Summary
A wonderfully entertaining game and a draw was probably a fair result in the end. Chelsea had to defend in the early stages and were behind after seven minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor met Gareth Bale's cross to fire past Petr Cech.
Daniel Sturridge pulled us back into the game midway through the first half from Ashley Cole's cross, a move which had the home supporters calling for a handball.
Chelsea were the better side in the second half and the two best chances fell to Ramires who should have secured all three points for the Blues.
After losing both Branislav Ivanovic and John Mikel Obi to injury in the first half, it was ultimately a spirited display, particularly given Tottenham's impressive home record so far this season. A good point and now we look ahead to the Fulham match on Boxing Day.
Best Moment
Plenty of choices but it has to be John Terry's late clearance from Adebayor when it looked as though the striker had to score.
Team News
David Luiz's injury ensured the back four remained unchanged from the one that started at Wigan on Saturday, while in midfield John Mikel Obi was given the nod ahead of Oriol Romeu. Frank Lampard started on the bench as Ramires returned. The front three of Didier Drogba flanked by Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata also remained unchanged.
For Tottenham, Aaron Lennon's injury meant that Gareth Bale, who was expected to miss out but was passed fit, was their one change.
First half
A solo run by Bale almost paid instant dividends for the hosts inside the opening two minutes but Petr Cech saved well low down to his right.
The home side were on the front foot from the first whistle as they looked to seize the initiative down the left-hand side on what was a surprisingly mild evening in north London.
The Blues were behind after only seven minutes when Bale once again was released down the left; the Welshman's low cross fizzed across the Chelsea box where Adebayor prodded home from close range.
We should have been level almost instantly though when Mata's long-range effort was only parried by Brad Friedel; Sturridge was first to the rebound but blazed high over the bar when he should have done better.
Bale was causing havoc every time he was in possession and was then brought down by Ivanovic in a dangerous position just outside the box. The Serbian defender was booked and from the resulting free kick Rafael van der Vaart's effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Chelsea were level after 22 minutes when a controversial move resulted in Ashley Cole crossing for Sturridge to volley home his 10th goal of the season. Tottenham believed Cole had handled in the build-up but Howard Webb waved away their complaints to the delight of the travelling Chelsea faithful.
A brilliant interception by John Terry ensured Adebayor lost the ball on the edge of our box as he looked to play in Modric, and as Chelsea broke, Raul Meireles saw a good effort saved by Friedel.
Chelsea though were growing in stature as the half wore on and almost took the lead when Drogba expertly controlled Meireles's flighted pass, only to see his effort crash against the joint.
Ivanovic was then forced out of the action with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and was replaced by Paulo Ferreira. The Portuguese slotted in at right-back with Bosingwa moving into the middle to play alongside Terry.
As Chelsea began to impose ourselves the home crowd's frustration began to tell and it seemed to transmit down to their players as Adebayor was lucky to avoid a red card for a nasty challenge on Mikel.
Ramires was then cautioned for a bad tackle on Bale, giving Tottenham a free kick which resulted in a feeble attempt by Modric, smashing straight into the Chelsea wall.
As the half entered its final few minutes Tottenham began to press and Cech needed to be alert to save from a left-footed Adebayor effort.
The Blues' injury curse struck again just before the interval when Mikel went off with a groin injury to be replaced by Romeu in central midfield.
Second half
Drogba came close in the first minute of the second half with a free kick that was deflected only inches over the crossbar. The Ivorian rose highest to meet the corner from Mata but could only direct his header wide.
Ferreira then found himself in unfamiliar territory, just inside the Spurs penalty area, but his effort failed to trouble Friedel.
Sturridge then did well to bring the ball down under pressure from two defenders, but he lacked support and fired wide from outside area.
Ramires should have put us in front when he latched on to a delightful ball from Drogba, but as Friedel advanced off his line the Brazilian fired straight at him.
Sturridge was becoming a real menace and should have been awarded a free kick when he was brought down by Assou-Ekotto deep inside the Tottenham half.
Ramires was maybe fortunate to stay on the pitch when he tripped Bale, as the game began to simmer the midfielder was walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Kyle Walker's cross from the right in the 62nd minute evaded Terry and the Blues' skipper breathed a sigh of relief as the striker's header rolled harmlessly wide.
It was pulsating stuff, with barely time to pause for breath as both teams pushed for a second goal.
Former Blue Scott Parker evaded three challenges as he looked to inspire his team-mates and as he cut inside the Chelsea box only the intervention of Cole stopped him in his tracks. From the ensuing corner by Modric, Sandro rose at the near post and saw his flick drop inches wide of the far post.
Chelsea were looking threatening and Mata almost met a cross by Ramires at the far post, but as he went to pull the trigger Walker forced the ball behind for a corner.
Soon after Sturridge reacted quickest to a loose ball in the Tottenham penalty area and forced Friedel into a very good save low down to his left.
Mata did put the ball in the Tottenham net when he latched on to a Romeu through ball but the flag was raised as the Spaniard slotted home.
Andre Villas-Boas then introduced Fernando Torres with 15 minutes remaining, opting for his fresh legs at the expense of a tired Drogba.
The Chelsea fans inside the stadium did their best to rally the side as the clock ticked down, but they had their hearts in their mouth when some neat interplay between Modric and Bale left the latter with plenty of space to shoot but he missed.
Sandro then came extremely close from outside the box, his effort appeared to be dipping over Cech but the keeper adjusted his feet and made a stunning save. William Gallas almost scored from the resulting corner but he could only shoot wide.
A minute later Ramires had the best chance of the half when he was left unmarked in the middle of the penalty area. Mata's free kick was inch perfect but when it appeared easier to score, Ramires could only direct his effort over the bar.
Shortly after and some neat work down the right released Torres; his pull back found Ramires whose effort was blocked, but as it fell to Romeu on the edge of the box the youngster hit it agonisingly wide of Friedel's left post.
Tottenham almost won it in stoppage time when Adebayor was put through by Bale; the striker opened his body up and looked to place it into the far corner but with Cech beaten, Terry was there to clear, just when his team needed him most.
Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic (Ferreira 33), Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Mikel (Romeu 45+2), Meireles; Sturridge, Drogba (Torres 77), Mata.
Unused subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou
Scorer Sturridge 22.
Booked Ivanovic 11, Ramires 42
Tottenham (4-3-3) Friedel; Walker, Gallas, King (c), Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Sandro, Modric; Van der Vaart (Pavlyuchenko h/t), Adebayor, Bale
Unused subs: Gomes, Kaboul, Bassong, Rose, Livermore, Kranjcar
Scorer Adebayor 7.
Booked Adebayor 19, Bale 70
Referee Howard Webb
Crowd 36,141
