03/04/2004  Tottenham 0 Chelsea 1
 
Chelsea extended their 17-year unbeaten run over Tottenham at White Hart Lane and closed the gap to four points on Premiership leaders Arsenal.

It was a good day for Chelsea's March manager of the month Claudio Ranieri, who saw Arsenal lose their FA Cup semi final to Manchester United and possibly set the nerves running at Highbury ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter final return.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - who came off the bench to score a 12 minute hat-trick in last weekend's 5-2 win over Wolves - took his tally against Spurs to five goals in as many games when he struck the winner after 37 minutes of a dull derby.

The last time Spurs beat Chelsea at White Hart Lane was in 1987, when David Pleat was in his first spell as manager.

Spurs were capable of raising their game against the top teams at home, having done so to beat both Liverpool and Newcastle this season, and they looked bright without threatening the Chelsea goal in what was anything but a passionate London derby.

That almost changed when Spurs won a free kick a few yards outside the left edge of the Chelsea box when Ledley King was tripped by William Gallas after 35 minutes.

Jamie Redknapp, starting his first match since September, curled it round the wall but John Terry headed clear, then when Christian Ziege played the ball back into the danger zone King headed wide when he might have done better.

It was to prove costly as two minutes later Chelsea scored a simple goal. Frank Lampard fed Damien Duff on the left flank and his low cross was comfortably tucked home by Hasselbaink.

Spurs went in search of the equaliser by sending on Fredi Kanoute for the second half in place of Ziege, with Keane slotting back into midfield.

Spurs screamed for a penalty after 52 minutes when Michael Brown's shot appeared to hit Terry's arm. but referee Steve Bennett waved play on.

There was a flashpoint after 54 minutes when Hasselbaink raced towards goal and was deliberately brought down by Taricco, who was lucky to escape with just a yellow card.

Kasey Keller came to the rescue after 57 minutes. Hasselbaink opened up the Spurs defence before feeding Lampard, but his close range shot was well saved by the American.

It was Chelsea's turn to appeal for a penalty when substitute Stephen Kelly tripped Scott Parker after 69 minutes, but again it was ignored. Then a minute later Defoe's long range shot was tipped over the bar by Marco Ambrosio.

Spurs went close to an equaliser after 84 minutes when substitute John Jackson - who replaced Redknapp when he suffered a split lip - curled in a corner from the right and Anthony Gardner's downward header was clawed off the line by Ambrosio.

Chelsea held on and that meant the end of Tottenham's run of five matches without defeat at home.