Tottenham represent Chelsea’s toughest test as Antonio Conte’s side bid to record landmark win at White Hart Lane

Simon Johnson4 January 2017

In years gone by, if there was one ground Chelsea could choose to visit to set a new record then it would have been White Hart Lane.

Such was their dominance over Tottenham on their own soil between 1989-2005, Chelsea fans renamed the ground “three-point Lane”.

That’s not the case now. Indeed, as Chelsea try to match Arsenal’s landmark of 14 successive wins in the top flight tonight, their fans might be making the trip to north London with a feeling of some trepidation.

Defender Cesar Azpiliceuta can understand why, as he told Standard Sport. “Tottenham is a really tough place to go and they are in really good form,” he said. “They have good players and we had a really hard match against them a few weeks ago at Stamford Bridge when we had to come from behind to win 2-1.”

But there is more to it than that. In recent seasons, instead of being a home away from home, Spurs’ ground has been the scene for Chelsea’s title hopes to suffer a setback.

Martin Jol was the first Spurs manager to end Chelsea’s superiority when he masterminded a 2-1 victory over the then back-to-back champions in November 2006.

Defeat ensured the Blues remained three points behind leaders Manchester United and they eventually failed to make it a hat-trick of championships.

Other problems have followed. The following season, Avram Grant’s pursuit of Manchester United suffered a major blow late in the campaign due to a 4-4 draw.

A year later, Guus Hiddink experienced his only defeat during his first stint as caretaker at Stamford Bridge when Luka Modric scored. That also effectively brought Chelsea’s title hopes to a halt.

In fact, Chelsea have won just once in their past 10 League visits there, something Azpilicueta knows only too well. He was an unused substitute when they triumphed 4-2 in 2012 but has yet to win when he has been on the pitch.

Chelsea's winning run in the Premier League under Antonio Conte

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Chelsea are dominating the division right now, but they were in a similar position almost two years ago to the day and suffered a shock 5-3 reverse at Spurs. While they managed to recover to lift the trophy in May, it can be argued that the beginning of the end of Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge dates back to when Spurs first exposed the weaknesses in his 4-2-3-1 formation.

Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Michael Regan/Getty Images

Azpilicueta added: “I still remember what happened two years ago on New Year’s Day. We were leading 1-0 but collapsed before half-time and it was difficult for us. We couldn’t cope with their players, they have good individuals and we have to use the experience of that day this evening.

“Just like back then, this is the first game of the new year and we want to be strong. We need to be aware of their threat and to try to keep playing the way we have been. It’s been tough for us to win there in recent years. It’s a good atmosphere, it’s a derby game, and every time we go there you feel the crowd are even more up for it.”

It is no surprise that Azpilicueta singles out Harry Kane as a threat to his side’s hopes.

It was Kane who led Chelsea defenders a merry dance in that 2015 reverse, scoring twice. Ominously for the Blues he goes into the derby with three goals in his past two outings.

“Kane is a very good striker and has great movement,” Azpilicueta said. “We know that he can score from different positions. He can score in and outside of the area. As a defender, you have to watch out for strikers like him. Tottenham are a very good team. They play together, with high intensity, and when we played them at home recently it was difficult; they pressed really well. We have to be prepared for that and learn from the first half that we played against them. They were better than us and we must try to not make the same mistakes again.”

It took a stunning goal from Pedro just before half-time in that November contest to level the scores and completely change the momentum.

That was one of many tests Chelsea have been able to overcome in recent weeks and is why, despite their recent woes at Spurs, Azpilicueta is optimistic that his side can make history this evening.

Chelsea vs Tottenham: In Pictures

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He concluded: “We have had games where we took the lead early on, where we were a goal down and had to come back. And we’ve had some, like Middlesbrough and West Brom, where we had to work really hard to get the points.

“With the position we are in now, every team wants to beat us because we are top of the League and have won 13 games in a row. We have to be prepared for that and we are fighting hard.

“I want to win trophies. Last season we couldn’t get any, so I want to get back to winning ways because that’s what I came here for. This year is the next chance for us to do that and we have to chase it.”

Should they get back to their winning ways at Tottenham again, it will be their title rivals who will have to do all of the chasing.

You can follow tonight's clash between Tottenham and Chelsea live with Standard Sport. Click here to find out how.

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