Chelsea climbed on to a fourth place in the Premier League as Enzo Fernandez sealed a 1-0 win that piled pressure on struggling Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on Thursday.
Fernandez’s thumping header from Cole Palmer’s cross early in the second half settled a bruising London derby at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City and Newcastle United had both won their game on Wednesday to knock Chelsea from fourth down to sixth in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But Chelsea’s response against Spurs lifted them a point clear of fifth-placed City and two ahead of sixth-placed Newcastle.
The top four clubs are automatically guaranteed to reach the Champions League, with fifth place also likely to secure a place depends on the results of the English clubs left in European competitions this season.
Chelsea who have a good record against Spurs with just one lost out of their past 13 league games had been far from their best recently, with boss Enzo Maresca criticised for his cautious tactics.
Blues who are beaten by Arsenal with a 1-0 in their last game before the international break had a planned day off cancelled by Maresca due to a poor effort shown during an informal match against one of the club’s youth sides.
The Blues were very dynamic against Tottenham but still lacked a cutting edge despite holding on for a fifth win in their last six games in all competitions.
For Postecoglou, it was another disappointing loss for him, with spits in a wretched season that could end with his sacking.
Postecoglu’s men are without a victory in their last four league matches and have won only one of their last six games in all competitions, they sit in 14th place after a 16th league defeat from the 30 games
The last time Londoners finished as low as 14th was in 2003-04, while their worst final position in the Premier League era was 15th in 1993-94.
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