Chelsea 0-1 Southampton: Saints do the double over Chelsea for first time in EPL

Game is over and the final score is Chelsea 0-1 Southampton. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Southampton did not look like the team with a caretaker in charge. Liberated after terminating their brief, tortured relationship with Nathan Jones, the Premier League’s bottom side turned up at Stamford Bridge, found Graham Potter in a muddle and emerged triumphant after punishing Chelsea’s complacency with a beautiful free-kick from James Ward-Prowse.

It has been a while since Southampton, who are three points off 17th place, have shown this much spirit and organisation. The transformation was remarkable. Rubén Sellés had been given less than a week to put a plan in place, but Southampton, who had lost nine of their previous 10 league games, were inspired, fighting hard and somehow holding firm during a frantic second half.

“With the players, I need to be honest with them and tell them what to expect,” Sellés said. “I demand the best. This team is alive. If anyone wants to beat us then they’ll have to be at their best.”

Chelsea were nowhere near their top level. January’s big spenders, drifting in 10th place after winning two of their past 14 games, got what they deserved for picking a team that would have been more suitable for the early rounds of the Carabao Cup. There was no cohesion; only a performance to test the insistence that Chelsea are building under Potter.

The crowd’s anger at full time felt ominous. The boos were loud, Potter copping much of the abuse. Several fans near the tunnel called for him to quit and despite all the calls for patience he is not making the most of his deep, expensive squad.

“After a 1-0 defeat at home any criticism is understandable,” he said. “We’ve had a tough period and are integrating a lot of young players. A lot of people will say I’m the problem and I’m not saying that their opinion is not worth articulating. My job is to work.”

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' Kepa makes decent save

27' Azpilicueta's shot wide out

40' Madueke's shot stopped

46' GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Southampton (Ward-Prowse)

56' Azpilicueta's shot wide out

68' Sterling's shot stopped

71' CLOSE! Sterling misses good chance

79' Injured! Azpilicueta is stretchered off

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95' Gallagher's shot stopped

98' Yellow Card! Perraud booked

Line-ups

Chelsea XI: Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Kovacic, Kepa, Mount, Chilwell, Felix, Benoît Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Enzo Fernández, David Datro Fofana

Subs: Sterling, Marcus Bettinelli, Trevoh Chalobah, Zakaria, Havertz, Conor Gallagher, Wesley Fofana, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Lewis Hall

Southampton XI: Armstrong, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Bednarek, Paul Onuachu, Maitland-Niles, Perraud, Gavin Bazunu, Bella-Kotchap, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Roméo Lavia

Subs: Walcott, Caballero, Adam Armstrong, Lyanco, Walker-Peters, Djenepo, I. Diallo, Sékou Mara, Carlos Alcaraz