12.24 – Like having an ex-girlfriend who is happily married around to the house, Andre Villa-Boas welcomes Chelsea through the gates of White Hart Lane for today’s Premier League early kick-off.

Brought in by Roman Abramovich after leading Porto to a UEFA Cup win at the age of 33, AVB was turfed out nine months early. To make matters worse, he had to witness the Pensioners, now with his former assistant Roberto Di Matteo in charge, crowned champions of Europe at the Allianz Arena.

Chelsea have stormed to the top of the table this season, while Spurs, after a mediocre start, are up in fifth at the moment. Kick off in 20 minutes.

12.32 – The home side are without new signing Moussa Dembele, who picked up a hip injury on international duty while Gareth Bale is unavailable as his partner is in labour. Both will be big losses for Spurs but Tom Huddlestone and Gylfi Sigurdsson will be hoping to fill the void. Brad Friedel gets the nod ahead of French No.1 Hugo Lloris, meanwhile.

“He (Bale) had a personal situation, which we had to expect,” Villas-Boas has just told Sky Sports. “He wasn’t in the right frame of mind going in. We are a big club and have excellent options.”

12.38 – John Terry, who picked up a heavy fine and four-match ban from the FA but retains his captaincy despite being found guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, is missing for Chelsea. They start Gary Cahill alongside David Luiz at centre-half. Jon Obi Mikel and Ramires will protect the defence with attacking trio Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata, tasked with creating chances for Fernando Torres in attack.

12.50 – Spurs earn themselves a free-kick inside the opposing half and Sigurdsson chips the ball into a dangerous area. William Gallas is latches onto the pass but his connection is poor and the attempted shot is scuffed wide.

12.53 – There’s a lot of dispossessing going on in the centre of the park then Hazard and Torres link up to get the Belgian away down the right. His cut-back is aimed at Torres but Spurs are back in numbers and snuff it out.

The former Lille star tries to slip the same team-mate in seconds later. Friedel is off his line swiftly to smother though.

13.02 – Ramires goes on a solo mission – running at several Chelsea players from deep. The Brazilian checks inside 18 yards out from goal, where Huddlestone nicks the ball away. Clint Dempsey tries something similar down the other end but overruns it.

13.16 – Chelsea with the majority of possession in the opening half hour and have looked more comfortable so far. Spurs not utilising their wide players while Sigurdsson has been quiet.

13.28 – Chelsea really should be two up. Ramires feeds Mata and the Spaniard hits one first time at Friedel. He gets a second crack at it when the save sends the ball straight back out… but he blazes over.

Yellow card for Gallas for a poor challenge on Torres and Spurs have been probing for an equaliser in the last couple of minutes.

14.45 – AVB unable to mastermind a win against his former employers then, in what was a thoroughly-enjoyable game. Other than a period just after half-time, Chelsea were the better side but Spurs did come close and the Sturridge goal puts some gloss on the win.

That’s my lot here. Fenno is liveblogging the 3pm kick-offs, where there are six games, but I’ll be back later for Norwich v Arsenal.