Gritty win has Spurs still in hunt

WITH less than a month of the English Premier League season left it remains Chelsea’s title to lose but Tottenham Hotspur defiantly stayed in contention by grinding out a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace yesterday.

Chelsea’s already profitable week looked like getting a whole lot better as Palace doggedly kept Tottenham at bay for 78 minutes but Christian Eriksen’s unstoppable blast meant the Blues are once again looking over their shoulders.

With five games remaining, Chelsea lead Tottenham by four points.

They face Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park while Tottenham face a huge north London derby against Arsenal — probably the last one ever at their historic White Hart Lane stadium.

“It was good to get the three points and be alive in the race for the title,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, aiming to deliver a first title since 1961, said. “The challenge is to keep going.”

Arsenal was also in action yesterday, keeping alive its hopes of finishing in the top four for a 21st successive season with a crucial 1-0 victory over Leicester City courtesy of Robert Huth’s late own goal.

Huth deflected in Nacho Monreal’s volley in the 86th minute to earn a win which put the Gunners sixth, above Everton, three points behind Manchester United and four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who were set to play this morning.

“Every win gives you a little more momentum,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“I don’t have a preference for the Manchester derby, we don’t have to look much at the others. We just have to look after ourselves. The target is clear for us.”