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Tottenham host Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Thursday night, and should go into the game full of confidence and looking for three points. The Stamford Bridge outfit are traditionally a bogey team for Spurs, with years passing without a victory for the North London side against their cross-town rivals. However long-gone are the days that Tottenham should look at this fixture with trepidation; the hosts go into the clash as worthy favourites.

Tottenham’s resurgence under Harry Redknapp’s guidance over the last three years can be measured by their performances against Chelsea, as the tide has turned when playing The Blues. Under Martin Jol, Juande Ramos, Christian Gross and many more bosses, Chelsea would be a fixture that I would look at with distaste and worry. Not anymore; I am ready and waiting to see Spurs beat Andre Villas Boas’ men in tonight’s clash.

Over the last number of years Spurs have broken the hex that Chelsea had over them, and go into the game at White Hart Lane on Thursday in an excellent position. Redknapp’s men are two points ahead of Chelsea in third place, having played a game less and can open up a healthy five point gap over their London rivals with a victory. With that game in hand also to be taken into account, it would put Spurs in a dominant position over Chelsea and Arsenal in the race to be London’s top team.

Chelsea are there for the taking also. Although their form over the last four of five matches has been better after an Autumn blip, they have no-one in their team that Tottenham should fear or be in awe of. With John Terry at the centre of his racism row and harbouring an ankle knock, Spurs should get after the visiting captain from the first whistle, which could see Chelsea fold.

Psychologically a win would be massive, and would instil a confidence in the players that they are good enough to finish in the top four and even run the Manchester sides close for the title. With Luka Modric potentially set to be in the Stamford Bridge club’s gaze again in the January transfer window it is important to show the Croatian that Spurs are just as likely to claim silverware as Chelsea, and may be a deciding factor in where he wants to play his football.

Spurs’ attacking play this season has been heralded by the footballing community in England, and the hosts should adopt this style against Chelsea. With the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Bale testing the ageing Blues rearguard, it could and should be an interesting night for the White Hart Lane faithful.

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