FA-cup replay: Tottenham 1 - 2 Chelsea

For Tottenham Hotspur this FA-cup will be the one that got away, an opportunity missed when a game that the team had dominated turned into a draw and a replay. For Chelsea these two games became, apart from a continuation of a propitious cup run, further proof of John Terry's importance. The game at Stamford Bridge was characterised by defensive mistakes on both sides, this game, conversely, was won by the team with the strongest defence. Not because either team played defensively, but because neither did. Less erratically entertaining than last week’s, perhaps, but a stunning display of tactical matching and flowing action from end to end.

It was pointed out last week that John Terry could use a recording of last week's game as a bargaining tool in his ongoing salary negotiations; now he can add a recording of this one and the deal is in the bag. Without me -- with me. "£130 000 per week? Certainly sir, and can we also offer you a castle and a small country?" With the England captain back in the middle, Carvalho looked good again, Mikel was great in a holding role in front of them and Diarra and Cole at right and left respectively were much more effective. Where the Spurs strike force Lennon, Berbatov and Keane had last week found holes to play through there was now a wall. On the opposite side things had also improved; Michael Dawson put in a sterling performance, one of his best for Spurs. His colleagues also did well and were helped by effective ball-winning by the midfielders.

The game started brightly for Spurs who dominated possession and had a fluency and width which made Chelsea look congested in the middle. The elaborate attacks forced Cech to make some saves but most attempts, however, inevitably did not make it past Terry and it was increasingly apparent that the moves which had paid off in the previous game where getting Spurs nowhere. Lovely crosses into the middle by Lennon, Jenas and Chimbonda could not find the heavily marked strikers. Berbatov, placed at the very front, saw conspicuously little of the ball as the game progressed – even if he performed his magical moves whenever he did. Cech remained the busier keeper as Chelsea’s shots failed to hit target and the first half ended 0-0.

Chelsea started stronger in the second half, but the first chances fell to Spurs and Cech had more saves to make. Lennon was having trouble with Diarra on the left, but managed to cut through at times – similarly Shevchenko had struggled all through the game to make it past Malbranque on his right. The first time Malbranque lost his mark there was instant punishment as the Ukraine striker curved the ball into the top corner with what for a second actually looked like a misfired pass to Drogba, who was waiting in front of goal. Either way – in it went, Chelsea were ahead and soon doubled their lead. A long ball from Ashley Cole was chested down onto the ground by Drogba and Wright-Phillips took a great shot past Dawson and Robinson. Spurs continued to create fluent attacks and when Berbatov got hold of the ball and cut fully through the centre of defence Carvalho took him down with a challenge and awarded the home team with a penalty. It was expertly converted into a goal by Robbie Keane. Despite frantic efforts by Spurs to the very end it was to stay at 1-2; the Chelsea players, celebrating profusely, now have a date with Blackburn and the Tottenham players were left with the meagre consolation of at least having played very well. But the sense of an honourable defeat affords little comfort when so much hard work yields no result.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84), Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Defoe 64), Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ghaly, Huddlestone.
Booked: Chimbonda.
Goals: Keane 79 pen.

Chelsea
Cech, Diarra (Ferreira 90), Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86), Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.
Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.
Goals: Shevchenko 55, Wright-Phillips 61.

Attendance: 35,519
Referee: M Atkinson