Own-goal gaffe a nightmare for Kieran as Poch’s men blow it again

AS they say on Twitter – hold my beer.

On a night when Chelsea keeper Kepa was forced to sit on the naughty step, it would take some going to outdo the disgraced Spaniard.

Yet Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris managed to do so as Mauricio Pochettino’s men again waved the white flag. First the France captain let one in at his near post, then had a rush of blood in a mix up which saw Kieran Trippier’s back pass roll into his own net. Spurs cannot be completely ruled out of the title race despite this latest setback. But even their most ardent fan would admit they are losing their way.

It was a second defeat in row and to a Chelsea side who – despite the troubles that have had Maurizio Sarri fighting for his job – wanted it more. The reaction Pochettino wanted after losing at Burnley did not come.

Chelsea were hurting from their Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City on Sunday and the dressing-room fireworks from Wembley were carried over into this contest, with the Blues going in strong on their London rivals.

They should have scored early too. Only Gonzalo Higuain will know how he managed to hit a post with his volley from inside the box after Mo Sissoko’s poor attempt to clear.

Lloris was left rooted to the spot.

Higuain was left shaking his head. Chelsea, though, were left convinced they could avenge last season’s shock defeat – their first home loss to the north Londoners for 28 years.

With Spurs on the ropes early, Sarri’s side showed an appetite that belied the cracks under the surface at the club, surging down the flanks, pulling defenders out of position and carving out openings.

When a second opportunity came, however, they did not take it. Again the man struggling to find the target was Higuain. Again Lloris was stranded when the Argentinian curled the ball narrowly wide from the edge of the box, teed up by Eden Hazard.

As a spectacle the first half was quite scrappy. Chelsea fans booed Son Heung-min for what they felt was an attempt at a dive early on. Cesar Azpilicueta got into the face of Harry Kane (left), angry the England striker had chased down a ball back to the Blues after Trippier received treatment. David Luiz escaped punishment for appearing to take Son legs away from under him and Sarri gradually grew more and more agitated as Spurs eased themselves back into the match. Chelsea’s fragile backline had it easy early on as Hazard, Pedro and Higuain took the fire to their visitors. As the first half wore on, however, Tottenham’s pace and creativity pushed the home side back into their ow half.

Two minutes before the break, Harry Winks should have given the visitors the advantage their fortitude deserved. The England midfielder raced onto a ball from Harry Kane and lashed it over Willy Caballero ( far left), but it hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

Kepa and his ego would probably have smiled to themselves on the bench, confident they would have got to it.

The breakthrough came on 57 minutes when Pedro turned Toby Alderweireld inside out and beat Lloris at his near post.

The Spaniard’s inch-perfect tackle then denied Christian Eriksen as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Kane might have done better with a volley before that second calamitous, killer goal. CHELSEA:

MOTM TOTTENHAM: