Goals from Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso either side of half time earned Chelsea a crucial 2-1 victory over top-four rivals Tottenham on Saturday, as the Premier League admitted VAR failed to spot a red card for Giovani Lo Celso.
The hosts came into this match on the back of a 2-0 home loss to Manchester United, while Spurs had suffered the news Son Heung-Min would be a long-term absentee following an arm fracture.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho had seen his side lose 2-0 at home in the reverse fixture and did not fare any better on his first return to Stamford Bridge with his new club.
Giroud, who had played just 22 minutes of football in the last 12 matches, was named in attack by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and opened the scoring with a neat finish on 15 minutes.
And Marcos Alonso, who had not featured in any of the past eight matches, drilled a second three minutes into the second half.
Spurs could have been reduced to 10 men on 52 minutes when Lo Celso appeared to stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta’s ankle, but referee Michael Oliver opted to take no action. VAR later issued a statement in which they admitted the Argentina international should have been sent off.
Erik Lamela pulled one back for Tottenham when his shot was deflected past Willy Caballero via the heel of Antonio Rudiger on 89 minutes.
The win means Chelsea open up a four-point gap over fifth-place Tottenham, who could end the weekend in seventh place.
