morning papers spurs away

Telegraph:
Robbie Keane has last word for Spurs in classicBy Henry Winter at White Hart Lane
Tottenham Hotspur (1) 4 Chelsea (2) 4
Avram Grant continues to fluff his lines on the big stage. The Chelsea coach's negative substitution of an attacker, Salomon Kalou, for a centre-half, Alex, invited Spurs on, setting up a thrilling climax in which Robbie Keane struck a marvellous equaliser which will have been celebrated as wildly by followers of Arsenal and Manchester United as by the Tottenham faithful.
As well as showing the weakness in the dugout, Chelsea also showed their studs, and Ashley Cole should have been banished for a horrific lunge at Alan Hutton deemed worthy of only a yellow card by Mike Riley. Spurs were livid. The Riley report could be interesting. The Hutton report would be more damning.
The first half had contained enough drama for a whole game, conjuring up three goals in a frantic first 20 minutes and concluding with Ashley Cole's horrific lunge. It was breathless stuff, with no quarter asked or granted, particularly not from a visiting corps clearly in merciless mood.
Drogba had shown Chelsea's ruthless intent early on, although his headed goal was cloaked in controversy. Essien, allowed to roam through Claude Makelele's assiduous anchoring, charged upfield, eventually losing possession as Pascal Chimbonda slid in. Riley bizarrely deemed the challenge illegal.
Almost 30 yards out, the free-kick appeared perfectly placed for a Frank Lampard special but Drogba claimed responsibility, taking two steps and bending the ball into the leaping bodies in the wall. It cannoned clear, Drogba screaming for a handling offence before realising Chelsea still had the initiative.
The ball was in the domain of John Terry, who rolled back the years to when he was a more creative player on the park pitches of east London. The Chelsea captain elegantly lifted the ball across from the left towards the far post. Drogba had read Terry's intentions, darting in ahead of the slow-reacting Jermaine Jenas to nod Chelsea in front.
Jenas swiftly made amends. When Claude Makelele was penalised for climbing over Aaron Lennon, probably the one person in the Premier League the Frenchman could tower over, Jenas took charge of the free-kick on the right. The England international's delivery was magnificent, the ball hoisted to the far post.
As Terry clutched a handful of Dimitar Berbatov's shirt to prevent the Bulgarian reaching the ball, Jenas' free-kick continued to Jonathan Woodgate. One of the most uplifting sights for Spurs fans this year has been Woodgate rising high, having eluded his marker - in this case Drogba - to headed powerfully in.
Tottenham were triumphant, their fans taunting Chelsea relentlessly over the Carling Cup final outcome. Chelsea responded with ditties about Spurs' bruising encounter with the Old Bill in Seville last year.
Largely unimpressive since that Wembley success, Spurs now played with greater conviction. The determination flooding through Juande Ramos' men was evident, painfully so for Essien as Didier Zokora hit him with a meaty man-and-ball challenge.
Essien is made of strong stuff, though, and shortly after climbing to his feet he swept Chelsea ahead. Joe Cole made the telling break, dribbling through the middle. With Essien and Drogba lurking on the edge of the area, Cole released the ball, which rebounded from Drogba to Essien. His response was magnificent, the ball lifted unerringly over Robinson for his first of the season.
The goal simply reflected Chelsea's superiority, particularly in a midfield dominated by Essien, Makelele and Frank Lampard. Spurs strove to find an equaliser and when Jenas wriggled in from the left, Drogba threw himself in to try to block. Inevitably, Drogba stayed down, nursing another seemingly terminal injury, stirring unrest among the home fans. A plastic bottle was thrown on to the pitch as Drogba miraculously recovered.
A good game then turned nasty, Derby-day fireworks erupting. Chimbonda fouled Joe Cole, who gave the linesman some choice London invective for ignoring the offence. Cole was booked, Lampard should have followed him for catching Jenas, and then came Ashley Cole's assault on Hutton, an offence that deserved more than yellow and triggered a near brawl.
Adding insult to iniquity, Ashley Cole set the scene for Chelsea's third, delivering a quick throw-in to Makelele, who swiftly found Kalou. Chelsea's No 21 cleverly worked the ball across the edge of the area to Joe Cole, who darted around Chimbonda.
