Pole position: Why Chelsea's the team to beat in the Premier League

For the first half hour of Saturday's contest, Tottenham looked like it had found a way to stop Chelsea's rapid ascent up the Premier League table.

But it ended with a 2-1 win for the Blues, who after 13 matches have shown why they're equipped to take back the title they surrendered so meekly last season.

The biggest difference is Antonio Conte, the Italian mastermind who's not only ushered in a tactical revolution at Stamford Bridge but also imparted a never-say-die attitude to his players.

With the result almost wrapped up, Conte waved his arms and implored the Chelsea faithful to give his team one last push to reach the final whistle.

Before that, supporters chanted the manager's name with the kind of reverence reserved for club legends.

There's symbiosis in west London once again. The spirit is back in this squad. The last dreary days of Jose Mourinho are gone. Every player has a role, and as fans applauded the comeback effort, Conte approached each of his men and embraced them.

This is a team that's now 17 points better off at this stage of the campaign than it was last year.

With all that in mind, Saturday's performance wasn't a classic. Tottenham surprised many onlookers with its fresh legs and relentless pressing in the first half - not least Christian Eriksen, who arrowed a swerving shot into the goal. That Chelsea even produced a response in the opening stanza was a shock to the system. Spurs were that dominant.

But much like Conte was in his playing days - never the most gifted footballer but always the most determined and dedicated - Chelsea found a way to get three points. Conte's Juventus did the same as it clinched three consecutive Serie A titles under his watch, because the season is long and full of trials and tribulations, and the result is sometimes all that matters.

Pedro's brilliant goal turned the game on its head. The sprite Spaniard turned sterile possession into an equaliser with a quick turn and a neat finish beyond a sprawling Hugo Lloris, who hadn't been properly tested until then.

It was an indication of the quality in the squad that Chelsea couldn't maximise under Mourinho last season. That last season's bit players are performing so well and providing such pivotal moments is a testament to Conte's impressive turnaround efforts.

Another of those on the periphery was Victor Moses, who had been stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of loan spells. Moses powered home the winning goal after making a 60-yard run to meet a Diego Costa cross in the penalty area.

Moses is enjoying one of the most vibrant of renaissances in the Premier League - and perhaps in all of European football. He failed to even play regularly during his most recent experiment at West Ham.

The 3-4-3 formation has provided the nomadic Nigerian with a solid foundation to attack and exploit space on the wing.

"I feel like I have found a home here. It's my club. I'm pleased the manager has given me a chance to express myself," Moses said afterward, according to the BBC.

Then there are the protagonists who've finally been granted the freedom to play as they see fit in the final third. Eden Hazard's expressed himself the most, his subtle drop of the shoulder troubling defenders and his 4.2 dribbles per game ranking fourth among Premier League tricksters.

Costa is also more than his usual snarly self. He's moving into open channels and creating plays for his teammates. The pass to Moses was a clever invention, but it was his skillful change of pace to confuse the usually game Mousa Dembele that created the space in which he completed the delivery.

With 10 goals and four assists, no other Premier League outfielder has contributed more on offense than Costa this season.

So, by the end of a resourceful Saturday night, Chelsea had completely sucked the confidence out of a Tottenham side that started with great intent. With the lesser share of shots and possession came victory.

The football at Stamford Bridge has been entertaining, but on this occasion, it was simply passionate, professional, and progressive.