Chelsea climb back into top four with 1 0 win over Spurs

LONDON - Chelsea climbed to fourth place in the Premier League as Enzo Fernandez sealed a 1-0 win that piled pressure on beleaguered Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on April 3.

Fernandez’s thumping header early in the second half settled a bruising London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City and Newcastle had both won on April 2 to knock Chelsea from fourth down to sixth in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

But Chelsea’s response lifted them one point clear of fifth-placed City and two ahead of sixth-placed Newcastle.

The top four are guaranteed to reach the Champions League, with fifth also likely to secure a place depending on the results of the English clubs left in European competitions this season.

Chelsea, who have now lost just one of their past 13 league games against Tottenham, had been far from convincing recently, with boss Enzo Maresca criticised for his cautious tactics.

Beaten 1-0 at Arsenal in their last game before the international break, Chelsea’s players had a planned day off cancelled by Maresca due to a poor effort shown during an informal match against one of the club’s youth sides.

The Blues were more dynamic against Tottenham, but still lacked a cutting edge despite holding on for a fifth win in their last six games in all competitions.

For Postecoglou, it was another dispiriting loss in a wretched season that could end with his sacking.

Tottenham are without a victory in their last four league matches and have won only one of their last six games in all competitions.

The north Londoners are languishing in 14th place after a 16th defeat from 30 league games.

The last time they finished as low as 14th was in 2003-04, while their worst final position in the Premier League era was