Still the angle was tight. Still Robinson had to be negotiated. Cole's shot sped through Robinson's legs, clipped the keeper's heel and looped up and in, to Robinson's deep anguish. "England's No 4," the Chelsea hordes chanted.
Even before Robinson regained some pride with an outstanding save from Drogba, Spurs had pulled a goal back. When Tom Huddlestone curled over a corner, Berbatov leaned gently into Terry, opening up a yard of space. As the ball dropped in, Berbatov flicked a header, almost languidly, high into the net.
Still the tempo never ebbed in a classic match. Cudicini saved superbly from Keane. Essien hit a post. Huddlestone dived disgracefully and was deservedly booked.
As the spell-binding entertainment continued, Huddlestone displayed his more positive side. Keane clipped over a corner from the left and Berbatov's presence caused chaos in the box, allowing the ball to fly through to Huddlestone. What a response! The midfielder drilled the ball unerringly in past Cudicini: 3-3.
But there was more, remarkably so. When Spurs foolishly conceded possession on the right, Chelsea leapt into life, Drogba finding Joe Cole. The England international again ghosted around Chimbonda and found the net with a brilliant finish, the ball placed at speed past the exposed Robinson.
But then came Keane. What a finish! What a game!

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Mail:
Unbelievable - a 4-4 thriller as Spurs stop Chelsea and Cole makes horror tackle
By NEIL ASHTON
Ashley Cole was caught up in a red card storm last night as Chelsea's title ambitions were blown apart on a dramatic night at White Hart Lane.
Cole escaped with a booking after a horror tackle on Tottenham defender Alan Hutton during an incredible 4-4 draw.
Spurs players surrounded referee Mike Riley following the challenge in the first half and furious assistant manager Gus Poyet told fourth official Steve Bennett: 'That is a f****** red card and you know it.'
Tottenham manager Juande Ramos said: 'The referee decided it was a yellow card, but we've seen tackles which were much less serious and they have earned red cards.
'Robbie Keane was sent off for a tackle less serious than that against Birmingham. But we have to respect the officials' decisions.
'It's best not to dwell on that kind of action. We're just very fortunate there weren't any injuries to players.'
This incredible match boiled over when Frank Lampard took out Jermaine Jenas, who had to be substituted at half-time, but there was more to come.
The major flashpoint occurred when Cole clashed with Hutton and Tottenham demanded the left back's dismissal. Players clashed as they walked down the tunnel and Poyet could be seen remonstrating with Cole.
Poyet said: 'It would be unfair on Ashley to talk about only his challenge after the game we had. I prefer not to go into it, but it looked strange.'
Incredibly, Chelsea manager Avram Grant claimed he did not see the incident — even though it happened in front of the Chelsea bench.
Grant said: 'The assistant referee was in my way. I saw the Tottenham bench jump up, but the referee was two metres away. We must respect his decision.'
Chelsea were awesome in the first half and they appeared intent on heading into Sunday's showdown with Arsenal level on points in the Barclays Premier League.
Didier Drogba put Chelsea ahead after two minutes and, although Jonathan Woodgate equalised for Tottenham, Michael Essien put them back in front with a delicious lob.
Man of the match Joe Cole scored after the break, but Spurs fought back with goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone.
Joe Cole appeared to have won it for Chelsea with a brilliant turn and shot, but Robbie Keane's curled effort in the 88th minute secured a point for Spurs.
Grant added: 'It's very disappointing to lead 1-0 and 3-1, then to concede goals from two corners and a free-kick.
'I don't know whether to laugh. One of our strengths is that we defend well against corners and free-kicks, yet Tottenham have scored five from set-pieces against us in two games.
I don't know how to explain that. It's very unusual for us. There was a big mistake from us and Robbie Keane scored a fantastic goal. But we showed a great spirit in the team.
'We're closer to Arsenal than we were before. We'll be at home on Sunday and we'll come to fight to win the game. We're five points off the top, still in the race and we'll continue fighting.'
Chelsea's game plan was undone by a series of bizarre tactical substitutions that invited Spurs to attack.
