Chelsea dealt a huge blow to Tottenhams top-four hopes

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham - Chalobah and Jackson on target for the hosts

Mauricio Pochettino's side won the reverse fixture 4-1 at nine-man Spurs

Chelsea dealt a huge blow to Tottenham's top-four hopes and boosted their own chances of European qualification with a 2-0 victory over their London rivals on Thursday night.

Goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher gave the Blues a deserved win at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham's misery was compounded by the sending-off of Cristian Romero in the second half.

The result leaves Tottenham five points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with just two games remaining, while Chelsea moved up to seventh and within one point of sixth-placed Manchester United.

The game was dominated by VAR decisions, with the technology being used to award Chelsea a penalty for a handball by Romero and to rule out a Tottenham goal for offside.

Chelsea took the lead in the 19th minute when Chalobah headed home from a corner.

Tottenham were level after 50 minutes, but Richarlison's goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

The Blues restored their lead in the 82nd minute when Gallagher fired home from close range after a mistake by Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Romero was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card, capping a miserable night for the visitors.

Tottenham's defeat leaves them with a mountain to climb if they are to finish in the top four this season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be confident of securing a place in Europe next season after a hard-fought victory.