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Never mind Gary Lineker — Roberto Soldado is on a roll.
The Spaniard’s first Premier League goal since March not only gave Tottenham victory over Everton but set them up nicely for yet another attempt to triumph at Stamford Bridge.
Although Chelsea’s long invincibility in this fixture rankles, the here and now could be worse and it’s strange to reflect, as Spurs edge towards a position from which they can at least challenge Arsenal for north London supremacy, that some people were questioning Mauricio Pochettino’s management just a couple of weeks back.
Pochettino has been in the job only since the summer; it was crazy to judge him so soon and now the evidence of progress is undeniable. So promising is the combination of Soldado and young Harry Kane that Spurs, with the option of Emmanuel Adebayor to spring from the bench, could even be said to carry as much threat up front as a Chelsea lacking Diego Costa.
Chelsea v Tottenham key battles
When you compare other areas of the respective sides, you are reminded that a draw would still be an excellent result for Spurs. Chelsea are the hottest of title favourites because Jose Mourinho’s five in midfield are capable of taking a match by the scruff of the neck and doing what they like with it.
Only when Spurs are able to contemplate signing players of the class of Cesc Fabregas will they be regular top-four contenders.
True, they thought they had landed Willian; they tried hard for Oscar, and for Eden Hazard. But all preferred a bigger stage and tonight Spurs will have to hope that players such as Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason (no mean talents, but short of experience) can cope with the greatest challenge the top flight has to offer.
On such nights, the pressure of expectation is reduced but the appetite remains. The same is true of Pochettino; he will relish a chance to frustrate the maestro Mourinho. It could be an interesting mismatch.
