Chelsea moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after sinking Tottenham with four second-half goals.

There was little in the game until Jan Vertonghen's error let Samuel Eto'o in to fire the Blues ahead.

Younes Kaboul was sent off for fouling Eto'o soon afterwards, and Eden Hazard slotted home the resulting penalty.

Destiny out of our hands - Mourinho

Demba Ba made it 3-0 late on following a slip by Sandro, then completed the scoring when he latched on to Kyle Walker's disastrous back-header.

Chelsea's rivals in the title race all have games in hand, but Manchester City will have to win all three of theirs to replace the Blues at the summit.

What could turn out to be a crucial victory for Jose Mourinho's men had an unlikely beginning when Fernando Torres was injured in the warm-up.

Eto'o came into the team instead but he also needed lengthy treatment after just 30 seconds when he was sent tumbling by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris.

Better than Balotelli?

Mario Balotelli

Samuel Eto'o produced a novel goal celebration, but where does it rank in the list of all-time great routines - have there been better ones?

The offside flag was already up, but TV replays showed the Cameroon striker was onside when he ran on to Hazard's pass.

It did not take long for Chelsea to tear through Tottenham again, but Hazard skewed his shot wide from a tight angle after rounding Lloris and it was a long time before his side next threatened.

Spurs were focused on their defensive duties but they did manage the only shot on target of the first half when Sandro tested Petr Cech with a fizzing first-time drive.

At the start of the second half, Chelsea looked short of ideas but a disjointed display from the league leaders was completely turned on its head after 56 minutes when Vertonghen slipped and inadvertently played in Eto'o as he tried to recover.

The Cameroon striker, who turns 33 on Monday, mocked his manager's recent jibes about his age with his celebrations by the corner flag.

Things quickly got worse for Spurs when referee Michael Oliver ruled that Kaboul had shoved over Eto'o in the box as the pair raced to meet Hazard's cross.

Spurs capitulation frustrates Sherwood

The decision looked harsh on the Spurs defender, whose misery was compounded when Oliver showed him a red card to go with the penalty, which Hazard coolly converted.

There was no way back for Tottenham's 10 men from there. Hazard and Oscar both wasted good chances to extend the home side's lead before further gifts gave substitute Ba his late brace.

First, Sandro stumbled as he tried to clear Oscar's cross from the right, allowing Ba in to beat Lloris.

Then, Walker inexplicably tried to head a Lloris clearance back to his keeper, instead setting up Ba to complete the rout.

The defeat leaves Tottenham still four points adrift of the top four, but they have played more games than the three teams immediately above them and their hopes of a Champions League place now appear remote.

Check out all the best photos from today's Premier League action on the BBC Sport Facebook page 

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)

Chelsea

  • 01 Cech
  • 02 Ivanovic
  • 28 Azpilicueta Booked
  • 21 Matic
  • 24 Cahill
  • 26 Terry
  • 07 Ramires
  • 08 Lampard Booked (Oscar - 45' )
  • 29 Eto'o (Ba - 76' )
  • 17 Hazard
  • 14 Schürrle (Willian - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 11 Oscar
  • 12 Mikel
  • 15 Salah
  • 19 Ba
  • 22 Willian
  • 23 Schwarzer
  • 33 Kalas

Tottenham Hotspur

  • 25 Lloris
  • 16 Naughton Booked
  • 05 Vertonghen
  • 42 Bentaleb Booked
  • 20 Dawson (Fryers - 72' )
  • 04 Kaboul Dismissed
  • 02 Walker
  • 30 Sandro Booked
  • 10 Adebayor
  • 07 Lennon
  • 22 Sigurdsson (Paulinho - 61' )

Substitutes

  • 08 Paulinho
  • 09 Soldado
  • 17 Townsend
  • 21 Chadli
  • 24 Friedel
  • 35 Fryers
  • 37 Kane
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 41,598

Match Stats

Shots

12 6

On target

4 2

Corners

5 4

Fouls

11 18

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Chelsea 4, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

90:00 +4:00 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Chelsea 4, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

90:00 +2:37

Petr Cech (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +2:37

Foul by Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur).

88:59 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Chelsea 4, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Demba Ba (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.

87:44 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Chelsea 3, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Demba Ba (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal.

