tottenham 0-0

Independent:

Chelsea 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0
STEVE TONGUE STAMFORD BRIDGE

Stalemate in the Stamford Bridge leg of London's triangular tournament for Champions' League places suited Tottenham better than Chelsea, but above all favoured Arsenal, who took advantage to consolidate third position. For almost an hour it was soporific stuff but by the end, Spurs, having not threatened until the last minute of the first half, had made the better chances.
In that one attack just before half-time, they had three opportunities and later their best player, Gareth Bale, would head against the bar, while Chelsea's best, Gary Cahill, cleared off the line. Against that, Juan Mata curled a free-kick against the inside of a post, but overall the home side lacked the urgency necessary for a team starting – now staying – five points behind.
Their performance did not bode well for Tuesday's first leg away to Benfica, especially since Roberto Di Matteo did not appear to be holding anyone back. He will hope to have Branislav Ivanovic, who was outstanding against Napoli, available after missing yesterday but otherwise few changes will be envisaged. Here he used a 4-2-3-1 with Mata behind Didier Drogba but the Ivorian, who often excels in these derby games, was handled well by his old team-mate William Gallas and Younès Kaboul.
Indeed all four centre-halves were among the outstanding performers. So too was Petr Cech, making what his manager acknowledged were "crucial" saves from Rafael van der Vaart during added time in the first half and Bale late in the second.
"First half, we were too slow in possession," Di Matteo said. "We were looking to close the gap on Spurs but we have to give them credit for defending well." Harry Redknapp was understandably more buoyant, claiming: "I thought we were excellent, a good performance against a good team. It's a big point that keeps them five points behind us."
While Chelsea are in Lisbon, Tottenham will be hoping to set up an FA Cup semi-final against them by beating Bolton in the match abandoned when Fabrice Muamba collapsed last Saturday. "We're all just so pleased for Fabrice with what's happened since then," Redknapp said last night. "It's a miracle. When you saw him going down the tunnel, you thought he was gone. We all felt he wasn't going to make it to the hospital. Now he's saying to Owen Coyle, 'Where d'you get that tie from, gaffer?' "
It will be an emotional night, on which Spurs cannot afford to start as slowly as they did yesterday. Without Aaron Lennon they are unbalanced down the right, as there is no obvious replacement. Bale is less effective on that side; Van der Vaart, who was nominally filling the role yesterday, likes to roam rather than be restricted to one area of the pitch. So he did, alternating as playmaker with Luka Modric. Van der Vaart's reluctance to occupy the flank meant that Kyle Walker from right-back had an awful lot to do in both an attacking and defensive sense against Ashley Cole and Daniel Sturridge. He did it well, although it was just as well that his captain, Scott Parker, was as vigilant as ever in covering.
Parker duly broke up two attacks in the early stages when Spurs were struggling to leave their own half. It took them half an hour to launch an attack but when they did so with menace on the stroke of half-time, a goal should have resulted. Bale and Modric worked the ball cleverly down the left, the Croatian cutting a pass back to Van der Vaart. Cech parried his shot from eight yards, Cole blocked the follow-up and Emmanuel Adebayor headed the rebound over the bar.
There may be no logic behind the suggestion that speculation over the England manager's position is disrupting Spurs' season, although their recent results have been an unfortunate coincidence. In the second half, however, they replicated some of their better performances as the game became feistier. Walker hit the side-netting and Gallas wasted a header from Modric's free-kick.
Then in quick succession, Adebayor went round the goalkeeper only for Cahill to block his shot from an angle, Bale headed the resulting free-kick against the bar and Adebayor nodded over as the ball fell to him. Deep into added time Bale might have won two extra, vital points with a low free-kick that forced Cech to save low to his left.
All Chelsea had managed was Mata's free-kick against the post. They may now have to win the Champions' League to compete in it next season, which would, in turn, mean Arsenal or Tottenham being demoted to the Europa League if they finished fourth.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa (David Luiz, 60), Cahill, Terry, Cole; Essien (Torres, 75), Lampard; Ramires, Mata, Sturridge (Kalou, 89); Drogba.
Tottenham (4-5-1): Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Van der Vaart (Saha, 76), Sandro (Livermore, 76), Parker, Modric, Bale; Adebayor.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Man of the match: Cahill (Chelsea)
Match rating: 7/10

======================

Observer:

