Scorers: Chelsea: Cole 26, Ballack 58, Drogba 63.

Chelsea eventually strolled to victory over top-four pretenders Tottenham, although the outcome could have been different had Spurs been awarded a penalty for a trip on Robbie Keane moments before Chelsea’s second goal.

But apart from putting Spurs in their place, the lasting effect of the match may well be the injuries to Spurs’ centre-backs and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Ledley King pulled a hamstring shortly after half-time, while Sebastien Bassong’s head injury and Drogba’s suspected calf injury will be assessed over the next 48 hours

But on the evidence of this match, both sides will want their players back as soon as possible. Didier Drogba was outstanding and Spurs have all four specialist centre-backs injured.

Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa cracked a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the box in the 8^th minute.

However, Spurs could have take the lead when in-form Jermaine Defoe streaked clear four minutes later, only to see his shot saved by Petr Cech’s right leg.

Cech made an even better save from a thunderous low drive by Tom Huddlestone in the 13^th minute.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard went close with a header before Ashley Cole put them ahead on 32 minutes with his second goal of the season, a fine diving header from an excellent Drogba cross.

Ten minutes after the break, Keane appeared to be tripped in the area by Ricardo Carvalho, only for referee Howard Webb to wave away Spurs’ appeals and Keane’s curiously logical suggestion that he should be booked for diving if it wasn’t a penalty.

Chelsea doubled their advantage two minutes later, Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini saving a Drogba effort before Lampard turned the loose ball back into the centre for Michael Ballack to bundle home.

Drogba completed the scoring with a powerful solo effort five minutes later, muscling past Vedran Corluka before bundling the ball past Cudicini.