Chelsea made it five consecutive wins this afternoon as Tottenham were beaten by superb strikes from Juliano Belletti and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
It was a game the Blues never looked like losing from the moment Belletti set us on our way inside the first 20 minutes, with returning goalkeeper Petr Cech rarely threatened.
Tottenham arrived at Stamford Bridge having not won here in 17 years, but would have been spurred by their performance at Arsenal in midweek.
Equally, our own players would have been buoyed by an impressive performance against Everton, and with the addition of Nicolas Anelka on the bench providing a top class goal threat, an entertaining contest surely awaited.
Chelsea made two changes from the Carling Cup win on Tuesday, with fit again Cech and Claude Makelele replacing Hilario and John Mikel Obi, the latter being both suspended and on international duty with Nigeria.
Spurs kept faith with Radek Cerny in goal, their only change from the Emirates being young German Kevin Prince-Boateng coming in for the suspended Jermaine Jenas.
The opening quarter hour provided no chances at all, as the two sides exchanged possession and territory. Aaron Lennon had run at the Chelsea defence, while Belletti has crossed dangerously, but neither goalkeeper had been called into action.
That all changed on 18 minutes, when Belletti was afforded time and space 30 yards from goal, and unleashed a drive that was simply unstoppable. It flew into Cerny's top-left corner to give the Blues the lead.
Spurs responded well and Lennon crossed for Berbatov to flick on, but Chelsea cleared and Joe Cole broke. Boateng was booked for trying to haul the winger's shorts down in stopping him.
Just before the half hour, Spurs were almost level, when again Lennon danced forward and crossed to the far post, where Steed Malbranque was waiting.
The diminutive Frenchman volleyed hard, but straight at Cech who was able to parry. It was our keeper's first major involvement in the game.
A few minutes later Boateng drove just over from 25 yards, but Cech was not worried.
Gradually Chelsea had stamped authority on the game, and, having scored the opener, begin to look like scoring the second goal too. Malouda, Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole all troubled Tottenham with their forward running, while Ballack had a goal correctly scratched out for offside.
With no more first half action, Avram Grant could reflect on a job well done at half-time, perhaps contemplating the introduction of Anelka.
The Chelsea number 39 received a rapturous reception as he warmed up on the touchline, and with Pizarro struggling with a knock, a substitution looked likely
On the pitch, both teams continued to press, but like the first half, there was little in the way of chances. Malbranque was booked for sending Wright-Phillips crashing to the floor, and then Makelele entered the referee's book for fouling Malbranque.
On 58 minutes, Anelka did neter the game in place of Pizarro, while Juande Ramos brought in Adel Taarabt for Malbranque.
80 seconds later, Anelka almost announced himself in the perfect way. Only Cerny's outstretched right arm kept him from opening his Chelsea account.
In the next five minutes though it was the other French sub who made the greater impact, as Taarabt twisted, turned and generally gave Chelsea a difficult time, but still Cech remained unthreatened.
That changed on 67 minutes as Ballack upended Lennon the edge of the Chelsea box, a challenge that earned him a yellow card, and Spurs a shooting opportunity.
Berbatov eventually stepped up after a delay, and curled the ball narrowly over.
Soon after Spurs forced a corner through Robbie Keane, but Cech took the cross cleanly and set Ricardo Carvalho away on a counter-attack, eventually foiled by the offside flag and Joe Cole's mistimed run.
Frustrations began to grow for the visitors as first O' Hara and then Lennon were booked for unnecessary fouls. Ramos introduced Jermain Defoe as he sought an equaliser, and as Boateng crossed it almost arrived.
The whipped cross eluded Alex, but Keane couldn't quite connect at the far post. Spurs were made to pay as a minute later the game was safe for Chelsea.
Belletti's throw found Joe Cole, who turned inside and out before squaring for Wright-Phillips, who thundered home a low drive from the edge of the area. It was his second goal in as many games.
Tottenham must have known they were defeated, bringing on defender Younes Kaboul to contain Chelsea's dominant midfield.
They did threaten once more though as Defoe slipped Keane through, but Cech was alert and able to get there before the Irish forward.
Moments later Wright-Phillips could have claimed a second as Anelka and Joe Cole combined to create him another chance from the edge of the box, but this time he screwed his chance wide.
Anelka hit the woodwork in the 90th minute after Dawson failed to clear, his drive cannoning off the underside of the crossbar and back out.
A goal would have been the icing on the cake, but for today, Blues will be happy with three points and another year without Spurs winning at the Bridge.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, A Cole; Wright-Phillips (Sidwell 90+3), Makelele, Ballack (c); J Cole, Pizarro (Anelka 58), Malouda (Bridge 84).
Booked Makelele 57, Ballack 67
Goals Belletti 18, Wright-Phillips 80
Booked Boateng 22, Malbranque 52, O' Hara 74, Lennon 77
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