We’re going to get straight down to business, here are tonight’s teams… As predicted, John Terry starts for Chelsea, while Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres still try and stay warm on the bench. Chelsea’s front three of Sturridge – Drogba – Mata is becoming the norm.

The good news for Spurs is that an ankle injury has not prevented Gareth Bale from starting the match. A relief, given the lack of width Harry Redknapp’s side displayed against Sunderland.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale, Adebayor, Van der Vaart
Subs: Gomes, Kaboul, Pavlyuchenko, Bassong, Kranjcar, Rose, Livermore

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata
Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Lampard, Torres, Malouda, Ferreira, Kalou

Harry Redknapp admits that starting Ledley King is a gamble, but he needs his best players for the big games. Should Spurs triumph this evening, they’ll be five points ahead of Chelsea with a game in hand.

Note to Glenn Hoddle – it’s Bos-ing-wa, and not Bos-wing-a. He probably doesn’t care.

And they’re off. Spurs go on the attack immediately, after an awful pass from John Terry to Raul Meireles. Terry is booed, somewhat predictably, by the Spurs support.

Terry redeems himself by blocking an effort from Gareth Bale, who was allowed to travel unmolested across the Chelsea goal. The Welshman should, arguably, have passed to Kyle Walker on his outside. Good defending by Terry though.

John Obi Mikel – back after six successive starts for Oriol Romeu – clears his lines. Big night for the Nigerian.

Terry clears again after Gareth Bale hooks an early cross over. Emmanuel Adebayor was waiting behind the England captain.

1-0 to Spurs… Sandro crunches into a tackle in midfield, wins the ball and feeds Gareth Bale. Last year’s PFA Player Of The Year cross on the ground should, arguably, have been gathered by Petr Cech but he spills it into the path of Adebayor. No mistake by the former Arsenal man.

It’s…. over the bar! Chelsea should have equalised. William Gallas’ clearance is intercepted by Juan Mata, whose shot is spilled by Brad Friedel into the path of Daniel Sturridge. However, just as he pulls the trigger Ledley King gets a touch and the ball flies over the bar.

Despite that missed effort by Chelsea, Tottenham are the sharper side. They’re zipping the ball around, with Bale and Modric dominating the midfield.

Adebayor catches Meireles outside the Chelsea box and is booked by Howard Webb. Not a good challenge.

Chelsea have equalised, it’s 1-1… Ashley Cole seems to handle the ball in the build-up as he gets the better of Benoit Assou-Ekotto. The referee doesn’t give it and the full-back crosses for Daniel Sturridge to score. Easy finish for the 22-year-old.

That goal came out of nowhere… Chelsea were being dominated, but now it’s Spurs’ turn to go on the defensive. Great game, this.

Meireles strikes from distance as Terry distracts the Spurs defenders. An easy save from Friedel.

Magnificent from Drogba, who controls a long ball on his chest before whacking the ball off the post. Let off for Spurs, and that was poor defending from Walker. He lost his man too easily.

Branislav Ivanovic is forced off with a thigh injury…

Paulo Ferreira replaces the injured Serb. This could spell trouble for Chelsea over Christmas, with David Luiz injured/a liability and Alex out of the first team frame entirely.

Some fancy footwork from Bale comes to nothing – he channels Dimitar Berbatov at his most unlazy in keeping the ball from going out. He fails to get the cross in though. Final five minutes of the half.

Nasty, nasty challenge by Ramires on Bale. The Brazilian is booked and will miss the Fulham. Bale is in agony, initially, but gingerly gets back up.

Assou-Ekotto does brilliantly to find Adebayor. The striker’s shot on the turn is held by Cech as van der Vaart looms. Good take by the goalkeeper. John Obi Mikel is injured now for Chelsea…

Romeu is being summoned to come on.

A corner from van der Vaart is cleared by Chelsea and the half-time whistle is blown…

The teams are coming back out and Spurs are making a change. Rafael van der Vaart had a quiet first half and he’s going to be replaced by Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Dutchman also has a hamstring problem.

Mata’s corner is headed over by Drogba. Sandro put him off. Chelsea have started the better team in the second half.

Sturridge has a go but his shot from distance is way off target. The camera, meanwhile, cuts to Frank Lampard on the Chelsea bench. Will he be introduced? The Blues only one have one substitution left after those first half injuries.

Drogba’s cross is met by Sturridge but it’s wide again. Assou Ekotto policed the England striker well.

Great chance for Chelsea! Ramires gets free in the box but he’s stopped by a combination of King and Friedel. The subsequent corner is headed at the Tottenham ‘keeper by Terry. This is breathless stuff.

Ramires could be considered lucky for getting away with a second yellow – it’s another foul on Bale. Free kick to Spurs which Modric takes, Gallas nods on to Adebayor who shoulders the ball into the net. The goal, however, is ruled out. Didn’t look offside to us.

Bale’s persistence sees the ball spread out to Walker, whose cross is met by Adebayor. Wide.

Mata is a frustrating player – he produces a wonderful touch to get the better of Gallas but allows the former Chelsea defender back in by taking a superfluous touch.

A free-kick by Meireles is flicked on by Terry and Ramires just misses it by inches. Chelsea are dominant so far in this half.

Walker frees Modric but the Croat fires into the Chelsea side netting. Modric takes the subsequent corner and Sandro should do so much better with his free header. Wide. Again.

Ramires’ cross is inviting but Mata just can’t connect with the ball. How Chelsea fans wish Sturridge was there instead of the misfiring Spaniard.

Fernando Torres is going to come on. This might be a good time for him to become a Chelsea player.

Romeu plays the ball into Mata but the former Valencia man is clearly offside.

Torres will replace Drogba as Terry limps after a strong challenge. The defender is not for coming off, however.

Interesting stat – in 2011, Fernando Torres has scored more goals for Liverpool than he has for Chelsea. He left Anfield on January 31st.

Pavlyuchenko to Modric to Bale to miles over the bar! A rare second half attack from Spurs with seven minutes remaining…

Could Spurs steal this? Sandro’s shot after a mazy run is deflected off Cole and Cech produces a fine save. From the corner, Bale crosses and Gallas somehow, SOMEHOW, misses the target from a couple of yards…

Ramires – in acres of space in the Tottenham box – heads wide when it seemed easier to score…

Torres passes to Ramires, whose shot is blocked into the path of Romeu. The youngster fires wide.

Ashley Cole has been named man of the match. We don’t have to like it, or him, but fair enough.

Wow!!! Bale finds Adebayor with a wonderful ball and the ball is going in before Terry dives in to the rescue. Great defending.

And that is that. Excellent defending from both sides, who will lament that the best chances of the game fell to defenders and midfielders. A great, pulsating game. Spurs stay two points ahead of Chelsea with a game in hand.

Thanks for keeping up and happy Christmas….