Tottenham rue missed chances and have to settle for draw with Chelsea
David Hytner at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are the flag-bearers for England in this season's Champions League but there have to be grave doubts about their capacity to return to the competition next time out. This was a match that they sorely needed to win yet they fell short in insipid fashion.Although Juan Mata hit the base of an upright with a second-half free kick, Chelsea failed to make a mark on a fixture that they traditionally dominate. Brad Friedel, in the Tottenham Hotspur goal, was called upon to make his only save, a routine one, in the 86th minute, from Frank Lampard's long-range shot. It is lost on nobody, including the players and staff at Tottenham, that Chelsea must still visit Arsenal and Liverpool. They remain five points off the Champions League pace, although if they were to win the competition this season they would re-enter it at the expense of the team that finish fourth.There was a gloominess about Roberto Di Matteo afterwards, which contrasted with Harry Redknapp's contentedness, even if the Tottenham manager knew that his club ought to have won. In a game that crackled to life in the second half, they had the chances.Rafael van der Vaart should have scored in first-half stoppage time and, in the second period, Kyle Walker drove into the side-netting; William Gallas fluffed a free header; Emmanuel Adebayor had a shot cleared off the line by Gary Cahill and Gareth Bale thumped the crossbar and forced Petr Cech into a smart save from a free-kick. Tottenham have not won here since 1990 but if this was as close as they have come, it was tempting to suggest that it felt like a victory."It was an important point for us," Redknapp said. "We edged it and Chelsea were happier to hear the final whistle. It's in our favour now and six wins out of eight should do it. I think third place is still there, too. It's by no means a given that Arsenal will be third."The challenge for Di Matteo will be to lift his players for the Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday.They looked leggy, as if the effort of their epic victory over Napoli had taken a toll. They failed to move the ball with any pace and Tottenham were comfortable at the back, where Redknapp decided not to risk Ledley King but saw William Gallas, the deputy, play well alongside Younès Kaboul."It's going to be difficult," said Di Matteo, the interim manager, when he considered Chelsea's hopes of a top-four finish. "But the day that I was appointed, we always knew it was going to be a difficult task. Fourth spot is very important for the future of our club and that stays at the top [of the priorities]. We might have to win all eight of our remaining league games."Spurs would have taken the draw beforehand and Redknapp set his team up to be solid and disciplined, with Sandro coming in to make a three-man central midfield. They gave Bale, Adebayor and even the overlapping Walker the platform to play. The manager reserved praise for Adebayor, who led the line in robust fashion. "He looked back to his best," he said.In tactical terms, Redknapp got it spot on, and it sounded rather weak when Di Matteo complained about Tottenham keeping men behind the ball.After the midweek defeat at Manchester City, Di Matteo had to do something to force the issue. The two matches would have done little to advance his claim for the job on a full-time basis.The first half was underpinned by caginess but Tottenham enjoyed the big chance when the impressive Luka Modric cut back for Van Der Vaart who, eight yards out and in yards of space, had to be fancied to score. His side-foot, though, lacked conviction and it was directed straight at Cech, who parried. Van Der Vaart tried again, from close-range and, this time, Ashley Cole blocked on the line. Adebayor headed the second rebound on to the top of the net.Chelsea lamented a couple of penalty appeals that were overlooked. Gallas cut across Lampard in the 27th minute; he did not get the ball and he made contact with his former Chelsea team-mate. He technically ticked a lot of boxes for the concession but Di Matteo was more passionate about the flashpoint in the 65th minute, when Benoît Assou-Ekotto tangled with Ramires. "Assou-Ekotto just pushed him down," Di Matteo said.The second half was more exciting. There was needle as the intensity of the challenges ratcheted up. Tottenham raged when Chelsea played on as Kaboul lay injured and the game was stopped only when the visitors conceded a free kick. From it, Mata curled against the post.But apart from a Daniel Sturridge half-chance and Lampard's effort, that was as good as it good for Chelsea. Tottenham advertised the winning goal. Gallas's reaction pointed to the knowledge that he should have done better and Adebayor had done the hard part in rounding Cech before he was thwarted by Cahill. Bale, too, went agonisingly close. The point, though, carried value for Tottenham.


