Tottenham Hotspur - 0 Chelsea - 0 Claudio Ranieri tried to give Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink a kiss last week to show the striker he valued his efforts. The Chelsea coach presumably planted a smacker on Carlo Cudicini's cheek yesterday after the goalkeeper produced a faultless performance to ensure his side extended their unbeaten league run against Tottenham, which stretches back 12 years. Cudicini's goal was hardly under siege from start to finish but the Italian made three important saves, two of them of the highest quality.
His display, together with Robbie Keane's failure with a couple of headers, did much to bring an unforeseen 0-0 draw to a fixture which produced 22 goals in five league and cup meetings last season.
Chelsea hit a post in the second half but it would have been hugely unfair had they won. After a strangely flat first 45 minutes, Tottenham dominated as they belatedly took the game to their opponents and passed with greater pace and accuracy without seriously suggesting they are ready to challenge for top-three place.
Though Glenn Hoddle pronounced himself happy with Tottenham's display, he will be aware his team have not yet beaten the sides he is striving to catch.
This home draw with Chelsea follows narrow defeats at Manchester United and Liverpool. They are progressing, though, and should challenge for the fourth Champions League spot, which also looks the best Chelsea can hope to attain.
Cudicini made his finest stop from Jamie Redknapp's clever free-kick in the first half but was at his busiest in the opening 10 minutes of the second, when Spurs enjoyed their most dangerous spell.
During that time he saved excellently from Teddy Sheringham, blocked well from Gus Poyet and saw Keane head over. Yet Spurs' pressure produced few chances after that because they lacked a touch of the unexpected and Chelsea defended well, William Gallas continuing his good form.
That Kasey Keller barely had a save to make was not to say Spurs were always comfortable. Chelsea were hardly inspired but had good counterattacking positions, with Gianfranco Zola often prominent.
They were let down by poor final passes or denied by sharp defending, with Dean Richards impressive.
Just as surprising as the lack of goals was a minimum of controversy after four red cards in these teams' meetings last season, the only minor talking point provided by the disappointing Poyet, who shouted at Hoddle's assistant John Gorman when substituted.
Hoddle said he had not seen the incident but insisted: "Knowing Gus, he was probably upset with himself more than anything for missing a chance."
Poyet may have felt angry at being hauled off against his former club but could have few complaints.
Too tentative to begin with, Tottenham were often at their best when Simon Davies and Stephen Carr were combining down the right. Those two made life hard for Chelsea by driving at them but Spurs were not helped by being somewhat lopsided.
Goran Bunjevcevic and Poyet could never offer the same thrust down the opposite flank and, although Davies occasionally drifted to the left, Spurs lacked real balance.
Chelsea's attacking seemed hampered by the absence of their most natural wide players, Boudewijn Zenden and Jesper Gronkjaer.
Quique de Lucas did not make best use of his possession on the left and Jody Morris was never likely to sprint to the byline on the right.
Chelsea lost Hasselbaink to a groin injury just before half-time, with Ranieri estimating the Dutchman's absence at a fortnight. But Hasselbaink had been struggling for his best form and Chelsea were no worse off for the introduction of Eidur Gudjohnsen, though he looked below peak condition.
No such worries with Cudicini. When Redknapp flicked up Keane's tapped free-kick to set himself up for a volley, the Italian tipped over brilliantly.
His later stops were just as crucial. "The performance of their goalkeeper was wonderful - for them," said Hoddle. "He was magnificent," said Ranieri.
Emmanuel Petit, a steady influence in Chelsea's midfield, set up De Lucas in the first half and Mario Melchiot headed against a post from Zola's free-kick. But it would have been harsh had that gone in or Zola got a touch to Frank Lampard's late cross.
Hoddle saw this as a wasted chance to end the barren run against Chelsea. "But in the past on that sort of performance Chelsea have beaten Spurs," he said. "It's a good sign we kept a clean sheet. There's a lot of work to be done but we are getting there."
Ranieri could hardly conceal his delight at the performance of his goalkeeper who he feels should be playing for Italy.
"People say he should be in the national team, but they have two good goalkeepers in (Francesco) Toldo and (Gigi) Buffon.
"I had Toldo for four years in Florence and I was sure about him, just as I am sure about Cudicini."
The one bleak note for Chelsea was Hasselbaink's groin injury, and Ranieri is hoping it will not prove to be too serious.
"I don't know the full extent yet, but Jimmy has a problem with his groin," revealed Ranieri.
"I hope he can recover early, but it looks like keeping him out for a couple of weeks."
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Perry, Richards, Bunjevcevic, Carr, Freund, Redknapp, Poyet (Acimovic 73), Davies, Sheringham (Ferdinand 90), Keane. Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Etherington, Gardner. Booked: Sheringham, Acimovic, Keller.
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro, Morris, Lampard, Petit, De Lucas (Oliveira 88), Hasselbaink (Gudjohnsen 44), Zola. Subs Not Used: Pidgeley, Ferrer, Terry. Booked: Morris, De Lucas.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
