Ruthless Chelsea extended Tottenham’s torment at Stamford Bridge with a 3-0 win that saw Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten Blues consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Spurs were bidding for a first win at their rivals’ west London home since February 1990 and began well, with Harry Kane hitting the bar with an early header.
There was a sense that the visitors had to take an opportunity during their early supremacy, and their failure to do so was punished by two goals in four first-half minutes by Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba.
Drogba, deputising for suspended striker Diego Costa, returned a pass to Hazard, whose shot squirmed under Hugo Lloris to give Chelsea a 19th-minute lead.
Worse was to follow for the France goalkeeper as his dreadful clearance went straight to Hazard, who found Oscar, with the Brazilian playing the kind of pinpoint pass Drogba relishes.
The striker’s fifth of the season — and 162nd Chelsea goal — effectively ended the match as a contest and ensured Mourinho’s men would extend their unbeaten start to the season to 21 matches ahead of the weekend trip to Newcastle.
Dider Drogba got the second in a comfortable Chelsea win over Spurs.
Substitute Loic Remy embarrassed the hapless Jan Vertonghen in netting Chelsea’s third to complete a comfortable victory.
It was not all positive for Chelsea, as Nemanja Matic will miss the trip to St James’ Park through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign, while Gary Cahill could be a doubt after going off at half-time following an earlier clash of heads.
Chelsea, who lost at Newcastle last season, remain six points clear of second-placed Manchester City, the defending champions, with Spurs 16 points adrift in 10th.
Tottenham, who play Crystal Palace on Saturday, will hope to climb the table before their next contest with Chelsea at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day.
Chelsea had failed to score for the first time this term in drawing at Sunderland last Saturday, while Spurs, who lost 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in March, travelled in optimistic mood following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat of Everton.
Cahill appeared groggy after a clash of heads with Vertonghen and was caught out as Kane stole a yard on him to meet Aaron Lennon’s cross. The striker’s header beat Thibaut Courtois, but bounced back off the woodwork.
Kane then dispossessed Cahill on the left wing and ran into the area before firing across goal as Spurs saw another opportunity go by.
Chelsea stepped up a gear, and John Terry won the ball down the left and fed Willian, who found Drogba. The striker teed up Fabregas, whose attempted curling shot was held by Lloris.
Again Chelsea attacked down the Spurs right as Hazard turned Lennon before finding Drogba, who had his back to goal and held off Federico Fazio with ease.
Lennon neglected to follow the run of Hazard, whose shot beat Lloris at the near post to give Chelsea the lead.
The Spurs keeper then presented Hazard with the ball midway inside the Spurs half and, two passes later, it was 2-0.
Hazard played the ball centrally to Oscar, who threaded it through to Drogba, who shook off the attentions of Vertonghen and finished with aplomb.
Drogba needed assistance in departing from the field at half-time, but returned for the second half. Cahill did not, with Kurt Zouma on in his place.
But Spurs failed to test Zouma in what had almost turned into a defensive drill for Chelsea, who were content to play on the counter-attack.
Speculative shots were about all Spurs could muster, and manager Mauricio Pochettino turned to his bench, with Paulinho and Nacer Chadli replacing ineffective duo Mason and Lennon.
Tottenham still lacked energy, and Drogba was unable to direct Hazard’s fizzing pass towards goal. He then outmuscled Fazio before firing straight at Lloris.
Remy came on for Drogba with 23 minutes to go, and the France striker made his mark six minutes later, receiving the ball in the left channel before brushing off Vertonghen and passing into the corner to complete the rout.