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Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 : match report
By Duncan White, Stamford Bridge

The deterrent of Europa League football is clearly not working. Chelsea, faced with aTottenham team on the slide, knew that victory would bring them within two points of Harry Redknapp’s side. They were the hunters and the quarry was unexpectedly within their reach.
So that made it all the more bafflingly when Chelsea, supposedly reinvigorated by theirChampions League heroics, failed to play with any intensity. They had not lost a league game to Spurs at Stamford Bridge since 1990 and only retained that record through some last-ditch defending. Next season’s Champions League is a party to which Chelsea are struggling to get an invite.
Since Roman Abramovich bought this piece of West London real estate in 2003, Chelsea have been in the Champions League every season. You cannot imagine he is thrilled at the prospect of mixing it with the also-rans in the continent’s second tier. Even taking into the context the intensity of Chelsea’s fixture schedule, this was insipid stuff, the players lulled into somnolence by the unseasonal sunshine.
There was no pressing, no speed of pass, no incisive movement off the ball. Spurs, with a packed five-man midfield, were prepared to sit deep, soak up Chelsea attacks and try to hit on the counter. It suited them to keep the game subdued. That Chelsea obliged was hard to explain.
“We were too slow in possession,” Roberto Di Matteo said. “We did not move the ball quickly enough. To be fair to them they defended well, playing very deep.” Di Matteo felt Ramires should have had a penalty for being pulled back by Benoît Assou-Ekotto — a tough one for the officials to see clearly — but there was little else for him to cling to.
With a Champions League quarter-final against Benfica on Tuesday and an FA Cup semi-final against Spurs or Bolton next month, the emphasis seems to be on short-term glory, rather than next season’s status.
To be fair, winning silverware is probably the best chance Di Matteo has of keeping this job.
The closest Chelsea came to scoring was with just under 20 minutes to go. Younes Kaboul had gone surging forward and pulled up injured.
Chelsea countered with Spurs players impatiently signalling for their opponents to put the ball out. Eventually patience snapped and Gareth Bale chopped down Ramires outside the Spurs box.
Juan Mata struck the ensuing free-kick superbly, the flight of the ball deceiving Brad Friedel, who could only watch the ball thump against the foot of his left post. There was some confused communication between David Luiz and Didier Drogba from the rebound and the chance was gone.
That moment jerked Tottenham awake. Suddenly Redknapp was barking orders from the technical area and Louis Saha and Jake Livermore were sent on to provide some energy. There was now a determination about the visitors and they created four excellent chances to win it.
Luka Modric was growing in influence and, in the 77th minute, he bought a free-kick off Luiz in dangerous territory. The Croat took the set-piece himself, his in-swinging cross arriving perfectly for William Gallas. The French defender, selected ahead of Ledley King for his performance in this fixture last season, headed the ball over and immediately buried his face in his hands.
Modric was at it again two minutes later, lobbing a ball in behind the defence. Emmanuel Adebayor went clear. He took the ball around Petr Cech and sentit goalwards, only for Gary Cahill to slide in and divert the ball behind. The England defender had actually played Adebayor onside but his recovery was superb.
From the corner Modric sent in a cross that Bale, unmarked, headed against the middle of the bar. The ball came back out to the Welshman who headed it back into the danger area. Adebayor, just like he had right at the end of the first half, headed on to the roof of the net from close range.
Bale almost won it in stoppage-time. Adebayor received the ball with his back to goal, some 30 yards out, and Luiz needlessly pulled the Spurs striker back. Bale liked the look of the free-kick and his vicious effort bounced awkwardly as it headed for the bottom corner. Cech did well to deal with it.
Tottenham had also gone close in the stoppage-time of the first half when Rafael van der Vaart volleyed straight at Cech and then saw Ashley Cole block his follow up effort. Still, despite missing those chances, Redknapp was pleased to have kept the cushion over Chelsea, even though this stretched their winless streak in the league to five games.
“It was an important point for us,” Redknapp said. “It is not as if we have been playing badly. If we’d been coming in short of confidence every morning I’d have been worried but that’s not been the case.” Not only do Spurs have that five-point advantage but they have much the easier run-in; Chelsea still have to travel to Arsenal and Liverpool. “It is in our favour at the moment but it can all change,” Redknapp said. “We just have to keep picking up results. We have decent games now. We have to make sure we win six out of the last eight.”

