It probably says a lot about Chelsea’s decline this season that Tottenham Hotspur will be disappointed they could not make the most harrowing season of the Abramovich era even more of an ordeal.


Mauricio Pochettino’s team have now gone 13 matches unbeaten, their best run since a 14-game stretch from November 1984 to March 1985 with Peter Shreeves as manager and Ossie Ardiles flitting around in midfield, but they did not have the wit or creativity to add to Chelsea’s troubles on the day José Mourinho decided Diego Costa was no longer worthy of a place in his team.