get booked there.
16 minOver on the Spurs comm, Liam is trying to blame our goal on Dean's decision to award a free kick a minute before the goal. Give it a rest!
15 minWe need to concentrate here though. Holtby has just been allowed to get inside too easily but his shot is dragged wide. Petr knows where his posts are and that's no problem.
14 minWe had started the game much better and deserved that goal. I think the feared Bale has touched the ball once, maybe twice!
11 minGet in there! Juan's corner is met by Gary's great leap and although his header is flying wide, the boy Oscar is there to nod it in from a yard.
11 minGOAL! OSCAR PUTS US IN FRONT! GO ON!
8 minSpurs have their first shot of the match but it's a real dribbler from Huddlestone and that's no problem for Petr.
7 minJUST OVER! Fernando fizzes it in to Juan and his clever shot on the turn rises just over.
6 minBale 0-1 Azpilicueta. The Welshman tries to beat Cesar but he's got no chance. Easy!
5 minAre there any Spurs fans in tonight? All I hear is the blue noise of the Bridge! We're still dominating the ball.
2 minShocking decision from the lino as he flags Juan offside after a wonderful ball from Branislav. Surely our little number 10 would have put that away.
2 minOne person who's not looking the part is Adebayor. His shorts look like they shrunk in the wash last night! Very much like an 80s basketball player, haha!
1 minLooking good early on as Ashley gets the ball high up the pitch and volleys over a cross that is just taken off the toes of Fernando.
7.45pmKICKOFF! It's rowdy at the Bridge and we're underway!
7.43pmLet's all join in then before the off: BLUE IS THE COLOUR, FOOTBALL IS THE GAME! Come on you Blues!
7.41pmThe two sides have just entered the tunnel and there's a bit too much pre-match chat between the two Belgians Hazard and Vertonghen for me!
7.38pmHaha! Over on our Spurs-orientated updates, Liam has just said this: "Especially that clown Luiz - he's got no chance against Bale. He might be great going forward, but he's shown so many times that he is poor defensively. That is going to be our best chance of winning the game - Bale getting free from him." Pah! David will be one of the world's best defenders very, very soon.
7.35pmPREDICTION! With 10 minutes until the off it's time for my thoughts on the game. The Blues are gonna make it look easy tonight, I'm even expecting Fernando to bundle one home. 3-1 to the boys in blue!
7.33pmRafa has just told Sky Sports News that David will definitely be playing in midfield tonight. He's gonna mark Bale out of the game!
7.30pmLast time Dean refereed one of our matches was last month's 3-0 win at Fulham. More of the same please, Mike!
7.27pmREFEREE WATCH! The man in charge tonight is Mike Dean.
7.24pmRemember last time we played Spurs earlier this season? We trounced them 4-2 at their place, with Juan scoring a classy brace at White Hart Lane. Relive that one by clicking here.
7.18pmIs it any surprise that, after 26 years in charge, the Scot calls it day after we beat them at Old Trafford?! I think not.
7.15pmBriefly away from tonight's match, there was some massive news earlier today when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement from pesky United. Here at Sports Mole we've been covering the story feverishly all day and you can read all our articles here.
7.09pmAs you may have noticed, this style of commentary is new to SM. For our regular, neutral updates join Barney Corkhill here, or if you've turned up in the wrong place and need commentary of a Spurs persuasion, join Liam Apicella here.
7.05pmThere's so much quality on our bench with the likes of John, Frank, Victor and Demba but all I'm really worried about on Spurs' bench is Defoe. Really surprising that our former boss AVB has gone for Adebayor over the Englishman.
7.01pmSUBS! Here are the two benches tonight:

Blues: Turnbull, Terry, Lampard, Ake, Moses, Benayoun, Ba
Spurs: Friedel, Caulker, Naughton, Carroll, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Defoe
6.58pmWhat do we think of that XI then? Adebayor's been playing awfully recently and won't worry our back four. We all know the man to look out for and that's Bale. I reckon Luiz may man-mark the Welshman and if that happens he'll be causing us no problems!
6.54pmSPURS XI: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Parker, Holtby; Bale; Adebayor
6.53pmI'd say that's pretty good news for the Blues. Dembele is a top player and Ashley will have no problem dealing with Lennon!
6.52pmNews coming from the opposition, @SpursOfficial tweets: "Team news is in - Aaron Lennon is fit to start, but no Mousa Dembele."
6.50pmOUR XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Luiz; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres
6.49pmBREAKING TEAM NEWS! Eden's back and Fernando starts up front!
6.48pmEvening Blues fans! Hope we're all confident of a win like I am. We're unbeaten in our last 22 home league against our neighbours from North London (W15, D7).
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