Spurs loss leaves Chelsea clear

PREMIER LEAGUE After Tottenham’s 01 defeat at West Ham, Conte’s men are two wins away from claiming the title

LONDON:After Chelsea’s path to the Premier League title was cleared, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was left frustrated, bewildered and hurt.

Without a title since 1961, Tottenham had fought so hard to trim Chelsea’s lead in recent weeks but then squandered the opportunity to slash it to a single point on Friday. A 1-0 loss at West Ham enables Chelsea to secure the trophy before Tottenham even plays again.

The collapse at the Olympic Stadium was so out of character for the current crop of Tottenham players. A team that invigorated the title race with daring, attacking football suddenly ran out of ideas in the London derby. A nine-match winning run came to an end meekly to leave the team four points behind Chelsea.

“The right question to ask ourselves is, ‘Are we capable to increase, especially in the moments under pressure all together in a big game, the level?’” Lloris said.

Chelsea has four games remaining and will capture the title by beating Middlesbrough on Monday and West Bromwich Albion on Friday.

Tottenham’s task now is holding on for its highest finish in 54 years in the remaining three games.

“To win a league, to win a trophy, there are key moments,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

“And today was a key moment ... It’s not about always playing well or badly, it’s not about running more or less, it’s about when you must win you win. If you want to be a champion there are games you must win. How? I don’t know. Today we missed it a little bit.”

WENGER, MOURINHO IN RESURRECTION FIGHT

There has been a telling absence of mind games between Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and his Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho ahead of Sunday’s encounter between the teams.

Arsenal-United games used to be furious, season-defining epics.

But with both sides struggling to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League the order of the day ahead of the contest at the Emirates Stadium has been contrition.