London Derby Between Chelsea And Tottenham Hotspur Settled In A 1-0 Win For The Blues Courtesy Of A Header From Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez (left) celebrating his goal against Spurs with Nicolas Jackson (right). Image credit: Opta Analyst

Enzo Fernandez grabbed the winner in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

It was another 1-0 win for Enzo Maresca’s side at Stamford Bridge, which made it seven wins at home on the bounce for the Blues, with their last three wins resolved by one goal.

Compared to previous meetings between the two teams, this match was a rather tame affair. Instead, Craig Pawson and VAR took the spotlight. With both teams affected by long waits and dubious decision-making by the refs, the game seemed to fade away in the second half for a dull close.

For Chelsea, there were many positives to take away from this performance. Another clean sheet, building consistency at home at least and no new injuries to report on.

The only legal goal of the game came early in the second half in the 50th minute. After a relatively quiet first half from Cole Palmer, he picked up the ball on the edge of Spurs’ box. The Englishman whipped a pin-point cross into the six-yard area for Enzo Fernandez to head home, giving Chelsea the lead.  

Credit should be given to Maresca’s defence, however, the Spurs’ side on display yesterday was one of the most toothless sides I have seen at the Bridge in a while. Apart from one promising counterattack that forced Robert Sanchez into a good save, Spurs were limited to taking potshots from range, rarely worrying the Blues backline.

They were able to put the ball into the net, a longshot from Pape Matar Sarr slipped under Sanchez’s fingertips. Fortunately for Blues fans, after a lengthy check, the goal was disallowed for a clear foul on Moises Caicedo in the 71st minute.

Caicedo himself became a victim of delayed VAR decisions. A freekick from Reece James was floated into the box, a weak clearance at the back gave the Ecuadorian an opportunity on the volley. A deliciously clean strike beat Guglielmo Vicario, plunging into the bottom right-hand corner. The home crowd’s joy was soon interrupted by VAR, another lengthy check deemed Levi Colwill offside in the buildup. Whilst it was probably the right decision, it is fair to question why there were no semi-automated offsides in the Premier League when it took five minutes to make a single call.

If there was anyone on the pitch that deserved to score in that game, it was Caicedo. It was the epitome of a dominant performance, halting any Spurs attack that came his way. His ball carrying was also particularly impressive as he ran circles around Ange’s midfield. I would argue it was his best performance in a Chelsea shirt and further evidence that the Ecuadorian has been the Blues’ player of the season.

Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson should also receive praise for their performances. Cucurella was a stonewall at the back, as he showed the defensive maturity that the Spaniard lacked in his first two seasons at the club.

While Nicolas Jackson’s return from injury did not end with a goal or assist, his presence was clearly felt by Spurs’ defence. His continuous press and willingness to win loose balls ensured that the opposition defence always had to stay on their feet. These performances may not be stylish but effective in tough, close-knit games.

The crucial three points guaranteed that Chelsea maintained their spot in the top four with eight league games remaining. The Blues travel away to Brentford this Sunday, hoping to build on this result and break their recent duck away from home.