What do Chelsea know about...Tottenham Hotspur?

One of the few disappointments of being a Chelsea fan is not having a proper local rival. Liverpool have Everton, Celtic have Rangers, for Manchester City its United.

Chelsea's nearest geographical rivals would be Fulham, though this is more a one way rivalry lacking any real history to it, with Fulham casting envious eyes at their more successful neighbours.  Queens Park Rangers threatened for a while but their relegation in the 90's nipped that one in the bud. Perhaps Chelsea's big rivals should be West Ham United who are in a similar position, with no real local rival.  If you were to ask a Chelsea fan which team they would most want to beat, they would almost undoubtedly say Tottenham (the irony is a Tottenham fan would say 'Arsenal').

There has always been a strong rivalry between the two clubs, both sides regarded as somewhat underachievers. One of the more notable games between the two came in 1967, when Chelsea and Tottenham met in the 'Cockney Cup Final'. It was Chelsea's first appearance in the FA Cup Final since 1915 but in the end Tottenham ran out 2-1 winners with former Chelsea legend Jimmy Greaves scoring one of Spurs' goals.

Greaves was one of many players to have represented both sides other names include Terry Venables, Mickey Hazard, Clive Allen, Gordon Durie and Gus Poyet, who is currently one of Tottenham manager Juande Ramos' coaching staff.  Glenn Hoddle is the only man to have both played for and managed both clubs.

It would be fair to say in recent years Chelsea have held the edge over their North London rivals. Tottenham's thumping 5-1 win at White Hart Lane in the League Cup in 2002 was Tottenham's first victory over Chelsea in any competition in 29 games. Tottenham's 2-1 victory in November 2006 was their first home league victory against Chelsea since 1987. The last time Tottenham won at Stamford Bridge their goals were scored by David Howells and Gary Lineker in 1990.

Tottenham do however, have a certain recent Carling Cup victory in their favour. Chelsea will be keen to avenge that defeat as well as the 4-4 draw in the league that proved so damaging to Chelsea's title challenge.

Tottenham have started the season badly losing their first two games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Having already lost Robbie Keane to Liverpool and Dimitar Berbatov almost certain to leave, things look likely to get worse for Tottenham. Breaking into the top 4 looks an increasingly difficult target for them.

Tottenham have loosened if not broken the hold Chelsea have over them in recent years though, perhaps they will fancy themselves to finally break their Stamford Bridge hoodoo.