PLAYER RATINGS: Chelsea shine in 2-0 win over Tottenham with a player’s performance full of positivity – while SIX of Spurs’ sorry XI register just a four out of 10, writes KIERAN GILL

Goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson earned Chelsea a 2-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday, dealing a blow to Spurs’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Former Chalobah academy defender headed the ball expertly into the top corner from a Conor Gallagher free-kick from 35 yards in the 24th minute.

Senegalese Jackson calmed the home nerves against the run of play in the 72nd minute when he was on hand to head home after a free kick from Chelsea top scorer Cole Palmer hit the bar and rebounded .

The three points, which took them to eighth place, were vital to Chelsea’s push, under former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, towards a Europa League place after a disappointing season, but left Tottenham seven points out of the top four.

Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill rated the players.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)

Djordjé Petrović – 7.5

I should have brought a crossword to keep him busy because Tottenham gave him virtually nothing to do in the first half. Remained vigilant in the second half to keep a clean sheet.

Alfie Gilchrist – 8.5

Gilchrist against Son was essentially the least experienced player on the pitch against the most experienced, and yet one of their own from Chelsea, aged 20, handled the occasion superbly.

Trevoh Chalobah – 8.5

Towering header to give Chelsea a deserved lead – followed by VAR taking far too long to verify it – as Chalobah also showed his defensive acumen whenever necessary on a night of domination.

Benoît Badiashile – 8.5

After a superb second-half performance at Aston Villa, Badiashile once again demonstrated his defensive solidity, as he and Chalobah deserved every penny of their clean sheet bonus.

Marc Cucurella – 9

Performance full of positivity as he moved into midfield when Chelsea had the ball, while he did a warrior’s job defensively as Johnson and Co struggled to get the better of him. My player of the match.

Moses Caicedo – 8.5

Caicedo benefited from having Gallagher – or at least a fit partner – alongside him in midfield and it was another game in which he showed why Chelsea signed him.

Conor Gallagher – 8.5

The Chelsea fans put on a great show for him before the match and he injected energy into the heart of this injury-ravaged team. Assisted Chalobah for his first match with a header.

Noni Madueke – 8.5

Hit a 20-yard shot narrowly over the crossbar – we’ll blame the bobble – in the middle of what was a positive performance down the right. He also never avoided his defensive duties by helping Gilchrist.

Cole Palmer – 8

A 25-yard free-kick crashed under the crossbar to allow Jackson to head home Chelsea’s second goal on a night where every player worked hard for the team.

Mykhailo Mudryk – 8

Energy force at bottom left. When Mudryk plays with this much confidence, he’s a joy to watch, and he was inches away from curling an effort into the top corner.

Nicholas Jackson – 8

He tried to slip the ball between Vicario’s legs but Van de Ven came back to deny it on the line. There was no way to stop his head bouncing, mind you!

SUBS

Cesare Casadei (for Mudryk, 75) – 6, Josh Acheampong (for Gilchrist, 85) – N/A, Jimi Tauriainen (for Jackson, 90) – N/A, Marcus Bettinelli. David Washington, Zak Sturge, Leo Castledine, Tyrique George, Kiano Dyer

DIRECTOR

Mauricio Pochettino – 8

Given the injury crisis that has hit Chelsea, he inspired his players to put in a performance in which they fully deserved all three points.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1)

Guglielmo Vicario – 5

The ball hit slowed down Jackson’s muscular attempt in the first exchanges. But it was not possible to reach Chalobah or Jackson’s heads. Once again he was targeted in the corners.

Pedro Porro – 4.5

Interesting to see how Porro was trying to stop Chelsea’s attackers from distracting Vicario on the corners – it seems Postecoglou ultimately decided to try and solve this problem.

Cristian Romero – 4.5

One of Tottenham’s only chances in a shoddy first half fell to Romero, but he headed wide when he should have buried that opportunity all day.

Micky van de Ven – 5.5

The fastest player in the Premier League this season showed off his pace when he came back to stop Jackson from scoring – one of many times we have witnessed his speed.

Emerson Royal – 4

Poor attempt to win a penalty as he claimed Madueke pulled him back. It turned into a great battle, ultimately won by the man who wears Chelsea blue.

Yves Bissouma – 4

Postecoglou was as angry as we’ve ever seen him and Bissouma was the target of some of his most aggressive tantrums amid a timid display.

Pape Matar Sarr – 4

Not enough progressive passes and far too passive because Gallagher and Co controlled the center. No wonder he is one of those addicted to a triple replacement.

Brennan Johnson – 5

He felt like he was being blocked by Cucurella as Chalobah walked home, but let’s not pretend it was a scandal. In terms of offense, Johnson was arguably the best of a bad group.

Dejan Kulusevski – 4

Maddison was on the bench while Kulusevski started in the middle but they hardly threatened, while it was his fault on Cucurella which led to Chelsea’s second goal from a free-kick.

Son Heung-min – 4

Faced a young 20-year-old green in Gilchrist and yet never really imposed his experience on the young Englishman. No one in the Tottenham shirt did enough here, including their captain.

Richarlison – 4

He never looked like a viable outlet as a striker and might as well have been wearing an invisibility cloak as he was replaced after an hour of anonymity.

SUBS

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (for Bissouma, 63 years old) – 5.5, James Maddison (for Richarlison, 63 years old) – 5.5, Rodrigo Bentancur (for Sarr, 63 years old) – 5.5, Bryan Gil (for Johnson, 78 years old) – N/A, Giovani Lo Celso (for Emerson, 86 years old) – N/A, Brandon Austin, Oliver Skipp, Radu-Matei Dragusin, Mikey Moore

DIRECTOR

Postécoglou Angel – 4

He was really angry with his players because they never presented the attacking football he desires and once again Tottenham conceded not one but two set pieces.

ARBITRATOR

Robert Jones – 6

Much easier evening than that experienced by Mark Clattenburg in 2016, although we had to wait too long for VAR to approve Chalobah’s header’s opener.