TOTTENHAM always said they were not going to give up their title hunt without a fi ght and this undoubtedly was it.

But in the end it was a moment of sublime footballing skill that delivered the knockout blow to Tottenham’s hopes of catching Leicester, delivered by Eden Hazard just seven minutes from time.

The north London club had snarled, bumped and kicked at Chelsea. Mousa Dembele even, at one point, appeared to gouge under the eye of Diego Costa.

And even when Gary Cahill halved their two- goal half- time lead and Chelsea had them on the ropes, they refused to throw in the towel.

Then just as it looked as though they would survive to go up against Leicester for one more round at least, Costa turned Toby Alderweireld, teed up Hazard and Hugo Lloris was left clutching at air as Tottenham were left to console themselves that there are more fi ghts of this nature round the corner now that manager Mauricio Pochettino is ready to commit for the next fi ve years.

Barring a miracle of goal difference mathematics, Tottenham came into the game at least knowing the previous Holy Grail of a top- four fi nish and chance to play in the Champions League had fi nally been secured when Manchester United were held by Leicester; all Spurs eyes, then, were focused fi rmly forward.

Various comments from the Chelsea dressing room in recent weeks had done Mauricio Pochettino’s team- talk for him. Former Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas could be forgiven for his pro- Leicester allegiances given his long association with Tottenham’s fi ercest rivals.

But had it really been necessary for Asmir Begovic and Hazard to add their four pennyworth? As it was, having persevered with the hopelessly out- of- form latter all season, no sooner had Hazard fi nally found his form with two goals against Bournemouth than Chelsea promptly dropped him to the bench. Manager Guus Hiddink insisted it was because he is still recovering from injury but Hazard was to make his point by scoring the equaliser.

Certainly Stamford Bridge last night was quickly showing itself to be no place for diplomacy. Dembele and Fabregas had an untidy collision which ended with the latter kicking out. Moments later John Obi Mikel pushed into the back of the Tottenham midfi elder by way of retribution and Dembele immediately rounded on him. If any measure of the feistiness was needed, Costa of all people felt the need to be a peacemaker.

Arguably Tottenham’s most fi ery character, Dele Alli, could play no part as he was serving the fi rst match of his three- game ban following his uppercut into the solar plexus of Claudio Yacob in last week’s 1- 1 draw with West Brom.

Tottenham had won only one of the fi ve Premier League games Alli has not started since his move from MK Dons and they nearly found themselves behind within four minutes.

All eyes were on John Terry, back for his fi rst game in six weeks after Achilles and hamstring injuries, when Fabregas swung in an early corner but it was Cahill who rose at the far wise.

Danny Rose had an early sighter from long range that drifted just high and wide of the Chelsea goal and a much subtler, side- footed effort along the ground in the 27th minute by Fabregas was perhaps even closer to opening the scoring.

Lloris made the fi rst meaningful save of the game just after the halfhour when Kyle Walker gave the ball away cheaply to Costa, whose shot required a fi ngertip to safety.

And then it happened. Christian Eriksen to Erik Lamela, Harry Kane stepped round Begovic. Time seemed to stop. But not for long - Kane rolling the ball into the Chelsea net for the opening goal.

When Cahill threw his body desperately in the way of a low Lamela drive Chelsea felt they had stopped Tottenham taking a twogoal advantage into the interval.

But once again in the 44th minute, when Branislav Ivanovic carelessly gave the ball away to Kane, the blue sea parted, Eriksen slipped in Heung- Min Son and the ball was once again in the Chelsea net.

But that commanding Spurs lead counted for nothing in the end and Hazard’s late leveller spelt the end of Spurs’ hopes.

As Chelsea fans realised they had denied Tottenham a chance of the title Stamford Bridge echoed to the sound of “There’s Only One Ranieri” and banners were produced praising their former manager.

There was a sour note to end the proceedings as Pochettino and the Tottenham backroom staff became involved in a melee on the touchline. Substitute keeper Michel Vorm was at the centre of the scrum and stewards eventually had to separate the warring factions. post

CHELSEA ( 4- 2- 3- 1): Goals: TOTTENHAM ( 4- 2- 3- 1): NEXT UP: Referee:

and headed inches

Booked: NEXT UP: Booked: Goals: