Chelsea narrowed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United thanks to two controversial decisions, but Frank Lampard insisted: 'We deserved it.'
Lampard was robbed of a goal for England in last summer's World Cup, when his shot against Germany clearly crossed the line but was disallowed.
But his luck was reversed at Stamford Bridge when his shot was fumbled by Tottenham's error-prone goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian recovered to stop the ball crossing his goal-line completely but linesman Mike Cairns convinced referee Andre Marriner to give the goal.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1: Now read Rob Draper's match report from Stamford Bridge
Time for technology? Heurelho Gomes stops the ball crossing the line but the goal was given
The incident reignited the debate over goal-line technology. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said: 'Technology has to come in. It took seconds for the TV to see it and I don't know why we are still messing around after all these years.'
Lampard's strike just before half-time levelled the score after Sandro's spectacular 28-yard opener for Spurs. And Chelsea gained an equally controversial winner in the dying minutes when Salomon Kalou scored from a position that was clearlyoffside.
But Lampard insisted his team deserved their 2-1 win, which cut Manchester United's lead at the top ofthe table to three points.
'We deserved the win and have kept our title hopes alive,' he said. 'I was due one of those after not getting a big decision in the summer. It's unlucky on Spurs but you get what you deserve. We created enough to win the game.'
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose league leaders play at Arsenal on Sunday, was in the stands but had left before Kalou's winner. His reaction, had he seen it, would probably have been unprintable.
Delight: Frank Lampard celebrates as Salomon Kalou earns Chelsea all three points
Ferguson's Chelsea counterpart, CarloAncelotti, claimed the two goals made up for decisions that have gone against them during the campaign.
'We were lucky because some decisionswere good for us but this is football and a lot of the time we have been unlucky,' he said.
'The first goal was not an easy decision and was wrong if you look on the television, but the referee does not have the television.'
Chelsea captain John Terry, who was making his 500th appearance for the club, claimed the pressure is now onUnited and he backed Arsenal to give his team another helping hand.
'Throughout the season you get some decisions and Frank has certainly had his share where he hasn't got them,' said Terry.
'I think we deserve that because we never give up. Wefight to the end and United have known all along the hunger we have gotto win that title again. They have a massive game now.'
This result sets Chelsea and United up for a potential title decider between them at Old Trafford next Sunday.
Leaving it late: Salomon Kalou (second right) celebrates his goal with Ashley Cole
Ancelotti's side were the last team to win there and he said: 'We have to play with intensity if we are to win there. 'It is important that we have closed the gap in two months. It has been a very good reaction from us.'
Redknapp has less to look forward to with Tottenham's chances of a potential ?30million return to the Champions League disappearing and the lack of goal-line technology, which FIFA are still testing after initially ruling it out, left him furious.
'The first goal was not over the line and the second was offside,' said Redknapp. 'The wrong decisions have cost us dearly.
'The linesman (for the equaliser) has made an honest mistake but that changed the game. It just gave them a massive lift.'
Redknapp excused his hapless goalkeeper Gomes for the error which led to the first goal controversy and he refused to blame Cairns, too.
He added: 'How can you see from the 18-yard line? It is impossible and if you are not sure you cannot give it. It is a guessing game and he has guessed wrong.'
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Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail