Victor Moses scores as Chelsea end Spurs unbeaten run

Victor  Moses put Chelsea back to the top of the table with a hard earn victory at Stamford Bridge to inflict Tottenham’s first Premier League defeat this season.

Spurs looked on course to recover from their midweek Champions League exit when Christian Eriksen’s superb 11th-minute strike put them in front.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were completely dominant until the closing seconds of the first half when Pedro curled in a spectacular right-foot effort to draw Chelsea level.

And Spurs’ miserable record at Stamford Bridge was extended to 30 games without a win – dating back to February 1990 – after Victor Moses scored what proved to be the winner six minutes after the restart.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen both got touches on Moses’ goal-bound strike but the ball flew in as Chelsea recorded a seventh league victory in succession.

When Chelsea lost 3-0 to Arsenal on 24 September – a scoreline that flattered them – Conte’s side dropped to 10th in the table, eight points behind then leaders Manchester City.

Conte was highly emotional in his post-match briefing but promised to put matters right. The Italian has been as good as his word and he has presided over a remarkable transformation.

He switched to three at the back, which has left no place for captain John Terry but has made surprise £30m summer signing David Luiz look more comfortable than in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

Conte has also brought the best out of Pedro, who had struggled at Chelsea after his move from Barcelona, while Diego Costa is a warrior whose eyes are now right on the ball rather than opponents.

Chelsea look a solid, dangerous, formidable outfit and that desperate day at Emirates Stadium seems an age away after these seven straight league wins.

Victor Moses seemed destined for life away from Stamford Bridge after a succession of loan spells following his £9m move from Wigan Athletic in August 2012.

The 25-year-old had only made 23 appearances and scored one goal for Chelsea before this season and had stints at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United before Conte took charge at Stamford Bridge.

Conte’s tactical reshuffling saw Moses employed as a right wing-back in his new defensive system, the catalyst for an unlikely revival that has seen him emerge as one of Chelsea’s most important players.

Moses is utilising his attacking qualities to give Chelsea width while also revelling in his more defensive duties, adding a new dimension to his own game and rewarding a manager who has complete trust in him.

The crucial goal he scored here was just a reward for another fine performance and he fully deserved the standing ovation he was given when he was substituted.