86:25

Demba Ba (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86:25

Foul by Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur).

85:11 Booking

Booking César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.

85:07

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

85:07

Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

83:33

Foul by Demba Ba (Chelsea).

83:33

Kyle Naughton (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82:42

Attempt missed. Oscar (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Willian.

79:37

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

79:02

Delay in match Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.

77:14

Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

77:14

Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

75:41 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Chelsea. Demba Ba replaces Samuel Eto'o.

74:45

Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

74:45

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

71:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Ezekiel Fryers replaces Michael Dawson because of an injury.

71:15

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

69:42

Delay in match Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.

65:36 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Chelsea. Willian replaces Andre Schürrle.

64:30

Offside, Chelsea. Oscar tries a through ball, but Andre Schürrle is caught offside.

64:23

Attempt blocked. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andre Schürrle with a cross.

64:02

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Michael Dawson.

63:38

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nabil Bentaleb.

63:13

Foul by Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur).

63:13

Andre Schürrle (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.

61:27

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

61:27

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

60:26 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Paulinho replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson.

59:21 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

58:27 Dismissal

Dismissal Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the red card.

58:13

Penalty conceded by Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur) after a foul in the penalty area.

58:13

Penalty Chelsea. Samuel Eto'o draws a foul in the penalty area.

55:12 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Chelsea 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

53:56 Booking

Booking Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

53:48

Foul by Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur).

53:48

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

53:13

Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

53:13

Foul by Eden Hazard (Chelsea).

52:35 Booking

Booking Kyle Naughton (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

52:30

Foul by Kyle Naughton (Tottenham Hotspur).

52:30

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

51:51

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Michael Dawson.

51:48

Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Branislav Ivanovic with a cross.

50:30

Foul by Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur).

50:30

John Terry (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

49:49

Attempt missed. Andre Schürrle (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

49:36

Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

49:36

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

49:15

Attempt missed. Andre Schürrle (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.

48:28

Attempt saved. Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson with a cross.

47:59

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.

46:13

Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

46:13

Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

45:38

Attempt missed. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

45:00

Second Half begins Chelsea 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Chelsea. Oscar replaces Frank Lampard.

45:00 +2:08 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Chelsea 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

45:00 +1:46

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Sandro.

44:38

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

44:38

Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).

42:27

Attempt missed. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left misses to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard following a corner.

42:10

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Emmanuel Adebayor.

41:24

Foul by Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur).

41:24

Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

39:39 Booking

Booking Frank Lampard (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

39:29

Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

39:29

Foul by Frank Lampard (Chelsea).

38:43

Foul by Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur).

38:43

John Terry (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36:59

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

36:59

Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).

31:39

Offside, Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic tries a through ball, but Ramires is caught offside.

31:02

Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

31:02

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

29:39

Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

29:39

Frank Lampard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

28:57

Attempt missed. Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.

28:14

Offside, Chelsea. Frank Lampard tries a through ball, but Nemanja Matic is caught offside.

27:45

Foul by Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur).

27:45

Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

26:33

Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Nabil Bentaleb tries a through ball, but Gylfi Sigurdsson is caught offside.

26:31

Attempt blocked. Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

26:28

Attempt blocked. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Adebayor.

25:23

Offside, Chelsea. Frank Lampard tries a through ball, but Andre Schürrle is caught offside.

24:47

Offside, Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic tries a through ball, but Andre Schürrle is caught offside.

23:04

Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

23:04

Foul by Eden Hazard (Chelsea).

22:30

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Petr Cech.

22:29

Attempt saved. Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

21:54

Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

21:54

Foul by Nemanja Matic (Chelsea).

19:55

Kyle Naughton (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19:55

Foul by Andre Schürrle (Chelsea).

16:03

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Branislav Ivanovic.

15:13

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

15:13

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

13:21

Attempt missed. Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Emmanuel Adebayor with a headed pass.

8:54 Booking

Booking Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

8:49

Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8:49

Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

7:39

Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7:39

Foul by Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur).

7:04

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Branislav Ivanovic.

5:35

Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Jan Vertonghen tries a through ball, but Gylfi Sigurdsson is caught offside.

3:55

Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Samuel Eto'o.

1:55

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

1:18

Delay in match Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) because of an injury.

0:19

Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Samuel Eto'o is caught offside.

0:00

First Half begins.

0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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