Martin Keown's guide to Wednesday's crunch London derby at Stamford Bridge

By Martin Keown

PUBLISHED: 17:57 EST, 7 May 2013 | UPDATED: 18:50 EST, 7 May 2013

RACE FOR TOP FOUR

full Premier League table

Click HERE for the full Premier League table

Sportsmail's Martin Keown guides you through Wednesday's vital clash between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in the race to secure Champions League football.

Spurs haven't won at Stamford Bridge since 1990 and they sit fifth in the Premier League table behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

Andre Villas-Boas will be back at the Bridge for the first time since being dismissed as Chelsea manager in February 2012.

 

SPURS' LEFT IS ALL RIGHT FOR CHELSEA

STRETCH THE BLUES AND BALE WILL PROSPER

GRAPHIC
Chelsea football club badge

When Clint Dempsey or Gylfi Sigurdsson play on the left for Spurs, their natural game means they cut inside a lot. That leaves usual left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto without much protection and Everton and Southampton have both exposed the gap well recently.

When Assou-Ekotto closes down Ramires - Chelsea's likely right winger - space appears behind him and balls into that channel cause Tottenham big problems. If Ramires and right-back Cesar Azpilicueta can double up on Assou-Ekotto, they will cause Tottenham problems, or create space for someone clever like Juan Mata to run into. It means centre back Jan Vertonghen is dragged across and further space is created in the penalty area. Spurs often concede like this.

Tottenham Hotspur football club badge

Gareth Bale is devastating when one-on-one with defenders but how can Spurs make sure he is not marked out of the game?

Spurs need to use Aaron Lennon and Kyle Walker to stretch the game down the right and keep Ashley Cole and the Chelsea midfield occupied.

Jermain Defoe up front and Clint Dempsey coming off the wing must try to occupy the centre halves.

The more threat they pose, the more likely it is Bale will find space in and around the edge of the box.

From there, he is lethal. He has more goals from outside the area (8) than any player in the Premier League.

Key: Juan Mata scored Chelsea's winner in their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday

Key: Juan Mata scored Chelsea's winner in their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday

Strong position: Mata's winner at Old Trafford moved Chelsea into third in the Premier League table

Strong position: Mata's winner at Old Trafford moved Chelsea into third in the Premier League table

Star: Gareth Bale was named PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year

Star: Gareth Bale was named PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year

Crucial: Bale scored the only goal as Tottenham beat Southampton 1-0 at the weekend

Crucial: Bale scored the only goal as Tottenham beat Southampton 1-0 at the weekend

WHO ARE THEIR HEROES SO FAR THIS SEASON?

Martin Keown stats Martin Keown stats

STATS INTERESTING!

29 - of Tottenham’s 61 goals have come in the final half an hour

11 - Chelsea goals from corners, more than twice as many as Tottenham

0 - penalties for Tottenham this season

35 - goals conceded by Chelsea. Only Man  City (31) have a better record

1 - time Spurs have failed to score away in the league this season — a 0-0 draw at QPR

1-0 - the score the last time Chelsea lost lost   at home, to QPR in January

 

More...


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Keown has said it in one. Stop Bale and who's left??

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Why should Ekotto play? He gives away the ball more than anyone. Spurs just pass the ball quickly and play both wings wide. Bale is not going to prosper on the inside against Chelsea.

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If Chelsea turn up with the right attitude they will win as they are the better side.

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Spurs will win, both teams will win their 2 remaining games, Arsenal will finish 5th, calling it now.

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They might have Bale, but we have Mata! Haard, Lampard, Luiz, Oscar etc.... Enough said.

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I've got my ticket and im ready to lose my voice! Been going to the bridge for 16 years, about 15 games a season and seen us lose there once....COME ON THE CHELS!!!!!!

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Tottenham have had more Bale-outs than Greece, Cyprus, Ireland and Spain put together.

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The perfect result would be a win for spurs and Chelsea to win their last two games !, bye bye Arsenal you don't deserve another wasted place in the CL !

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Chelsea are a very solid unit under Benitez at the moment. Probably the strongest team in the league right now and seem to have a real belief . Spurs have looked to be just doing enough and not sure they can step up their performance to win at the bridge.

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We have scored 9 against them in our last 2 games so we should have the class to batter them again tonight. Think tonight might be a good game for Luiz to slip back into midfield and bring JT back in. I reckon Fernando will have a good game tonight and grab some goals! Come on you Blues!

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