Their confusion was illustrated in the closing moments when Drogba approached assistant manager Steve Clarke and asked: 'What are we supposed to be doing?'
Spurs were rewarded when Keane scored one of the best goals of his career.
Ramos added: 'At 3-1 and in the second half against a team like Chelsea, it's going to be very difficult, but the game was very open.
'The team believed in themselves and scoring the goal to make it 3-2 quite soon afterwards made things a bit more open and possible.
'It reminds me of the 6-4 against Reading, and against Aston Villa we had a 4-4 result at White Hart Lane. They were spectacular games, too.'
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Tottenham 4 Chelsea 4: Chelsea hopes fade as Grant's tactics are exposed in thrillerBy Sam WallaceThursday, 20 March 2008
While Avram Grant fiddled, Chelsea's title ambitions burned. It was, quite simply, the most extraordinary game of the season so far - a conflagration of eight goals, three Tottenham comebacks and another set of bizarre tactical decisions from a Chelsea manager who just cannot get it right in the big games.
When the dust had settled after Robbie Keane's brilliant 88th-minute equaliser, Grant was left to wonder whether this was the moment that his club's title ambitions died. Manchester United are five points ahead, Chelsea's opportunity to draw level with Arsenal in second place has gone. Roman Abramovich cannot grumble about the entertainment value but he must take issue at the way Grant’s team are blowing their chances of a trophy.
This was the game that had everything. There was a sublime performance from Joe Cole, whose two goals made him the outstanding performer before Grant's decision to substitute him with Chelsea 4-3 up. And on the dark side there was an horrendous studs-up challenge from Ashley Cole before half-time that could have broke Alan Hutton's leg and was met with a terrible decision from Mike Riley who booked Cole instead of sending him off.
Against Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and, in the last two games against Spurs, Grant has failed to beat the big beasts of English football. Juande Ramos picked the same XI that beat Chelsea in last month's Carling Cup final and, by the skin of his teeth, has again frustrated Grant. At 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3 up his Chelsea team should have won this game, yet by the end even Grant's own players seemed baffled by his substitutions.
With his team 3-2 in the lead, having led 3-1, the Chelsea manager tried to close out the game in Jose Mourinho-fashion by bolstering his defence. He sent on the Brazilian defender Alex da Costa as sweeper in what seemed like a counter-move to Ramos's decision to bring on Darren Bent, a third striker. But on the pitch, Chelsea lost their shape, Didier Drogba looked to the bench in despair and Tom Huddlestone equalised. The game was in the balance again.
Then, after Joe Cole had seemingly got Grant off the hook with a brilliant second goal to put his team 4-3 in the lead, the Chelsea manager struck again. Off came Cole this time for Michael Ballack and Chelsea were caught cold once again. After a clearance struck Ricardo Carvalho's back, Keane hit a 20-yard equaliser past Carlo Cudicini and Grant must have felt the cold sweat break out on his forehead. Ramos had out-thought him.
Tiny margins for error; huge consequences. The basis of the five trophies won by Mourinho was a sure-footedness in pressurised situations. It is the hallmark of all great managers and, once again, Ramos showed he has that judgement in abundance. Grant seems to lack it. The Spurs manager made two substitutions – his key call was Bent coming on for Ledley King on 68 minutes – and he got it right.
It was telling that, at 4-4 in the very last moments of the match, Grant was lucky that Spurs did not take all three points. The excellent Dimitar Berbatov twisted into space and had a clear shot at goal that only Cudicini's desperate save stopped. Sunday at Stamford Bridge provides Grant with his shot at redemption against Arsenal, but on this evidence there is no doubt which team will win if it comes down to the manager's decisions.
Take a deep breath and go back to the start. Four minutes into the game and Drogba met John Terry's peach of a cross with a downward header past Paul Robinson. It was the Ivorian's first Premier League goal since 11 September, his first goal in any competition since the Carling Cup final.
1-1: on 12 minutes Jonathan Woodgate, who had lost Drogba for the first goal, headed home Jermaine Jenas' free-kick for the equaliser. 2-1 to Chelsea: on 19 minutes Joe Cole's throughball took a touch off Drogba before Michael Essien lifted a brilliant chip over Robinson. Then it started to get nasty.
