Chelsea held to goalless draw by Spurs
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-20 09:04

Chelsea have been held to a 0-0 home draw by Tottenham Hotspur and remain two points behind champions Arsenal in second place after the weekend's Premier League action.

A thrilling match at Stamford Bridge ended with both sides retaining their unbeaten starts to the season but with Spurs unable to end a 14-year, 29-match wait for a league victory over Chelsea.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, upset with what he saw as ultra-defensive tactics by Spurs, said: "As they say in my country, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal because everybody was there.

"They didn't play football, they just defend, defend, defend," the Portuguese coach told Sky Sports TV.

Tottenham climbed to fifth place on 10 points, six behind Arsenal and two short of Chelsea, who have been held goalless in their last two league games. Everton beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at home on Sunday to climb to third on 13.

Bolton Wanderers, who held Arsenal 2-2 at Highbury on Saturday, are fourth on 11 points and Middlesbrough sixth on 10. Arsenal dropped their first points but extended their record unbeaten league run to 46 matches.

SOUNESS SUCCESS

Newcastle United marked their first Premier League match under Graeme Souness with a 2-1 win at Southampton, their first away league victory in 17 attempts going back 11 months, and climbed to eighth on eight points.

Manchester United, languishing in 13th place after only one win, are at home on Monday to 10th-placed Liverpool.

At Stamford Bridge, Spurs held out as England keeper Paul Robinson made two good saves from Didier Drogba in the first half, both times going down to beat out shots from the striker.

Robbie Keane might have put Spurs ahead in the 55th minute with a header at point-blank range from Simon Davies's cross but goalkeeper Petr Cech made a fine reflex save to turn the ball over the bar.

Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen hit the post five minutes from time but Drogba was ruled offside anyway and England defender Ledley King thwarted the Ivory Coast striker minutes later.

"Right from the start they got corner after corner but I thought we held on really well, defended well and maybe looked at times as though we might sneak something but overall we are delighted," Spurs captain Jamie Redknapp said.

CARR DRIVE

At Goodison Park, Everton continued their terrific start despite the sale of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United with a 47th-minute winner from Marcus Bent.

Bent took a pass from Leon Osman, raced past Boro captain Gareth Southgate and his shot went in via a deflection off defender Franck Queudrue.

At Southampton, Newcastle went in front seconds before the interval when Craig Bellamy crossed from the left and Alan Shearer's off-target shot was turned in to his own net by David Prutton.

Svensson equalised eight minutes into the second half when he beat the offside trap to run on to a speculative high ball into the box and drive it left-footed past keeper Antti Niemi.

Carr restored Newcastle's lead four minutes later when he took a square free kick from Jermaine Jenas on the right and blasted a dipping shot past the despairing late dive of Niemi inside the far post from 25 metres.

"A really good three points," Souness said.

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