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Mail:

Chelsea 0 Tottenham 0: Advantage Redknapp in the race for Europe
By ROB DRAPER

In the end it was agonisingly close for Tottenham. Emmanuel Adebayor was racing through on goal, Petr Cech beaten, with 10 minutes to go. It seemed a done deal.
Tottenham's first win in the League at Stamford Bridge since 1990 looked imminent, though that statistic would have been considerably less significant than the eight-point gap they might have put on Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot.
'It was like watching an action replay, waiting for him to get there and hopefully put the ball in,' said Harry Redknapp, lamenting the chance later.
For, from somewhere, Gary Cahill appeared, racing back towards goal.
True, Adebayor slightly over-ran the ball and by the time he shot, the angle was not ideal. Still, the Chelsea defender's lunge and block was a fine piece of last-ditch defending.
There was more.
From Luka Modric's corner, Gareth Bale rose unmarked to thunder a header against the bar.
Then, in the third minute of injury time, Bale's free-kick swerved and skidded in front of Louis Saha.
The faintest touch would have turned it in. As it was, even without a deflection, Cech had to dive to his left to turn it away.
And though Chelsea could point to a Juan Mata free-kick that hit the post on 73 minutes, those final 10 minutes, when Tottenham dominated the game, were a fair reflection of the momentum of these clubs' respective seasons.
Tottenham can take heart. They had stemmed the bleeding represented by three defeats and a draw before this game.
They remain fourth, five points clear of Chelsea in fifth and, for now, the last Champions League spot is in their possession.
'It was an important point for us,' said Redknapp. 'And the longer it went on, I thought we were getting at them and I could see us winning it. I think they were probably more happy to hear the whistle than us.'
For Chelsea, the future is more uncertain.
Cup glories still, potentially, await but the League campaign is withering away. It threatens to be their worst in 10 years, the last time they failed to make the Champions League, which was before the Roman Abramovich era.
'It's going to be difficult (to qualify for the Champions League) but from the day I was appointed we always knew it was going to be a difficult task,' said Roberto Di Matteo.
'But there are still eight games to play. Of course, fourth spot is very important for our club.'
Di Matteo's task is to prove that the energy and fight the club showed of late, most notably against Napoli, were something more than impetus provided by a change.
For on Saturday they looked laborious. 'In the first half we were a little bit too slow with possession,' said Di Matteo. ‘We didn’t move the ball quick enough to get into dangerous positions.’
In the second half, they were worse. In a tedious opening half-hour, neither team looked especially impressive. It was 28 minutes before anything of note, when William Gallas blocked Frank Lampard in the box, causing him to fall. Referee Martin Atkinson generously ignored it.
A spectacular if fruitless 80-yard run by Adebayor, which ended in him wasting a cross for Kyle Walker, was the highlight until Tottenham went close to taking the lead on the stroke half time.
Bale played in Modric, who accelerated past Michael Essien and crossed for Rafael van der Vaart, whose shot at Cech was parried away. Van der Vaart was quickest to react, shooting again, only for Ashley Cole to clear off the line. Adebayor stretched to head the rebound but he directed the chance over.
Chelsea’s chances were few and far between. Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s challenge in the area on Ramires on 63 minutes looked clumsy and Di Matteo was off his bench demanding a penalty.
‘There will be a lot of twists and turns, you know,’ said Redknapp.
‘Even Arsenal still have some tough games. It’s all to play for.’
None of which you could dispute.

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Mirror:

Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham
By Steve Stammers

Honours even at Stamford Bridge. But the result will mean more to Tottenham as they cling on to their ambition of a top-four finish – or even top three.
The recent decline has brought a sudden reality check at White Hart Lane. Third place seemed theirs for the taking. Not any more – and if they had lost in the spring heat of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would have narrowed the gap in the race for Champions League places.
But the resolve that appeared to go AWOL during the weeks of freefall that followed speculation concerning Harry Redknapp and the England job made a welcome re-appearance just when it was needed.
“We were excellent,” said Redknapp, who knew that defeat would have meant an anxious run-in. Instead, he came away from west London with a top three ­finish still in his sights.
Redknapp added: “It is not a done deal that Arsenal will finish third, not by any means.
“We have not given up on that, not at all. Arsenal have had a great run, there is no question.
“But they have had their bits of luck as well. They have scored late goals and now maybe we will get some luck.”
Luck was in short supply in a strangely-muted London derby that is often remembered for its ferocity. Not yesterday’s, however.
And although Chelsea can claim their share of ill-fortune when Juan Mata hit the inside of the post from a free-kick in the 73rd minute, the more clear-cut chances fell to Tottenham. And by some distance as well.
On the stroke of half-time, Rafael van der Vaart was denied by a tremendous close-range save from Petr Cech – “Fantastic” was Redknapp’s description – and then Ashley Cole blocked the Dutchman’s follow-up effort.
Gareth Bale, who cruelly exposed the defensive deficiences of substitute David Luiz, hit the bar with a header during a period of second-half pressure.
He also brought the best out of Cech with a late free-kick. But the most clear-cut opening of all fell to ­Emmanuel Adebayor with just 11 minutes left.
The nimble Luka Modric opened up the Chelsea defence and the Togo striker accelerated clear. Cech came out and though Adebayor knocked the ball round him, the touch was a little heavy.
His shot was still goalbound, but Gary Cahill was able to provide a telling interception at the expense of a corner.
Redknapp said: “I thought we were going to win it. But I was really pleased with the performance. I reckon we need to win six of our last eight games.”
So top three rather than fourth place is back on the agenda.
Right now, Chelsea would settle for the chance to play in Europe’s money-spinning club tournament and the prestige that goes with it.
“We were looking to win and close the gap on Tottenham,” said interim manager Roberto Di Matteo.
“But we have to give credit to them. They defended well.”
He also claimed Chelsea should have had a penalty when Brazilian Ramires was eased out of the way by Benoit Assou-Ekotto as he went for a cross midway through the second half.
“It was 100 per cent a penalty,” said Di Matteo, who admitted that Champions League football is essential for the future well-being of Chelsea.
A five-point cushion remains, giving Spurs breathing space.
Chelsea have a harder finish to their programme. So, as the Spurs boss pointed out, do Arsenal.
“They still have to play Chelsea and Manchester City,” noted Redknapp. “There are going to be a lot more twists and turns to come.”
Not once was Redknapp asked in the match post-mortem about England.
He wants all talk about that to be put on the back-burner as he looks to re-group his squad for the next eight crucial matches.
He said: “Although the results have gone against us, I have been pleased with the way we have been ­playing.
“I would be the first to say if we had been poor. But we haven’t. And today was a good result for us.”
One consolation for Di Matteo was that inspirational captain John Terry came through unscathed. He will be needed against Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
His value was evident yesterday and no-one gave more to supress the energetic Tottenham strikeforce than the skipper.

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Sun:

