Tottenham’s season of promise and excitement is fizzling into a whimper after 2-0 defeat at Chelsea – who are making a belated climb from the depths, writes MATT BARLOW

Tottenham’s flying start to life under Ange Postecoglou already seems like a distant memory.

It is only 27 weeks since a Friday night triumph at Crystal Palace eased them five points clear into the rarefied air at the Premier League summit.

They lost for the first time on their next outing against Chelsea, and Thursday night at Stamford Bridge another beating at the hands of former boss Mauricio Pochettino left Postecoglou fuming on the touchline.

The first-half display was as bad as anything his team has produced all season. Two more goals were conceded from set-plays, a recurring nightmare for Postecoglou. One in each half, scored by Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson.

Spurs have now lost three in a row and go to Liverpool on Sunday, still fifth but with this season of promise and excitement fizzling into a whimper.

Despite having their ranks decimated by an ballooning injury crisis, the hosts looked in control

Tottenham’s woeful record against their derby rivals rolls on, eight years after the infamous Battle of the Bridge

Qualification for next season’s Champions League seems unlikely with a seven-point gap to Aston Villa and games in hand now down to one, against Manchester City in a fortnight. A campaign in the Europa League beckons.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are making a belated climb from the depths. Thanks mostly to their impressive home form and helped by six points against a team they love to hate from North London.

‘Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again,’ gloated the home choir as the final seconds of stoppage time ebbed away.

Tottenham travelled across the capital nursing the wounds of Sunday’s defeat at home to Arsenal and might have been behind inside five minutes when Jackson burst clear, released by Mykhailo Mudryk.

Jackson poked a shot under Guglielmo Vicario but the Spurs goalkeeper took the pace off it and Micky van de Ven raced back to make a clearance, which smacked against Cole Palmer and flew over the open goal.

The frantic episode was a warning of what was to come, both sides committed to football at full throttle, although Chelsea made a more cohesive start, winning possession in dangerous areas and threatening behind Tottenham.

Mudryk skipped past Pedro Porro with ease a couple of times in the opening exchanges and, on the other flank, Noni Madueke tested Emerson Royal, deputising out of position at left back.

Pochettino, who gave those in the away end a cheery wave before kick-off, was limited by 14 injuries and picked six teenagers among his substitutes, but his team make a strong and purposeful start, and were ahead midway through the first half.

Somewhat inevitably from Tottenham’s perspective, the goal came from a set-piece, a free-kick delivered by Conor Gallagher and finished by centre-half Chalobah, an elegant header sent looping over Vicario.

Before the game, the Stamford Bridge faithful paid tribute to Spurs target Conor Gallagher

Alfie Gilchrist was handed his second-ever Premier League start amid Chelsea’s injury crisis

A heroic clearance off the line from Micky van de Ven (centre) stopped Chelsea early on

But Ange Postecoglou’s side were once again caught by a canny set piece – just one day after the head coach vowed he wouldn’t change defensive tack

There was a long delay as the VAR checked first for an offside and then for a possible block by Marc Cucurella on Brennan Johnson before, three minutes after the ball hit the net, came the confirmation of the 15th goal Tottenham have conceded this season from a set-piece.

Arsenal scored two from corners against them on Sunday and it has become a problem for Postecoglou, who has tried his best to insist it is not his priority to work out a solution, but did have Porro and Heung-min Son offering goalkeeper Vicario protection as they defended corners in the first half.

There was nothing they could do to stop Chalobah’s first goal of the season, however, and the scrutiny will continue. Mudryk went to close to a second for Chelsea with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty box.

Guglielmo Vicario was outfoxed by a powerful looping header courtesy of Trevoh Chalobah

Tottenham’s chief executive appeared to look to the heavens for an answer during a VAR check

The academy graduate’s effort opened his scoring account in the Premier League this term

Postecoglou cut a catatonic figure on the touchline during the first 45 minutes of the tie

Spurs created little going forward in the first half. James Maddison started on the bench, dropped for the first time since signing from Leicester last summer. 

Richarlison returned up front, Son moved to the left and Johnson came in on the right.

Dejan Kulusevski dropped into Maddison’s role but they found it difficult to get past the grip Chelsea had on midfield.

Cristian Romero, who was the most potent attacking threat against Arsenal, headed wide at the back post from a free kick, delivered by Porro. It was a terrific chance and Romero really should have hit the target.

At least, it seemed to spark an improvement before the interval. Chalobah at full stretch made a block to deny Pape Matar Sarr and Djordje Petrovic reacted well to keep out a cross by Johnson deflected on goal.

Spurs came close to equalising with their own headed attempt in the first-half, but Christian Romero’s effort flew just wide

The visitors came bolting out of the gates after half-time but would soon rue missed chances

Another set-piece left Spurs woefully exposed as Jackson leapt to head in the remains of Cole Palmer’s sweetly struck freekick

Blues starlet Palmer thought he had got on the scoresheet but simply connected with the bar

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Son Heung-min only served to get in the way as the ball bounced in

The mercurial striker was back on the scoresheet again for his 13th in his debut campaign

All season, Spurs have been better in the second half. This time the transformation was most remarkable. The players were the same players, but they were all quicker to the ball and more aggressive, more assertive. For the first time in the game, they generated pressure, forced Chelsea back and made them defend.

Pochettino’s defensive unit resisted, and looked dangerous on the turnover of possession.

Palmer missed a fine opportunity to puncture this attempted fightback. Madueke served up the chance but 20-goal Palmer, in space and on his left foot took wild aim and fired it miles over. It was a poor effort from someone who has been so clinical in front of goal this season.

Gallagher’s determined play named him Man of the Match on a dominant night in west London

Pochettino was in the opposing dug-out eight years ago but Thursday night’s showing only bolsters his reputation among the Stamford Bridge faithful

Postecoglou made three changes in search of an equaliser. Maddison came on and tried to add refinement to Tottenham’s industry around the edge penalty area, but Chelsea stood firm.

Then they scored a second. A brilliant free kick by Palmer curled over the wall and against the bar. The rebound flashed down and Jackson was first to react to head the bouncing ball into the net.

Stamford Bridge was still resounding to the celebrations when Johnson missed a chance to reduce the deficit at the back post. Somehow, it summed it all up for Spurs. Goalless and outplayed in Chelsea.