Antonio Conte may not be willing to talk up Chelsea's title prospects yet, and high-pressing Spurs gave the Blues a stern examination early on, but the visitors' pain at Stamford Bridge continued to put Conte's men back on top of the pile.
Chelsea were initially found out here
There was always going to come a moment when Antonio Conte's well-oiled machine copped a spanner in the works.
And Mauricio Pochettino found the answer: the high press.
Spurs pegged Chelsea up in their final third, creating urgency and attacking danger.
And Chelsea could not wriggle free from that hold during the first half.
It was almost half an hour before Chelsea even managed a shot on goal.
Spurs were unable to keep up the physicality, and Chelsea countered it after the break.
But other managers, notably Pep Guardiola waiting in the wings, will have taken note.
The late first half goal was everything
Tottenham completely dominated the first 45 minutes.
And yet, thanks to a piece of brilliance form Pedro in added time, the sides went in level.
Imagine the psychological blow that creates: to have given your all, completely led the game, and to have noting to show for it.
All at a ground where your side hasn't won for 27 years.
Of the to managers, Conte had by far the easier half time chat to give, effectively: “Do things better!”
But what could Pochettino say?
Spurs looked shellshocked after the break, and Chelsea's second quickly followed.
Spurs 10,000 days of heartbreak at Stamford Bridge
It was 10th February that Tottenham last won three points at Chelsea.
Nelson Mandela was still a prisoner (he would be released the next day), and Margaret Thatcher was UK Prime Minister.
9,786 days have passed since.
With this win Chelsea ensure that record, one of the most jaw-dropping hoodoos in British football, will click over to the 10,000 mark – 27 years and counting.
Some Spurs fans have suggested their team are beaten before they get here.
For supporters of Chelsea there can be few things in the game more satisfying than this particular derby of domination.
The Victor Moses renaissance continues
There has been a bit of a lazy narrative developing of late – that Victor Moses is the renewed, formerly forgotten man, and that he is Chelsea's big difference on the pitch.
He's been good, certainly effective, but not in truth the standout star for Blues.
But here he was just that: one of the few to turn up in the first half, and superb in bagging the winning goal.
It's a great thing to see: from a player who has been bussed all over the Premier League, and remained entirely positive throughout.
Today that adulation was fully deserved.
It's time to start taking Chelsea's title challenge seriously
Though Chelsea's evolution over the last half dozen games has been remarkable, there was always a niggly thought it might not be what it seemed.
Some of the teams dispatched were not up to much, others might (if you were playing devil's advocate) be classed as a fluke.
Here Chelsea turned around a game to beat one of the best sides in England.
This, and next week's trip to Manchester City, were always seen as the two big early season tests.
The first has been passed. After the second we'll have an even clearer picture of what this side is capable of doing.
