Chelsea fans used to regularly taunt their Tottenham counterparts by labelling the North Londoners' home "Three Point Lane", but the Blues' once imperious away record - they went 19 years without a league defeat at White Hart Lane between 1987 and 2006 - has evaporated in recent times. The North Londoners ended their abysmal home run five years ago with a 2-1 victory and have not lost on their own turf since.Last season's 1-1 draw at the Lane had a similar preceding storyline to this Thursday's clash; Tottenham had been enjoying a rich vein of form, while Chelsea had been struggling to assert themselves - Carlo Ancelotti's side went into the game winless in six, part of a dire streak that eventually cost them the Premier League title.

The Blues are not currently looking as toothless as the December 2010 vintage, though last week's surprise concession of a point to Wigan negated some of the good work done over the past month to arrest what had become an alarming slide of five defeats in nine games. Question marks still hang over Andre Villas-Boas about his team selection, reliance on the old guard and Didier Drogba and John Terry's apparent penchant for delivering team talks. However, the recent 2-1 defeat of Manchester City at least showed that the Portuguese boss was capable of beating one of the league's top sides - having previously tasted defeat against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. ottenham can certainly be bracketed with those clubs this season, having bounced back from an abysmal start to win 11 of their past 13 games. There has been plenty of talk about "proving title credentials" before the game and a win against Chelsea will abet manager Harry Redknapp's claims that his side are genuine contenders. A loss would not be catastrophic for Spurs, though it would see them leapfrogged into third place by their opponents - with two potential banana skins away to the Citys of Norwich and Swansea making up the rest of the North Londoners' festive schedule.

Redknapp received a boost on Tuesday with news that Aaron Lennon's hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared and the winger could be welcomed back in just two weeks' time. However, his absence for Chelsea's visit provides a wing dilemma for Spurs; in the 1-0 win against Sunderland last Sunday, Rafael van der Vaart moved to the left and Luka Modric to the right when Lennon came off. But while the steely central midfield pairing of Sandro and Scott Parker could be favoured again versus the Blues, one of forgotten men Niko Kranjcar or Steven Pienaar could find themselves drafted back into the side, with Modric then able to wield his influence in the middle and the (possibly) returning Gareth Bale back on the left.

Tottenham player to watch: Luka Modric. The Croatian playmaker's summer pining for a switch across London to Stamford Bridge came to a head when he asked not to play in Spurs' opening two games against Manchester United and Manchester City. But when a move didn't materialise, Modric didn't sulk about it, instead demonstrating the utmost professionalism in resuming his role as Tottenham string-puller-in-chief. A prominent display against Chelsea will undoubtedly see the resumption of conjecture about his future, but Redknapp - still bullish that Modric won't be sold - won't care if it helps deliver all three points.

Chelsea player to watch: Oriol Romeu. The young Spaniard has slotted seamlessly into Villas-Boas' midfield and his impressive start to life as the Stamford Bridge anchorman has predictably seen comparisons drawn with Claude Makelele. While it is a bit premature to put Romeu in that bracket, the 20-year-old certainly has the ball-winning and ball-playing abilities to develop into a real star for the Blues. He handled Manchester City's attacking talents with aplomb and will need to be just as assertive against the combined creative powers of Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric.

Key Battle: Emmanuel Adebayor v John Terry. The prospect of playing in the wake of a personal controversy is not something new to Chelsea's captain. Terry has used it as a spur in the past - scoring a winner against Burnley when tabloid allegations of an extra-marital affair emerged in 2010 - but with Wednesday's CPS decision to take him to court over racism allegations hanging over his head, the Blues will need him to be unaffected by off-pitch distractions again. He has been passed fit to play after an ankle injury picked up in training on Tuesday. Looking to capitalise on any weakness, be it mental or physical, will be Tottenham's leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor. Terry has been exposed by powerful strikers before (see Luis Saha) and the Togolese striker will be another difficult opponent, with a personal incentive to improve his scoring record against the Blues.

Trivia: A draw would see Spurs sit as the top-ranked London club at Christmas for the first time in 16 years; they were in fourth place on December 25, 1995, behind Newcastle United, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Stats: Emmanuel Adebayor has only scored one goal in eight Premier League games against Chelsea.


Match

May the useless team lose . .

mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

Whatever happens, its good news for arsenal. Hope chelsea nick it though cos spurs still have a match in hand.

Chelsea all d way,

mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

Amen.

Spurzz all d Way!

i cant wait to see Chelsea's disgrace at white heart lane 2nite.

mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

E se'

0 - 2

Lampard and Sturridge

read my lips

mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

Cheeky you

Bale and Lennon out

^^^Doubtful*

Chelsea don't take these so-called top clubs lightly and I expect Spurs to loose.

As a Chelsea fan, I wouldn't want DD to start the match. I would want Torres to start alongside Sturridge and Mata. Also, Lampard, Mikel shouldn't start.

If the team selection is wisely done, I believe Chelsea will would edge spurs with 1 or 2 goals.

My bizarre prediction though is Spurs 2-1 Chelsea

IYGEAL:

Chelsea don't take these so-called top clubs lightly and I expect Spurs to loose.

As a Chelsea fan, I wouldn't want DD to start the match. I would want Torres to start alongside Sturridge and Mata. Also, Lampard, Mikel shouldn't start.

If the team selection is wisely done, I believe Chelsea will would edge spurs with 1 or 2 goals.

My bizarre prediction though is Spurs 2-1 Chelsea

, Which planet are you from??

mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

New rule (just for today): goaless draw = 0 points for both teams.

Tottenham 0 - 0 Chelsea

This match will be exciting. Read everything you want about this match on www.footballfile.com

I see Chelsea winning this one, but will be close game.

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mukina2:

May the useless team lose . .

I agree with you. Useless Chelsea are going to lose.

it is a must lose for chelsea!

Hello, hello we are the Chelsea boys,

Extended highlights of Chelsea Reserves 4 - 0 away win over Arsenal. Chelsea's goals scored by Nathaniel Chalobah x 2, Romelu Lukaku and Lucas Piazon

[size=13pt]Teams -[/size]

Tottenham: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto; Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale; Van der Vaart, Adebayor

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Meireles; Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

John Terry in the starting line-up , watch him slip, fall and score an own goal.

^
wont be surprised

hahahahahha adegoat 'take it on'  
silly ad

game on!

bale has started . .JT

corner to spuddddsssss

Assou-Ekotto's name resemble old Tibetan curse