Early efforts from Frank Lampard for Chelsea and Jan Vertonghen for Spurs were well broad of the target.
The half started with both teams tussling in midfield and with Spurs winning an early corner which Cech collected.
Spurs were foraging down our left flank trying to profit at Ashley Cole with Chelsea looking to spring the counter-attack, the first one of which saw Eden Hazard not quite able to control a ball in from Lampard.
Paulinho had the first shot of the half but it was so wayward it almost went for a toss-in. Pushing forward, Torres and Lampard combined but the latters shot was over the bar. Hazard required treatment after an altercation with Naughton before Spurs, from a free kick, saw Vertonghen head broad. Another deep cross into the box, this time from Erikeen, saw Terry make a clearing header before with 19 minutes on the clock, Spurs took the lead.
Eriksen escaped the clutches of Lampard, fed Solgardo and his lay-off for Sigurdsson saw the Icelandic international evade the challenge of Terry to slot house. Spurs wer eon summit for a period after the goal and Ivanovic had to build a good tackle to deny Pualinho, in the six yard box.
As we passed the half hour mark though, Chelsea started to profit on top and Dawson was forced to certain two threatening crosses, the first from Ivanovic and the second from Oscar and Hazard saw a shot deflected broad as the pressure mounted.
The first half finished though with a chance for either side. First Paulinho saw an angled shot hit the post and from a free kick, given after Oscar had been tugged back by Eriksen, Terry saw his header just positive the bar.
As the half time whistle sounded, it had been Spurs who had been the more impressive of the two sides. Could Chelsea profit back into it in the second half? If so itd mean scoring their first away goal in the Premier League this season and the first since Lampard broke that scoring record at Villa Park last season. There was the fact to consider that Spurs have only conceded one goal all season so far!
In the Second Half, Jose was trying to turn things around, introduced Juan Mata for the second half with the Spaniard replacing Mikel. Chelsea were almost level with the first move of the half when Torres lost his man and sent in an inviting cross which Oscar couldnt quite turn in at the far post.
Torres, becoming more involved in the action this half, received a yellow card after a vacation on Vertonghen, the Spaniard then provided a scintillating run that left Dawson standing but his shot was dealt with by Lloris in the Spurs goal.
Chelsea thought theyd equalized when Mata finished well after a ball from Torres but the goal was disallowed for offside when Chelsea were under the impression that Torres had been fouled. Ivanovic received a yellow card for disputing the decision.
Mata and Torres combined providing Oscar with the chance to unleash a curling low shot but it was straight at Lloris. The pressure Chelsea had built finally paid dividends when John Terry scored the equalizer. Ramires, surging forward, had been brought down by Vertonghen, Mata took the free kick and it was met by the head of Terry who glanced it house past Lloris with 65 minutes played.
Jose made a second change almost immediately after the equalizer withdrawing Hazard and introducing Andre Schurrle. A trip on Torres provided Chelsea with another free kick to be taken by Mata but Ivanovic was in an offside when he touched the ball.
As we entered the last fifteen minutes Torres found Schurrle with a great ball but Lloris was up to the challenge and the chance was gone. Torres, involved in a real battle with the Spurs defence every afternoon was then red carded after a foul upon Vertonghen. The card brought a third change with Azpilicueta coming upon for Oscar.
Spurs, with the man advantage, saw Defoe fire broad, Sigurdsson saw a volley go inches broad, Defoe, in the last of the 90 minutes saw a shot deflected broad. Four minutes of stoppage time were announced and Chadli saw an effort go high and broad from some distance out.
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