Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: The one Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge (again)

Master & Apprentice

A certain vociferous section at Stamford Bridge once again embarrassed the sensible majority. Jose Mourinho has moved on, you need to as well. If Chelsea aren't going to keep him employed - he's going to manage another club. And while it would have been nice of him to see out his days on the continent, he hasn't. Abusing the most successful manager in club's history isn't a good look. And if you really want to get under his skin, the best way would actually be playground rules - ignore him. No man loves attention more. He gives no ***** how he gets it.

Rant over.

Saturday's lunch time clash proved once again the student had become the master. After a tactical masterclass in the reverse fixture, Frank Lampard once again got one over on the man that made him.

Olivier Giroud was given his first start since November and he certainly made the most of it. The Frenchman was playing with a point to prove - for his place at Euros this summer and to show Frank Lampard what he's been missing out on after the goals seemed to have dried up for the Blues.

What. A. Man.

It took just 15 minutes for Chelsea to take the lead. Jorginho played an obscene pass into the forward
who saw a fine effort saved by Hugo Lloris. Ross Barkley rattled the woodwork from the rebound only for it to fall to Giroud who fired home the opening goal. His celebration showed how much scoring that meant to him and how popular he is with his teammates. Scenes in front of the Shed End. But there was still 75 minutes to go.

Giroud and Barkley continued to wreak havoc in the final third but Lampard would have to be satisfied with a one goal lead at the break.

It only took three minutes into the start of the second half for the Blues to double their lead. Mason Mount and Barkley were involved in the buildup but it was Marcos Alonso - the bane of Spurs' existence - who fired in a fantastic effort from the edge of the box.

It's safe to say Spurs do not take losing scorelines to Chelsea well. Tempers often flare up and boil over. And Saturday was no exception. A frustrated Giovanni Lo Celso decided to put his studs through Cesar Azpilicueta shin. A stamp. In front of the referees AND the fourth official.

Stamp on anyone you want at Stamford Bridge

VAR checked the definitive stamp... and also somehow deemed it to be fine. While shocking it's not surprising based on some of the other calls this season. However as the match was still happening, Stockley Park had a mea culpa moment and said yes in fact, Lo Celso should have seen red. So they reviewed it. Reviewed it again. Recognised they were wrong WHILE THEY GAME WAS STILL HAPPENING - and nothing. No red. Just nothing.

Seriously - what is the actual point of VAR?! They get it wrong. Realise they're wrong. And do nothing to rectify the situation. Referees on the pitch have been doing that for years. It is a nonsense.

Despite a nervy few moments after Antonio Rudiger seemed to have accidentally kicked the ball past Willy Caballero instead of clearing it, Frank Lampard in his very first season as a Premier League boss vanquished Jose Mourinho and did the double over Tottenham. You love to see it.

jb xx

RESULT: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham

GOALS: Giroud 15, Alonso 48, Rudiger (OG) 89

CHELSEA XI: Caballero, Alonso, Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta, James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Barkley (Willian 77), Mount, Giroud (Abraham 71)

STAR MAN: Olivier Giroud