Chelsea Boost Champions League Hopes After Fernandez Winner

It was a typically incident-filled meeting between these sworn enemies but, really, there was only one place to start. Ange Postecoglou, the remorselessly under-fire Tottenham manager, had been barracked by his own club's supporters when he replaced Lucas Bergvall with Pape Sarr in the 64th minute.

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Bergvall had enjoyed a few bright moments. "You don't know what you're doing," the travelling hoardes informed Postecoglou. And so just imagine how the Australian must have felt shortly afterwards when Sarr won the ball of Moisés Caicedo and unloaded a low shot that the Chelsea goalkeeper, Robert Sánchez, inexplicably allowed to beat him.

We would not need to imagine because Postecoglou turned to face the Spurs fans, who were celebrating wildly, and cupped his ear in their direction. It was simply a stunning illustration of just how frayed the relationship between them has become. Was this breaking point?

There would be a twist when the VAR, Jarred Gillett, went over the Sarr challenge on Caicedo and he did not need to look too long to see the obvious foul. The goal was disallowed. Sarr was booked. Postecoglou was crushed.

Chelsea had been in complete control up until the Bergvall/ Sarr change, leading through Enzo Fernández's header, the only wonder being how they were not further ahead. The outstanding Caicedo would see a goal chalked off by the VAR early in the second half.

The passions raged, the game broke up and out of the chaos came a Spurs revival. They got onto the front foot, making Chelsea nervous and Enzo Maresca's team needed a fine Sanchez save to deny Son Heung-min at the far post. In the end, Chelsea hung on to fire their hopes of a Champions League finish. The future for Postecoglou and Spurs remains less certain.