Spurs have already lost to Bournemouth and Aston Villa at home this season but this, considering the occasion and the opposition, was particularly painful.
Efforts were made pre-match to boost the atmosphere, with the music inside the stadium stopped early. The problem was the players did not start.
There were boos at the break and then again when the referee called time on a 1-0 Chelsea win, courtesy of Joao Pedro’s first-half strike.
Spurs still sit third in the Premier League table but performances like this will not keep them there.
Miserable records continue
Spurs came into the match looking to improve on two shocking runs. One was the home form, which shows no sign of improving. From five matches in front of their own fans this season, Spurs have picked up four points. Only Burnley, who sit 17th in the table, have been beaten.
Spurs seem to shrink on home soil, particularly when the atmosphere turns edgy. It is a long-standing issue, with the team picking up just three wins from their last 19 Premier League matches at home.
Until Frank turns that around, there is a low ceiling on what his Spurs side can achieve.
It was also yet another miserable evening against Chelsea, who Spurs have beaten just once in the Premier League since 2018. They have now lost three in a row against the Blues and there was a grim inevitability about this result.
There had been promising signs for Spurs in the past week. With a slightly tweaked system consisting of two No10 in possession, Spurs looked more fluid from open play against both Everton and Newcastle.
This, though, was a big step back in more ways than one. Spurs offered nothing in the way of creativity. They trailed for nearly an hour and yet managed a total of three shots and just one on target.
Chelsea’s xG finished at 2.92 – Spurs mustered just 0.05. Per Opta, that was their lowest in the Premier League since records started in the 2012-13 season.
Tough night: Randal Kolo Muani cut an isolated figure up front for Spurs in London derby
Getty Images
It was not particularly clear what the plan was. Spurs went long to Randal Kolo Muani, but he was isolated and could do little with it.
There was huge frustration around the stands when Rodrigo Bentancur turned backwards in the first half and passed to Guglielmo Vicario. Spurs looked scared in possession, with too few players showing for the ball.
A stoppage-time free-kick offered a late chance to get the ball into the Chelsea box. Instead it was taken short, played back to Vicario and eventually launched into Robert Sanchez’s hands.
That summed up a dismal night for Spurs.
Vicario keeps it respectable
Had the Italian not been in superb form again, this could have been a really heavy defeat for Spurs.
After a poor Pedro Porro clearance was charged down in the first half, Vicario came out to deny Pedro. He then made a brilliant reaction save to keep out another Pedro effort just before the break.
Lone bright spot: Guglielmo Vicario’s latest fine display was the only positive for Tottenham against Chelsea
John Walton/PA Wire
Spurs were ragged late on and Chelsea should have put some gloss on the scoreline.
Twice in stoppage time they went clean through. The first chance was blazed over by Jamie Gittens, before Vicario made a sublime stop from Pedro.
Spurs could have lost by three, four or even more against Monaco a couple of weeks ago had it not been for Vicario. This was a similar story.
