13/09/2003  Chelsea 4 Tottenham 2
 
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri turned up the heat on Tottenham counterpart Glenn Hoddle as his star-studded team came from behind to extend their 13-year unbeaten run in the league to 27 matches against their local rivals.

Defeat for Spurs represented their worst start to a season after five matches since the Premiership was formed more than a decade ago as they have just four points from a possible 15.

In contrast, victory for the Blues at Stamford Bridge eased some of the pressure continually associated with Ranieri, who has had to endure the likes of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Graeme Souness all being touted as his possible successor.

It was Spurs who made the brighter start and they deservedly took the lead through Frederic Kanoute after 24 minutes. It lasted just 10 minutes before Frank Lampard headed the equaliser and then Adrian Mutu turned the game around by giving Chelsea the lead three minutes later, and then sealing the victory after 75 minutes with his second goal.

Claude Makelele was made to wait for his Chelsea debut following his £13million switch from Real Madrid as Ranieri named him on the bench. Geremi was suspended and Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo were rested ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match at Sparta Prague, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made his 100th league start.

Following the high-profile arrival at Stamford Bridge of Peter Kenyon from Manchester United as the new chief executive it was back to matters on the football pitch for Chelsea, although Trevor Birch, the man Kenyon is replacing, walked a lap of honour before kick-off shaking hands with fans.

Carlo Cudicini was forced into action after just 47 seconds as Spurs skipper Jamie Redknapp burst through the middle, past cousin Lampard, and hit a fierce shot from 25 yards which the Italian goalkeeper pushed aside as he dived to his right.

The home fans were stunned in the 25th minute when Kanoute gave Spurs the lead with a fine solo effort.

Darren Anderton played a one-two with Steve Carr on the right flank before floating the ball into the box. Kanoute beat Mario Melchiot in the air and was able to chest the ball down before slotting it past Cudicini.

However, Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich was able to breathe a sigh of relief when Chelsea equalised after 34 Jesper Gronkjaer delivered a good deep cross from the right and Lampard met it at the far post with a downward header which somehow squeezed past Keller as he fell back into his net.

Spurs did not recover and Chelsea took the lead after 37 minutes. A long ball out of defence was chested down by Hasselbaink for Duff, and he slid the ball behind the Spurs defence for Mutu to have a clear chance to slide the ball beyond Keller - although there was a very strong suspicion of offside about the goal.

Chelsea were in control from the restart and Ranieri gave the home fans what they were waiting for after 65 minutes when he introduced Makelele in place of Emmanuel Petit. The home fans were then pleased to see Joe Cole sent on after 74 minutes in place of Duff.

Cole gave an instant return as his vision set up Mutu to fire in his second goal and Chelsea's third after 75 minutes.

It was Makelele who fed Cole, and his precise pass split the Spurs defence and allowed Mutu to race into the box and guide his shot past Keller.

Ranieri looked to the heavens in relief, while Abramovich was on his feet in the director's boss celebrating the victory, although Spurs showed some fight by closing the gap after 86 minutes.

A long throw fell for Dean Richards who turned and sent a shot against the post, but Kanoute pounced to whip the ball into the next for his second goal.

However, the last word went to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as two minutes into injury-time he met a low cross from Babayaro to steer the ball past Keller to seal the points.