Terry's knee caught Berbatov's head as the two tumbled in the Chelsea area. Lampard went straight through Jenas and at half-time the Spurs man was substituted for Huddlestone. Riley did not even book Lampard but his worst decision was to come. Just before half-time, Hutton moved in to control a ball by the touchline and from out of the frame came Ashley Cole, lunging, stretching and with studs raised. Had Hutton's foot been grounded when Cole connected with his leg then the injury would have been disastrous. The card was yellow but should have been red.
3-1 to Chelsea: on 52 minutes, Joe Cole took the long route around Pascal Chimbonda in the right channel before striking a low shot that cannoned off Robinson's legs and in. 3-2: six minutes later the Tottenham comeback began. Huddlestone's corner found Berbatov who flighted a header into the corner. 3-3: on 75 minutes a loose corner fell to Huddlestone who drilled in the equaliser.
The finale. 4-3: another goal from Joe Cole who burst through and struck the ball into the roof of Robinson's goal on 80 minutes and was then substituted. 4-4: Keane's riposte, White Hart Lane in raptures. In the 90th minute, Grant sent on Andrei Shevchenko but it was a bit late then to be changing a team that had already been pulled apart by its own manager.
Goals: Drogba (3) 0-1; Woodgate (12) 1-1; Essien (20) 1-2; J Cole (52) 1-3; Berbatov (61) 2-3; Huddlestone (75) 3-3; J Cole (80) 3-4; Keane (88) 4-4.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Robinson; Hutton, Woodgate, King (Bent, 68), Chimbonda; Lennon, Jenas (Huddlestone, h-t), Zokora, Malbranque; Keane, Berbatov. Substitutes not used: Cerny (gk), Tainio, Dawson.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cudicini; Ferreira (Shevchenko, 89), Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele; J Cole (Ballack, 82), Essien, Lampard, Kalou (Alex, 71); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Wright-Phillips.
Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).
Booked: Tottenham Keane, Huddlestone; Chelsea J Cole, A Cole.
Man of the match: J Cole.
Attendance: 36,178--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Keane blunts Chelsea challenge in thriller
Kevin McCarra at White Hart LaneThursday March 20, 2008The Guardian
If there are no more trophies to be pursued this season, Tottenham Hotspur might still take vast satisfaction from savaging Chelsea's campaign for the title. They did so in an almost inconceivably galling way here last night, recovering from 3-1 and 4-3 down. The exquisite goal with which they secured the draw two minutes from the close would have been memorable in even the most insignificant match, with Robbie Keane bending a finish round Carlo Cudicini from the fringes of the penalty area after the ball had bounced to him off the back of Ricardo Carvalho.
Unfortunately for Avram Grant, people will not stay entranced by the spectacle for long and Chelsea lag five points behind the Premier League leaders, Manchester United. The Chelsea manager's plans were misconceived when the Carling Cup final was lost to Tottenham last month and here he threw the contest open when attempting to shut down the match. He inclined to misguided caution once the opposition had trimmed the deficit to 3-2 when Dimitar Berbatov climbed above John Terry to head home a corner from the substitute Tom Huddlestone in the 61st minute.Juande Ramos introduced another forward in Darren Bent and Grant reacted by removing an attacker in Salomon Kalou so that he could have an additional centre-back in Alex. That simply encouraged Tottenham and diminished the best aspect of Chelsea's display, their fluid menace. The game was level at 3-3 after 75 minutes, when a Keane corner broke to Huddlestone and he finished with a well-controlled drive.
Still Chelsea had enough individuality to respond, with Joe Cole restoring the lead 10 minutes from the end. He took a through-pass from Didier Drogba and fired high into the net. He had been giving a superb display and there was no benefit in sparing him the remainder of the evening, as Grant did by introducing Michael Ballack. Once again the effect would have been heartening for Tottenham.
