Seeing a team be shut out for the first time and going forward without their best striker would be a concern for most managers.

Jose Mourinho, however, brings front-running Chelsea back to Stamford Bridge looking full-speed ahead as they prepare for Wednesday's match against London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues (10-3-0) still have a six-point advantage atop the Premier League, but reigning champions Manchester City have supplanted Southampton as their primary pursuers. Chelsea were held without a goal for the first time in all competitions this season, failing to unlock a bunkered Sunderland defence in a 0-0 draw Saturday, but Mourinho appeared content with a share of the spoils given how he felt his team performed.

"Many people like to criticise defensive teams and I don't do that," said Mourinho, who is well-known for his cagey defensive strategies in years past. "I have no negative words for my players because they tried everything and they weren't successful. At the end of the day one point for a team that tried and one point for a team that was successful I think is fair."

Success in this mid-week clash will have to come without first-choice forward Diego Costa, who picked up his fifth yellow card in league play versus the Black Cats and will sit out this match. Mourinho quickly moved past it, saying, "We'll play either (Loic) Remy or (Didier) Drogba against Tottenham. We don't cry about injured or suspended players. ... It's no problem, let's go."

Drogba and Remy each have one goal in the Premier League this season, but Drogba has usually been Mourinho's first choice when Costa is unavailable, and the Ivorian has responded with three goals in six non-league games as well. Drogba has four goals in 15 lifetime matches versus Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur (6-2-5) are trying to throw themselves into the mix for a top-four spot during this busy schedule. Spurs are seventh in the table on 20 points, trailing Arsenal on goal differential, but only two points behind Manchester United for fourth.

Sunday's 2-1 victory over Everton was Spurs' third on the bounce in all competitions, and they have won six of their last seven overall. Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado's first-half goals rallied the Lilywhites from an early deficit as Mauricio Pochettino's system finally seems to be taking hold at White Hart Lane.

"We showed very good energy, maybe we need to improve and play better, but the three points is important for our confidence," Pochettino said.

For Soldado, his marker ended a drought of 593 minutes in league play without a goal dating to last March, and the relief of finally lifting that burden was palpable.

"I needed to score because in the last few games I've felt good, but it's important for a forward to score," he said through the team's official Twitter account. "The moment the ref blew for halftime and everybody sung my name and I welled up a little bit, I had a tear in my eye. It was very special."

Much was made about Spurs' staggering struggles against elite sides last season - they were outscored 27-3 while claiming five of a possible 30 points against the five teams who finished ahead of them in 2013-14 - but so far, Tottenham have gone 2-1-1 against teams ahead of them this season.

Chelsea rampaged to a 4-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season, extending their unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge in league play versus Spurs to 24 matches (16-8-0) since a 2-1 defeat Feb. 10, 1990, when the teams were in the First Division.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)