Tottenham claimed only their second league victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years as a Mike Penders own goal and a late Mathys Tel strike secured a 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Cole Palmer’s dismissal compounded a difficult evening for Xabi Alonso’s side, who suffered their first home league defeat of the season in a rain-soaked London derby.
The breakthrough arrived in the 77th minute when Penders, making his first league start for Chelsea, punched a corner into his own net under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Three minutes later, Palmer received his second yellow card for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher.
The England midfielder had been booked nine minutes earlier for barging into Mateus Fernandes.
Tel then sealed the points in the 87th minute, carrying the ball from halfway before firing a low shot home from 25 yards.
The victory lifted Roberto de Zerbi’s side to 12th and completed a productive week following Monday’s 3-1 win over Coventry City, their first league success of the campaign.
Tottenham arrived with a dismal record at Chelsea, having won just once in their previous 36 league visits, alongside 11 draws and 24 defeats.
That solitary success came in April 2018, when Mauricio Pochettino’s team beat Antonio Conte’s Chelsea 3-1.
Their previous league victory at the ground dated back to February 1990, when Terry Venables guided Spurs to a 2-1 win over Bobby Campbell’s side.
Chelsea had opportunities to take control before Tottenham’s late breakthrough, but Antonin Kinsky produced important saves to deny Palmer, Jordan Henderson and Pedro Neto.
A win would have taken the Blues level on points with third-placed Brighton.
Instead, they were left to reflect on missed chances and a costly error from their young goalkeeper.
Penders, 21, was deputising for Emi Martinez, who fractured his jaw against Everton.
The Belgian initially impressed, stopping Omar Marmoush’s side-footed effort from an Andy Robertson cross and also keeping out Tel.
However, his mistake handed Tottenham the lead, and he may also be disappointed not to have stopped Tel’s late strike.
Chelsea struggled without injured striker Joao Pedro.
Morgan Rogers offered limited threat in a false-nine role, while Geovany Quenda found it difficult to influence proceedings on his first league start since joining from Sporting for £40m.
Palmer’s first career red card added to Alonso’s concerns and rules him out of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup last-16 meeting with Liverpool at Anfield.
Back-to-back victories have given Tottenham encouragement after another difficult start to a league campaign.
Having avoided relegation only on the final day last season, Spurs were the last Premier League side to register a win this term.
They now occupy their highest league position since sitting 12th following a goalless draw at Brentford in early January.
Supporters who celebrated Europa League success in 2025 will expect further progress, but this performance offered reasons for optimism.
Tottenham controlled 68.5% of possession and attempted 15 shots to Chelsea’s seven, with both teams recording four efforts on target.
The main concern was another injury setback for James Maddison.
The midfielder had made his first Tottenham start since May 2025 against Coventry on Monday, marking his return from a serious knee injury with a goal against his former club.
He impressed again during the first half at Stamford Bridge but lasted only five minutes after the interval before walking off looking dejected.
Spurs will hope the problem is minor as they prepare to host Crystal Palace in another London derby next Saturday.