Chelsea 0 Tottenham 0
By ROB BEASLEY

AT least we got to top up our tans in the Spring sunshine without too much to disturb us.
If only someone had brought a picnic along it would have been a wonderful couple of hours in West London.
As it was we had to suffer for our rays. And I mean SUFFER.
For this was poor, very poor.
It had the flavour of an end-of-season affair between two teams for which there was nothing left on offer.
Crazy when you think this was actually a huge clash between two teams scrapping for a place in the pantheon of European football, the Champions League.
But stuttering Tottenham and stumbling Chelsea wilted under the pressure, wilted in the heat.
Spurs shaded it, 15 chances — five on target to Chelsea's five with two on target.
Nowhere near good enough from the Blues who could have moved within two points of their North London neighbours had they won.
That never looked likely even though caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo had described this as a game of "great importance" while fit-again captain John Terry promised it would be a "massive occasion". The truth is it was a complete and utter non-event.
If this is the best the Premier League can offer up for the Champions League next term, then maybe we should just enter three teams.
Yes, it was that bad.
It was a mainly forgettable first half, which saw Chelsea reduced to desperately appealing for a penalty when Frank Lampard was blocked off by former team-mate William Gallas.
Even Lampard did not look like he believed it was a spot-kick but that did not stop Di Matteo arguing: "It was one that on a good day you can get." Spurs did not impress either. The visitors' best opening in the first 45 minutes came in time added on when Rafael van der Vaart saw a shot saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
The Dutchman's follow-up was blocked by defender Ashley Cole and Emmanuel Adebayor headed the rebound over.
Close, guys, but no cigar.
Tottenham were first to threaten again after the break, Gareth Bale disappointingly driving into the side-netting when he should have done far better.
Spurs fans were celebrating a goal.
Yes, we were all getting that desperate for some excitement. To be fair, things did improve as the clock ran down.
Di Matteo claimed another penalty just after the hour when Benoit Assou-Ekotto appeared to pull back Ramires as he surged forward in the area.
But, again, referee Martin Atkinson did not respond.
The interim Chelsea boss was not impressed and moaned: "The Ramires one was a 100 per cent, absolute penalty."
He had obviously cottoned on that a penalty or set-piece was the only way his labouring, lack-lustre side might score.
Indeed, Juan Mata's free-kick 17 minutes from time almost broke the deadlock.
The Spaniard was again way below par and guilty of giving away far too much possession in a crowded, hectic midfield.
Suddenly, he was away from the snapping and snarling, with time to measure his effort.
Boy, was he close, curling a superb strike over the wall to hit the foot of Brad Friedel's left-hand post with the keeper flat-footed and beaten all ends up.
But instead of inspiring Chelsea to push harder for the win they so badly needed, it actually had a galvanising effect on Spurs.
And, in the 80th minute, Adebayor looked to have won it.
Mata was again bullied off the ball and a speedy Spurs counter-attack ended with Luka Modric sending the Togo international bursting beyond Chelsea keeper Petr Cech on the edge of the area.
Cech's attempted challenge did force Adebayor wide in the process but the whole of the Bridge still expected the Tottenham striker to score.
However, he scuffed his shot goalwards allowing the excellent Gary Cahill, who spurned Spurs for Chelsea in January's transfer window, to slide across and clear in front of his own line.
It was a temporary respite for the home side and just moments later Bale thundered a header against the Chelsea bar from Modric's corner.
Now Spurs were starting to fancy it and the Welshman almost nicked it. His stinging free-kick bounced in front of Cech but still the keeper managed to dive full length and push it clear.
That confirmed the stalemate, leaving fourth-placed Tottenham frustrated and relieved.
Frustrated they had failed to win but also relieved that the five-
point buffer between them and the Blues remains with just eight games to go.
Boss Harry Redknapp is optimistic his men can maintain their advantage to claim a top-four finish. Even top three, maybe.
Redknapp said: "It's an important point for us, it keeps them five points behind us and us in position for the Champions League.
"Now we have to keep picking up results, win six out of the last eight if we can.
"I still think third is a realistic target. It's not a done deal that Arsenal will finish third."
Di Matteo tried to respond adding: "It is going to be difficult now, we will have to win them all."
Little chance of that on this form.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Luiz 60), Cahill, Terry, Cole, Essien (Torres 75), Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Sturridge (Kalou 89), Drogba. Subs not used: Turnbull, Mikel, Malouda, Meireles. Booked: Essien.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Sandro (Livermore 76), Parker, Bale, Van der Vaart (Saha 76), Adebayor. Subs not used: Cudicini, Defoe, Kranjcar, Rose, Nelsen. Booked: Assou-Ekotto, Sandro.
Att: 41, 830
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

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Express:

CHELSEA 0 - TOTTENHAM 0:

HAIL HARRY REDKNAPP'S TRUE GRIT HEROES
Chelsea's Petr Cech rescues his side with a fine acrobatic save from a Tottenham attack
By John Richardson

