Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino felt Spurs' 3-0 loss at Chelsea could have been different if his side had scored first, stressing there were positives to take.

Defeat means Spurs remain without a win against the Blues in 23 meetings in all competitions, leaving them tenth in the Premier League table after Jose Mourinho's side cruised to victory at Stamford Bridge, despite a strong start from the visitors.

Reflecting on the defeat, Pochettino told the club's website the game might have panned out differently had the north Londoners opened the scoring when they were on top.

The Argentine said: "We played very well at the start of the game but we conceded the first goal and then the second three minutes later and that made it difficult.

"If we scored maybe the game would have been there for us but I’m disappointed because I think we deserved more.

"Chelsea were then comfortable and it was difficult for us," he added.

Goals from Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba within three minutes of one another put Chelsea in the ascendency and Pochettino highlighted the Blues' ruthless nature in front of goal as being a key factor.

He mused: "In the second half we managed the game well until they made it 3-0. We need to be more clinical. Chelsea were and that made the difference.

"Okay, it’s difficult after losing 3-0, but I think there are positives to take. We need to analyse the game but I think we are in a good way."

It was Spurs who started the brighter of the two sides, and Pochettino's side could have been ahead when Aaron Lennon crossed for Harry Kane to rattle a header against the hosts' crossbar.

Defender Jan Vertonghen had earlier gone close when he nodded over. Kane saw another chance go to waste when he seized on a Gary Cahill mistake but took one touch too many before shooting wide of Thibaut Courtois' goal.

But Spurs were made to pay for their profligacy when Chelsea scored twice in quick succession to take the game away from the visitors. Hazard let fly with a left-footed effort after being played in by Drogba.

The killer blow came three minutes later when Hugo Lloris misplaced a clearance to the feet of Hazard, who passed to Oscar, the Brazilian playing in Drogba to lash beyond Lloris.

Willian then tried his luck with an effort Lloris fielded well just before the break.

With 17 minutes remaining, Chelsea wrapped up the points when substitute Loic Remy got goal-side of Vertonghen before cutting inside and driving low into the bottom left-hand corner.

Chelsea almost added to their lead when Willian saw another shot repelled by Lloris, whilst Nacer Chadli was denied by Courtois with Spurs' third effort on target.