Chelsea moved up to fourth and level with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table as Joao Pedro's goal guided the Blues to a deserved 1-0 win in Saturday's London derby.

Thomas Frank's hosts knew a victory would take them second behind Arsenal, at least until Sunday's game between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth.

But they were punished for an error-strewn showing, as Moises Caicedo pounced on a defensive mix-up to tee up Joao Pedro's close-range finish in the 34th minute.

Frustration could be heard around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium throughout the second half, and Chelsea could have won by a more handsome margin if not for a string of saves by Guglielmo Vicario.

The result leaves the teams third and fourth, respectively, in the table, with Spurs boasting a marginally better goal difference.

How the match unfolded

After a quiet opening, the game burst into life around the half-hour mark, with Vicario denying Joao Pedro following a blocked clearance from Pedro Porro, before Mohammed Kudus just fired over at the other end.

But Joao Pedro would not make the same mistake when Spurs played themselves into trouble again soon afterwards. Xavi Simons' poor pass – intended for Micky van de Ven – was intercepted by Caicedo, who squared for the Brazilian to finish.

Only a reflex save from Vicario denied Joao Pedro his brace when he met Malo Gusto's cross on the volley, before Robert Sanchez parried Kudus' shot in first-half stoppage time.

Vicario was worked on several more occasions in the second half as the Spurs supporters grew restless, with Enzo Fernandez trying his luck before Pedro Neto was denied on two occasions.

And there was to be no grandstand finish from Spurs as the best stoppage-time chances fell to Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, with the hosts being booed off at full-time.

Home is not where the heart is for Spurs

There has been a Jekyll and Hyde feel to Spurs' season so far. For as brilliant as Frank's men have been on their travels - they have the best away record - they have mostly been disappointing at home.

Last week, Spurs produced a streetwise, efficient performance to become the first away victors at Hill Dickinson Stadium, scoring two of their three goals from corners and producing a resolute defensive display when Everton got on top in the second half.

But their start to Saturday's game could hardly have been more different. Spurs got a major reprieve when Porro's blocked clearance did not result in a goal, but they would not be so lucky when Caicedo profited from the mix-up between Simons and Van de Ven.

Spurs had a half-chance early in the second period as Rodrigo Bentancur almost pounced on a long Kevin Danso throw, but that brief moment of hope aside, the hosts were fortunate to avoid further damage on the counter-attack.

The defeat capped a disappointing day for Spurs, which started with Lucas Bergvall being substituted with a head injury in the seventh minute and ended with them eight points adrift of Arsenal.

They are at home again on Tuesday, against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, before Manchester United come to town next weekend.

Caicedo leads much-improved Chelsea to victory

Discontent never seems to be too far away at Stamford Bridge, and a nervy 4-3 EFL Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – in which the Blues were almost pegged back from 3-0 up – did little to atone for last weekend's 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland.

There was some pressure on Enzo Maresca coming into Saturday's game, but he oversaw a strong first-half performance, which set Chelsea on their way to three points.

The Italian fielded captain Reece James as a central midfielder, and his physicality in the challenge and crisp passing through the thirds helped the Blues control the engine room.

Caicedo was busy alongside him and played a key role in the game's telling moment, showing great awareness to dispossess Van de Ven, maintain his balance under pressure in the area, then pick out Joao Pedro.

Maresca would have been braced for a Spurs onslaught after the interval, but that pressure never came as the Blues' back line stood up to a series of hopeful set-piece deliveries and Neto led several blistering counter-attacks.

Chelsea will now look to rest up ahead of a mammoth trip to Azerbaijan, to face Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, before winless Wolverhampton Wanderers visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday