Tottenham player ratings v Chelsea: Djed Spence stinks in 4/10, Vicario helps Ange
Tottenham suffered their 16th Premier League defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea on Thursday evening.
Enzo Fernandez headed the winner by meeting Cole Palmer’s cross at the start of the second half at Stamford Bridge.
Pape Sarr found the back of the net for Tottenham soon after coming off the bench, but was judged to have fouled Moises Caicedo in the build-up after a VAR check.
Ange Postecoglou’s side still have next to no chance of finishing in the Premier League’s top half but will be determined to beat bottom club Southampton this Sunday.
Spurs will know that next week’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Frankfurt is their only way of achieving success this term.
Tottenham News hands out the player ratings from Spurs’ trip to Stamford Bridge:
Guglielmo Vicario – 7
Looked nervy in the first half before producing an impressive save to stop Jadon Sancho just shy of the interval. Nothing he could do to prevent Fernandez’s goal, but he saved Postecoglou from a more embarrassing defeat.
Djed Spence – 4
Failed to mark Sancho when the former Borussia Dortmund man forced Vicario into making his eye-catching stop. Could have been punished for an unconvincing headed clearance at 1-0 down, with his work on the ball at an all-time low.
Cristian Romero – 6
Provided the most solidity in a Tottenham backline that looked shaky at times and was perhaps lucky to have only conceded one goal.
Micky Van de Ven – 4
The defender was lucky that he didn’t score an own goal inside the first minute when he struck an attempted clearance off Nicolas Jackson against his post. Was jointly responsible for not tracking Fernandez when the Argentina international scored for Chelsea.
Destiny Udogie – 5
Alongside Van de Ven, the left-back did not manage to intervene when Fernandez put Chelsea in front. Looked threatening going forward in glimpses, but hasn’t been at his best for a long time now.
Lucas Bergvall – 5
He was largely anonymous before being replaced by Sarr and lacked presence as Chelsea won the first half midfield battle.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 5
Had a quiet night at Stamford Bridge, vastly outshone by Blues counterpart Fernandez.
James Maddison – 4
Failed to provide the sort of creative spark Postecoglou’s men could have done with on the night. Didn’t do his faltering England credentials any favours in front of Thomas Tuchel. Struck a free-kick from a threatening position straight at the Chelsea wall.
Wilson Odobert – 5
Didn’t give Marc Cucurella much to think about before being subbed off for Brennan Johnson.
Dominic Solanke – 5
Wasn’t provided with the sort of service he can thrive on. He couldn’t cause problems for Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah, being bullied.
Heung-Min Son – 7
The wideman witnessed Robert Sanchez keep his potentially troubling cross at bay with a one-handed stop. Tottenham’s most threatening player on a night when Sanchez was rarely troubled, but had to do well to stop Son’s late effort.
Substitutes
Pape Sarr (on for Bergvall, 64) – 6
Thought he put Spurs on level terms shortly after coming off the bench. He was deemed by VAR to have fouled Caicedo before his shot and was handed a yellow card. More lively performance than many of his teammates.
Brennan Johnson (on for Odobert, 64) – 5
The Wales international could not significantly impact the match after being brought off the bench.
Pedro Porro (on for Van de Ven, 88)
Mathys Tel (on for Maddison, 88)