Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Giroud and Alonso win it for hosts

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso strike to help Frank Lampard complete the double over former boss Jose Mourinho as hosts take control in race for the Champions League

Jose Mourinho could not stop back-to-back defeats to Chelsea in a blow to Tottenham’s top four hopes
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring after his effort into Hugo Lloris’ near post was checked by VAR for offside
Chelsea continued to be the aggressor and soon after the restart Marcos Alonso made it 2-0 from long range
Tottenham thought they were down to 10 for a stamp from Giovani Lo Celso but VAR opted against a red card
It emerged later in the game that VAR admitted they should have sent the Argentine off and it ‘was an error’
Mourinho’s side got a late consolation goal when Erik Lamela’s strike was deflected in by Antonio Rudiger
RECAP: See how the match at Stamford Bridge unfolded during an intriguing 90 minutes of action right here

Frank Lampard had Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso to thank as Chelsea recorded a season double over rivals Tottenham with a 2-1 win to take control of the top four race.

Jose Mourinho brought his injury-ravaged Tottenham side to his old haunt at Stamford Bridge but found it to be a miserable afternoon. Giroud was on hand to convert after 15 minutes having seen Ross Barkley’s effort rattle the crossbar moments earlier.

Tottenham looked blunt in attack but stuck in the game until Alonso, three minutes into the second half, drilled in from long range to ensure Lampard’s side moved four points clear of Spurs in the race for fourth. An own goal in the 89th minute from Antonio Rudiger proved nothing more than a consolation for Mourinho and his players.

More to follow.

Olivier Giroud stepped up when Chelsea needed him to play a starring role in a 2-0 win against bitter rivals Tottenham

The French striker was on hand to fire low and hard into the near post after Ross Barkley’s initial striker had struck the bar

Things got even sweeter for Chelsea when Marcos Alonso drilled in from long range soon after the restart for the second half

Alonso was one of changes made by boss Frank Lampard as he returned to a back three with wing-backs to face Tottenham

Tottenham thought they were to be down to 10 when VAR checked Giovani Lo Celso’s accidental stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta

It proved to be a difficult afternoon for Jose Mourinho as he took his injury-hit Tottenham side to his old club and top four rival

There was a real intensity from the first whistle as Lo Celso was given particular attention from Chelsea’s Reece James (right)

Lucas Moura was leading the line for Tottenham again in the absence of both Harry Kane and Son Heung-min through injury

Mourinho (left) was looking to avenge the defeat inflicted on him by Frank Lampard (right) and Chelsea earlier in the season

But his plans to get revenge unravelled inside 15 minutes when Giroud managed to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge

Andreas Christensen sported a protective face mask as he worked to marshal Chelsea’s backline in the early exchanges

It proved to be a frustrating game for Tottenham’s Harry Winks (right) as he was the first player to be booked in the game

Tottenham’s bluntness in attack was compounded when Alonso surged forward and fired into the corner from long distance

Hugo Lloris could only wince having been beaten twice as Tottenham’s hopes of a top four finish were dented by a rival

It proved an uncomfortable introduction off the bench for Tammy Abraham as he slid in and collided with one of the posts

MATCH FACTS AND LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Barkley (Willian 77), Mount; Giroud (Abraham 71).

Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Loftus-Cheek, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri, Gilmour.

Goals: Giroud (15), Alonso (48)

Booked: Christensen

Manager: Frank Lampard

Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2): Lloris; Sanchez, Alderweireld (Aurier 78), Vertonghen; Tanganga, Ndombele (Lamela 63), Winks, Lo Celso, Davies; Lucas Moura, Bergwijn (Alli 78).

Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Dier, Skipp, Fernandes.

Goals: Rudiger OG (89)

Booked: Winks, Lo Celso

Manager: Jose Mourinho

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)