Spurs remain in fifth place, just a point behind north London rivals Arsenal ahead of their game at Norwich, while Chelsea climbed one place to 14th prior to Swansea’s visit to Liverpool.
Both managers sprung a surprise before kick-off with Mauricio Pochettino opting to use Ryan Mason in an unfamiliar right-wing position with Dele Alli suspended while Jose Mourinho dropped Diego Costa from his starting line-up.
Costa scored the winner against Norwich a week earlier but the Spain international appeared to pay the price for a half-time altercation with his manager during Chelsea’s midweek Champions League win at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Mourinho claimed in his pre-match television interview that Costa was suffering from a “lack of confidence” but he did not warm up with the rest of the team and it was unlikely to improve his demeanour to see the Blues start this game without a recognised striker on the pitch. Eden Hazard spearheaded the visitors attack - Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta were also recalled - but it was Spurs who had the better of the opening exchanges.
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Harry Kane strained to turn home Danny Rose’s dangerous third-minute cross at the near post but collided with Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who required treatment before returning to his feet.
Spurs continued to probe for an opening with Chelsea sitting deep and compact looking to hit the home team on the counter attack. Begovic spilled a deflected shot from Kane in the 17th minute but smothered the ball at the second attempt. Chelsea grew into the match thereafter, with Oscar producing a fine cross from the left which Hazard headed over.
Pedro fizzed a shot goalwards which deflected off Eric Dier but the best chance of the half came at the other end shortly afterwards. Kane made inroads down the Spurs right and dug out a cross for Heung Min-Son at the back post. The South Korean international had time to place his header but he couldn’t beat Begovic from 12 yards.
Mousa Dembele tried his luck from long range, forcing Begovic into a save at full stretch, low to his left before Oscar nutmegged Mason and stabbed a shot into the sidenetting as both sides tried in vain to break the deadlock before half-time.
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Spurs lost Mason to injury 11 minutes after the restart with Erik Lamela his replacement. Son started a neat one-two with Lamela on the edge of the box and volleyed the return pass firmly but straight at Begovic.
The game became disjointed - perhaps as fatigue kicked on both sides - but Chelsea remained something of a threat on the break and belatedly registered their first shot on target. With 22 minutes left, Branislav Ivanovic found Hazard at the back post and the Belgian international met his pass with a fine left-foot volley which Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris did brilliantly to divert behind for a corner.
Neither side were able to force a meaningful opening thereafter - with Mourinho deciding to leave Costa on the bench throughout - leaving Chelsea with just one away League win all season and Tottenham unbeaten since the opening weekend.
