Chelsea secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening, with Enzo Fernandez emerging as the match-winner thanks to his second-half header in a fiercely contested London derby that had plenty of drama throughout the game.

The pivotal moment came after a well-executed cross from Cole Palmer, who was looking sharp and returning to form. Palmer’s pinpoint delivery found Fernandez in the box, where the Argentine midfielder, completely unmarked, powered his header past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to give Chelsea the lead.

This win adds to Chelsea’s impressive recent record against their London rivals, with Ange Postecoglou becoming the first manager in Tottenham’s history to lose his first four league encounters against the Blues. The result will undoubtedly deepen the scrutiny on Postecoglou’s methods as Spurs struggle to find consistent form under his leadership.

Tottenham had their hopes of an equalizer dashed in the final stages of the match when Pape Matar Sarr thought he had found the back of the net with a powerful long-range strike that beat Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal. However, a VAR review showed a foul on Moises Caicedo in the buildup, with the goal ruled out much to the frustration of the Tottenham fans, who had already been vocal in their displeasure over Postecoglou’s tactical decisions.

Chelsea made a strong start to the game, nearly going ahead in the opening minute when Nicolas Jackson’s deflected shot hit the post, sending a warning to the Spurs defense. While the first half lacked clear-cut chances, the intensity remained high, with both teams having goals disallowed for various reasons. The game also saw tempers flare in stoppage time, adding to the fiery nature of the derby.

Following Fernandez’s goal, Chelsea thought they had added a second when Caicedo’s volley hit the target, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out for offside. Tottenham continued to push for an equalizer in the final moments, but Brennan Johnson’s cross into the box, aimed for Son Heung-min, was wasted as Son failed to get a touch on the ball in the 89th minute.

The defeat further damages Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the top four this season, leaving them with much work to do to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot. The loss has increased the pressure on Postecoglou, with the team now needing to rely on success in the Europa League to secure a place in next season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s victory sees them closing the gap on their rivals in the league standings, offering a glimmer of hope for their own ambitions this season.