Tottenham Weren't Amazing at Chelsea But They Got What They Needed

Tottenham's record at Stamford Bridge isn't particularly good.

They've only won away at Chelsea once in the Premier League era - that being a 3-1 victory in 2018 - with the west London ground often the scene of disappointment and sometimes humiliation.

Whether that be the Battle of the Bridge in 2016, a 2-1 loss having taken the lead later that year or various 3-0 or 4-0 losses, it's just not a venue that offers much optimism for Spurs supporters.

So all things considered, a draw that sees the north London side lead the Premier League - top of the top flight for the first time after ten or more games since January 1985 - at the start of a pretty ominous looking set of fixtures, is a pretty good one, right?

Right.

OK, there are plenty of things to be said for the approach taken by Jose Mourinho. While the first half of the goalless affair showed Tottenham as the potentially dangerous counter attacking outfit, the second was pretty dour, with Giovani Lo Celso's brain fade at the very end of the fixture the only large opportunity the visitors had to land that sucker punch.

We didn't see Tottenham at their most electric going forward, but that shouldn't be particularly surprising, especially if you look at their run of Premier League results following the 3-3 draw with West Ham in October.

The Burnley, Brighton and West Brom games were all approached with a clear emphasis on building a platform from defence. They were pretty disgusting games to watch, but it was clear a stronger unit at the back was required after a few dodgy defensive performances.

Those victories set Spurs up well to do an even bigger containing job on Manchester City. They rarely looked threatened against Pep Guardiola's side, picking them off on the counter for an impressive 2-0 win.

The draw with Chelsea wasn't quite as comfortable, but it did show Tottenham are now more than comfortable playing in that deep, tight style.

The defence had started the season pretty averagely but having conceded just once in their last five games, Spurs have the best defensive record in the Premier League so far this term, something they haven't been able to brag about since the days of prime Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

Except now they have Eric Dier, magically reborn and putting in top drawer performances, and Joe Rodon, who made his first start for the club at Stamford Bridge and was largely assured - a disallowed goal and loose back pass aside.

In all fairness to Mourinho, it was the right approach and the approach we all should have expected.

Of course, you'd rather watch a team that is so brilliant it can go out and win games playing liquid football, but Tottenham have had an issue picking up points when they needed to in big games away from home in the past.

Former manager Mauricio Pochettino couldn't get Spurs to be so effective defensively away at other top six teams. Arguably as a result, he only mustered up three league wins away against those teams during his reign.

It's one of the areas where Mourinho's experience in big games helps Tottenham for the better. It looks dreary and isn't particularly entertaining, but the ends ultimately justify the means.

Denying that Spurs are in a title race isn't anything particularly new - Mourinho whipped out a 'pony' comparison after the Chelsea draw, while Pochettino rarely ever claimed his side were in a position of strength - but points away at the grounds of the Premier League's elite should not be sniffed at. They should be taken and the dull matches dismissed from memory quickly.

Importantly, Tottenham have an identity again. No, it's not the free-flowing, expansive side we were teased in the Southampton and Manchester United wins, but it is one that has Spurs sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table - for now.

And at the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?

For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter!