Spurs avoid familiar script by the skin of their teeth - underpinned by defiance of Conte
Chelsea (1) 2 Koulibaly 19, James 77
Tottenham (0) 2 Hojbjerg 68, Kane 90+6
Harry Kane saved Spurs with a last-gasp goal, just as fans hoping for a change to a wretched script of perpetual failure at Stamford Bridge were once more fearing the worst.
They were no doubt pondering what it is about the Blues that seems to bring out the worst in their team and they had once again played poorly here. But sub Ivan Perisic floated an inswinging corner that Kane flicked in with a glancing header.
It is ironic that the man they think can change the narrative of so many failures at the Bridge – and elsewhere - is the only one to have lost a home league match to Spurs as Chelsea manager in the past 30 years: Antonio Conte.
But their current boss managed to oversee a stolen point that was barely deserved and for that Spurs fans will hail him a hero.
They will also love him for his fiery defiance of Thomas Tuchel at full time and the way he responded to the German’s provocative failure to loosen his grip at the full-time handshake – challenging the Italian to react.
Both coaches were sent off by ref Anthony Taylor. The steam was still rising as the two teams departed for the tunnel. Derbies of this nature on hot days like this – it was 34 degrees in the shade – are perhaps asking for trouble.
It is now 12 meetings without a single win for Spurs against Chelsea, and there was no obvious sign of significant progress from the north Londoners since those three defeats to the Blues in quick succession last term – two in the League Cup – and four in all. But they'll take this draw, big time.
Spurs have entered the season on the crest of a wave of optimism, based as much on a good-looking summer recruitment programme as on the impressive way they ended last season to qualify for the Champions League.
Yet it was the Blues’ newcomers who combined to give the hosts the lead after 18 minutes - Kalidou Koulibaly smashing in a sumptuous volley from 12 yards from Marc Cucurella’s outswinging corner.
Conte’s men had been lucky to survive a fine chance for Kai Havertz from a Raheem Sterling backheel – the German inches away from finding the far corner with a low drive, with only a crucial touch from Hugo Lloris deflecting it wide.
But the opener came from the ensuing corner and it was the least the Blues merited for a first half in which they were almost always on the front-foot – displaying the greater intensity and hunger for combat.
In the second half, Sterling almost marked his home debut with a goal – blazing over from inside the box – and Kane spurned a glorious opportunity soon after when he was played through. The England striker rolled the chance wide.
Conte sent on Richarlison in a bid to inject some life into proceedings and somehow Spurs found an equaliser – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg angling a lovely low shot across Edouard Mendy from just outside the area.
The home side were enraged by the goal, and not just because it came so much against the run of play. Moments before the goal, Havertz lost possession to Rodrigo Bentancur near half way and the Blues were convinced they should have had a free-kick.
There was an almighty touchline square-up after the goal, with Tuchel and Conte exchanging the first of many choice words on a chaotic afternoon.
Havertz could and should have restored the lead for Chelsea with a volley from close range following an excellent run and cross from the right by Reece James.
James took matters into his own hand with the next chance, though, and made no mistake, firing home from 10 yards after N’Golo Kante and Sterling had worked the ball from left to right.
It looked certain to be the winner, but Spurs, and Conte, somehow got out of jail.
Blues: (3-4-1-2): Mendy – James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly – Loftus-Cheek, Kante (Gallagher 85), Jorginho (Azpilicueta 73), Cucurella – Mount, Havertz (Broja 90) – Sterling (Pulisic 85). Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Ziyech
Spurs: (3-4-1-2) Lloris – Romero, Dier, Davies – Emerson Royal (Moura 82), Bentancur (Bissouma 79), Hojbjerg, Sessegnon (Richarlison 57) – Kulusevski, Son (Perisic 79) – Kane. Subs not used: Forster, Doherty, Sanchez, Gil, Tanganga