MAYBE if Gary Lineker had nipped along to the Bridge before his Match Of The Day duties Spurs would have buried their Chelsea curse.
Not having triumphed here since 1990 with a winning goal from a certain BBC TV anchorman, Spurs did everything but score.
On the day before the clocks went forward, what Tottenham would have given for turning them back to an age when Old Jug Ears was knocking them in for fun.
But in the modern era where it seems to be all about Champions League qualification, Spurs will this morning be celebrating a precious point which maintained a healthy five point gap over fifth-placed Chelsea in the scramble to finish in the top four.
It’s now five games without a league victory for Harry Redknapp’s side, but this was a performance of resilience and it involved flashes of the attacking enterprise which had enchanted the nation earlier in the season.
Most neutrals believe Spurs have something in the bank when it comes to Champions League qualification, while Chelsea are running on empty following their troublesome liaison with Andre Villas-Boas.
It’s now five games without a league victory for Harry Redknapp’s side, but this was a performance of resilience
It will be a heavy price to pay for Chelsea if they fail to qualify, especially for owner Roman Abramovich who was lured intofootball after watching Manchester United and Real Madrid in the Champions League and has looked upon the trophy as his holy grail ever since.
This was almost last chance saloon for interim boss Roberto Di Matteo and his players, a midweek defeat against Manchester City leaving them almost detached from the Big Four.
In the end they were fortunate to escape defeat, Spurs creating the greater number of chances in a game which too often sauntered aimlessly in the warm, spring sunshine.
In fact, it needed the acrobatics of Petr Cech in the last piece of action of the game to once again repel an eager Spurs.
Gareth Bale, an increasing influence during the second half, saw his free-kick spearing towards the corner of the net until Cech intervened with a save of outstanding agility.
There was nothing he could do when Luka Modric released the impressive Emmanuel Adebayor, the striker rounding Cech, but Gary Cahill managed to race back and block the goal-bound attempt.
It was a late, frantic 20-minute spell which saw Chelsea hanging on as Spurs went for the kill in an attempt to re-write the record books. Spurs arrived knowing they hadn’t won a league encounter in their previous 21 attempts in SW6. The Lineker winner was on the same weekend that Nelson Mandela was finally released from his imprisonment.
While this might not have given Spurs the freedom of Stamford Bridge, the smiles were on Tottenham faces at the final whistle.
They would have been broader if a header from Bale hadn’t thumped against the bar and another header, this time from Chelsea old boy William Gallas, hadn’t have flown over the same piece of woodwork.
They should have taken the lead right on half-time after a sterile first half painfully meandering to a close belatedly sprang to life through Tottenham’s persistence and energy.
Despite this being a place of no reward for the side from North London, Redknapp’s troops had displayed the greater craft in what was becoming a stalemate in the sun.
Suddenly out of the shadows came a crisp link-up between Bale and Modric which ended with Rafael van der Vaart firing goalwards only for Cech to come to Chelsea’s rescue with a smart block. The Dutchman should have capitalised on the rebound, but it was Ashley Cole’s turn to provide the impenetrable barrier before Adebayor completed the flurry of action, heading over the bar.
Chelsea had their moments but not as many, Juan Mata going close with a free-kick which came back off the post and Daniel Sturridge, not looking comfortable in a wide left position, crashing a shot wide after Didier Drogba had out-jumped Gallas.
Their desperation was illustrated through a couple of shouts for penalties, Frank Lampard tumbling as he and Gallas fought for the ball in the area and Ramires seemingly being nudged over after going for a cross by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Now for Chelsea it’s off to Lisbon for their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica. They should enjoy it while it lasts, because a return to next season’scompetition has been made a lot harder through Tottenham’s tenacious efforts.

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Star:

CHELSEA 0 - TOTTENHAM 0: HAPPY HARRY REDKNAPP
By Paul Hetherington

SPURS failed to crack their ­Stamford Bridge hoo-doo – but were winners in the race for the Champions League.
It is 22 years since Tottenham last won at Chelsea but this draw almost felt like what would have been a deserved victory.
It’s FIVE league games without a win for Spurs – but more significantly they remained FIVE points ahead of their bitter rivals in the fight for a top-four finish.
That’s why Chelsea’s interim-boss Roberto Di Matteo went into the game describing it as a must-win occasion.
And he admitted: “It’s going to be difficult but there are still eight games to play.
“We will try to win as many as we can to finish in the top four. Finishing fourth is very important for the future of the club.
“We were looking to win today to close the gap but you have to give Spurs credit for the way they ­defended.”
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said of the result: “It’s a big point for us because it keeps them five points behind.
“But it’s frustrating that we didn’t take our chances, because our performance was excellent. It’s in our favour but that could all change. I think we have got to win six of our last eight games to be sure of finishing in the top four.
“And I still believe third place is there for us.”
The first half was so poor that the crowd were stirred for the first time over a penalty appeal that rightly wasn’t given.
Frank Lampard went down after tangling with former team-mate William Gallas in the 28th minute.
But referee Martin Atkinson was well positioned to see there had been no offence.
Emmanuel Adebayor then produced a brilliant run, only for his cross to be a fraction too high for Kyle Walker.
But the sides stifled and cancelled out each other to give a low-key opening to the high-profile London derby.
That, though, could and should have changed in first-half added time.
Gareth Bale and Luka Modric opened up the ­Chelsea defence on the left to trigger a ­ bombardment of the goal.
Rafael van der Vaart was denied first by Petr Cech, then by Ashley Cole’s brilliant block. The rebound was then met by Adebayor, who headed over.
Thankfully, there was more of a buzz about the ­second half.
Juan Mata hit the Spurs post with a superb free-kick, before Tottenham produced a strong finish which should have brought them victory.
Gallas headed over, Adebayor was denied by Gary Cahill’s vital intervention after going round Cech and Bale thumped a great header against the bar.
Adebayor later said of his missed chance: “I thought I was going to score.
“I tried to take it quickly but it was a great comeback by Cahill.”
And in the fourth minute of added time, Bale was denied again with a Cech save from his free-kick.
Redknapp described that save by the Chelsea ­keeper as “a miracle.”