Chelsea's prospects of regaining the title are diminished and on Sunday they meet the side who remain above them in second place, Arsenal. Much had seemed to be running in favour of Grant's team. On the verge of the interval, for instance, Ashley Cole ought to have been sent off for a terrible airborne lunge in which the defender's left boot was sunk into the right shin of the Spurs full-back Alan Hutton.
Mike Riley, the referee, was somehow persuaded that a booking would suffice. The justifiable anger was great although it does not seem that the punishment can be upgraded retrospectively since there is no indication that the official did not see the incident clearly. There was seething resentment and the Tottenham assistant manager, Gus Poyet, had an arm round the neck of Cole as he remonstrated with him while the sides were going off at half-time.
Chelsea, as a whole, ought still to have been remembering this occasion, watched by the England head coach Fabio Capello, with pride. Instead they can merely be relieved that Cudicini denied Berbatov a winner in stoppage-time. The rematch with the identical Tottenham starting XI that had overcome them at Wembley last month, however, was still excruciating for the visitors, particularly since there had been long passages of encouragement for them. Chelsea were often polished and had the lead in the third minute.
A Drogba free-kick was hit into the wall and after Claude Makelele had directed play out to the left the Ivorian was free at the far post to head in a deep cross from Terry. That was Drogba's first Premier League goal since November 11.
Tottenham were level in the 12th minute. Jermaine Jenas lifted in a free-kick from the right and, as Drogba elected to assist Terry with the marking of Berbatov, Jonathan Woodgate headed home untroubled. That, even so, did nothing to undermine the perception that Chelsea were the slicker.
After 20 minutes, Joe Cole made a penetrating run before Michael Essien got between Ledley King and Pascal Chimbonda to loft the ball over Paul Robinson with the outside of his right foot. Chelsea's advantage was stretched in the 52nd minute as Joe Cole collected a ball from Makelele on the right, beat Chimbonda and hit the net with a finish which broke off Robinson.
The mastery proved to be mere illusion. Grant will naturally be aghast that famously sturdy Chelsea were so flimsy at set pieces in particular, but whatever the reasons he is in charge of a team whose remaining home fixtures with Arsenal and United no longer look as if they will be the basis of a triumph. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The TimesMarch 20, 2008
Robbie Keane ensures Tottenham haunt Avram Grant once moreTottenham Hotspur 4 Chelsea 4(Marc Aspland)
How Chelsea must hate Tottenham Hotspur. Beaten by them in the Carling Cup final at Wembley last month, it was the North London side who again thwarted their ambitions, this time in the Barclays Premier League and in an astonishing eight-goal extravaganza at White Hart Lane last night.
Chelsea led three times — once by 3-1 midway in the second half — but had to settle for a draw when Robbie Keane curled home a shot from 20 yards in the 88th minute. After playing catch-up with Arsenal for much of the season, they would have moved level on points with them in second place had they held on for victory.
Instead, they will have to wait until Sunday, when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge. With Manchester United playing Liverpool at Old Trafford, on the same day, the top-of-the-table scrap could take on a completely different complexion by Monday morning. The title race is far from over.
Yet it might have been so much worse for Chelsea, with Tottenham — 2-1 winners after extra time at Wembley — going agonisingly close to stealing a remarkable win in the last throes of stoppage time. Dimitar Berbatov’s close-range shot was destined for the net until Carlo Cudicini, the goalkeeper, stuck out an arm. “We could have won it,” Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, said, still in a state of some disbelief.
And it could have been so much worse for Chelsea had Ashley Cole, the England left back, been sent off — as he should have been — shortly before half-time for a studs-up challenge on Alan Hutton, the Tottenham right back. That Mike Riley, the referee, opted for a yellow card rather than a red spared Cole a suspension.
Cole’s reaction to the incident was inexcusable, too. He turned his back on Riley, and it was not exactly the example to set, the day after the FA had announced its £200 million-worth of investment in grassroots football. The showing of greater respect to referees is one of its key objectives.
Still, having done more than enough to win, with Joe Cole imperious in front of Fabio Capello, the England manager, Chelsea will fight another day. “There were so many positives to take from the game but, in the end, it was disappointing,” Avram Grant, the first-team coach, said. “At least we are closer to Arsenal than before.”
Grant was roundly criticised for his starting line-up at Wembley, mostly for deploying Nicolas Anelka out of position on the left flank and for leaving Joe Cole and Michael Ballack on the bench for too long. Last night, Joe Cole started, Ballack was among the substitutes and Anelka was left out because of a thigh injury.
Grant made six changes from the side that so underperformed at Wembley and, after three minutes, was rewarded when Chelsea went ahead. Didier Drogba battered a free kick into the defensive wall but Claude Makelele regained possession and released John Terry on the edge of the area. The Chelsea captain crossed to the far post and Drogba, running in alone, was allowed to head past Paul Robinson. For all Tottenham’s attacking splendour, their defensive deficiencies were laid bare again. And Chelsea, with revenge on their minds, appeared to be in the mood for it.
Strangely, though, they failed to build on their advantage. Ramos fielded the same team that had beaten Chelsea last month and it was Jonathan Woodgate, who scored the injury-time winner to secure the 2-1 victory on that occasion, who returned to haunt them with another header. This time, Woodgate did not need the good fortune of the ball hitting him in the face. Jermaine Jenas slung over a curling free kick from the right and Woodgate rose high above Drogba to send a looping header over Cudicini.
Chelsea were quick to respond. Joe Cole wriggled his way towards the home area, with barely a challenge, and passed the ball for Michael Essien comfortably to chip in.
Ashley Cole’s lunge at Hutton brought the half to a shuddering halt and prompted heated exchanges among the occupants of both benches.
Their passion undimmed, Chelsea stretched their lead after the break. There was only one outcome when Joe Cole latched on to Salomon Kalou’s pass and rounded Pascal Chimbonda. As Robinson came out, Cole guided the ball in off the goalkeeper’s body.
Game over? By no means. Tottenham bucked up their ideas and pushed forward, more in desperation than by design. Tom Huddlestone swung over a corner from the right and Berbatov, making his first real contribution to the game, headed beyond Cudicini.
Worse was to follow for Chelsea when Huddlestone slammed in the equaliser in the 74th minute. However, Joe Cole quickly responded when he left Chimbonda standing again and drove his shot over Robinson into the roof of the net. Keane’s late equaliser only provided another twist in what is becoming a fascinating race to the top.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): P Robinson — A Hutton, J Woodgate, L King (sub: D Bent, 69min), P Chimbonda — A Lennon, D Zokora, J Jenas (sub: T Huddlestone, 46), S Malbranque — R Keane, D Berbatov. Substitutes not used: R Cerny, T Tainio, M Dawson. Booked: Keane, Huddlestone.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): C Cudicini — P Ferreira (sub: A Shevchenko, 89), R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole — C Makelele — J Cole (sub: M Ballack, 83), M Essien, F Lampard, S Kalou (sub: Alex, 71) — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilário, Wright-Phillips. Booked: J Cole, A Cole.
Referee: M Riley. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun:
Spurs 4 Chelsea 4By SHAUN CUSTIS
JUST when Avram Grant was winning over the critics again, Chelsea blew it on a night of stunning goals, high drama and controversy. Three times the Blues led — inspired by the brilliant Joe Cole — only to throw it away. Robbie Keane was the Tottenham hero with a stunning 20-yard curler two minutes from time. And it came just four days after Keane’s tantrum at being substituted in the 2-1 loss to Manchester City. Chelsea are now five points behind leaders Manchester United. And — had it not been for an unbelievable save by Carlo Cudicini from Dimitar Berbatov’s shot with seconds to go — they would have left White Hart Lane with nothing. A shocking tackle by Ashley Cole on Spurs defender Alan Hutton on 44 minutes added to an incredible night. The England left-back should have been sent off for the awful lunge on the Scot but ref Mike Riley showed him only a yellow card. But the bottom line is that Chelsea slipped up when it mattered once more. Boss Grant is just not doing it in the big games. His side have drawn with Liverpool and Everton, lost to Arsenal, been beaten by Manchester United and now thrown away a lead at Spurs. The latest failure also came on the back of the Carling Cup Final defeat to Juande Ramos’ men and the shocking FA Cup exit to Barnsley. Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Bolton means the Premier League title has slipped further away with only eight games to play. The Gunners visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday and if Chelsea stumble again it could be all over. You have to feel sorry for Joe Cole who was sensational in front of watching England boss Fabio Capello. The Italian is not convinced English players possess the technical skills to match foreign opponents — but Cole is surely an exception. At times it was a one-man show. Grant made a fatal error in taking him off with seven minutes left in an attempt to protect a 4-3 lead. He also withdrew Salomon Kalou and replaced him with defender Alex when they were 3-2 up. Jose Mourinho had a knack of getting it right with substitutions. Grant has just not got it. Games like these are why the Premier League is the most popular in the world and millions are spent on the rights to watch it. You could not take your eyes off it from the moment Didier Drogba opened the scoring on three minutes. Skipper John Terry’s cross picked out the Ivory Coast hit-man at the far post and he headed home for his first league goal since November 11 in a draw with Everton. Jonathan Woodgate — who won the Carling Cup for Spurs in extra-time — climbed high above Drogba to head the equaliser on 12 minutes. But then Joe Cole began to weave his magic. His mazy dribble through the centre set up Michael Essien who stabbed a chip over the top of the bemused Paul Robinson to restore the lead. As half-time approached tempers boiled over when Ashley Cole launched himself at Spurs full-back Alan Hutton with studs up and both feet off the ground. Cole connected with Hutton just below his knee-cap and was nowhere near the ball. The Spurs bench, players and crowd were incensed. Assistant boss Gus Poyet screamed at fourth official Steve Bennett and referee Riley to send Cole off. That led to a verbal dust-up between Frank Lampard and Poyet. It seemed Cole was facing an early bath but Riley let him off with a yellow card. He was a lucky boy. Poyet waited for Cole to remonstrate with him as the defender headed down the tunnel at half-time — and then Poyet made his point to Riley again. It was a minor miracle that Hutton came back out after the interval. Joe Cole continued to turn it on for Capello although it required the generosity of Pascal Chimbonda to let him in for No 3 on 52 minutes. Kalou’s pass sent Cole away and he ran past Chimbonda without being challenged. Keeper Robinson came out to try and close him down but Cole’s shot cannoned off the keeper’s leg and bounced into the far corner. Game over. Or so it seemed. On the hour Spurs pulled one back when Berbatov climbed above Terry to loop a header into the top corner. Cudicini — who turned out to be something of a Chelsea hero despite conceding four goals — saved superbly from Keane’s close-range effort to preserve the visitors’ lead. Then Spurs levelled as Keane’s corner found its way to sub Tom Huddlestone on the right of the box. The young midfielder, 21, has a reputation for pile-drivers and he did not disappoint with a rocket into the far corner. But Joe Cole was still not finished and when Drogba played him in, the England trickster left the hapless Chimbonda sprawling on the ground before rifling a shot high into the net. Chelsea were back ahead with 11 minutes left. Surely that was it. No. Not at White Hart Lane where the goals have been flooding in all season — at both ends. Cole came off, Michael Ballack went on and Spurs hit back again with two minutes remaining — although it was tough luck on Chelsea’s part. A hopeful punt towards the Blues box hit Ricardo Carvalho on the back and Keane seized on it to fire home from 20 yards. What a difference a few days make. Keane moved from villain to hero with one brilliant strike. But he did prove why he should be kept on until the end. Cudicini’s outstretched left hand prevented Berbatov completing a victory which would have gone down in Spurs history. Wow.
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Mirror:
KIDS LIFT FOR ROM
A Villa Yth 2 Chelsea Yth 3 (Chelsea win 4-3 on agg)
Adam Phillip gave Roman Abramovich a boost last night by helping Chelsea reach the FA Youth Cup final.
Substitute Phillip scored the winner in a stormy clash at Villa Park to set-up a two-legged final with Manchester City after the first leg ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Harry Forrester gave Villa the perfect start before Sergio Tejera Rodriguez and Gael Kaku put the Blues ahead.
Forrester made it 2-2 but Phillip sealed it.
Chelsea's Lee Sawyer and Villa's Matthew Roome were both sent off.
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