Chelsea Defeated At Home By Southampton
Chelsea's title hopes are gradually fading as arch-rivals like Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal are picking up points.
This is Jose Mourinho's worst start to a season in his 12-year coaching career and what better way to prove critics wrong by facing a Southampton team who are gradually improving after bringing in as much as six players over the summer.
[article_adwert] Chelsea with eight points from seven games while Southampton have nine points.
Line Ups:
John Terry starts again for Chelsea after being dropped for the last two premier league games. Falcao replaces Remy with Diego Costa still serving a ban. Old Chelsea boy Orio Romeu starts for the Saints.
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One choice that will baffle fans is the inclusion of Branislav Ivanovic for Chelsea despite his obvious struggles this season.
Chelsea team v Southampton: Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Falcao. Chelsea subs today: Blackman, Zouma, Baba, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro, Remy.
Southampton team: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte (c), van Dijk, Bertrand, Romeu, Wanyama, S. Davis, Tadic, Mane, Pelle. Southampton subs: K. Davis, Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi.
FULL TIME: Boos all over the stadium as Mourinho's men fall to another defeat. Willian scored a superb freekick but a Steven Davis volley, Saido Mane goal and Pelle strike condemn Chelsea to their fourth defeat in eight premier league games this season.
90+ SUB: Saido Mane is replace by defender Maya Yoshida. Defensive move by Keoman
90+ FIVE minutes of added time given as Chelsea bang on all doors for a goal
85' ALMOST A GOAL!!! Falcao's free-kick almost goes in albeit off a slight deflection
84' Pelle booked for a foul on Oscar just on the edge of the box. Falcao to take
82' The Saints blocking everything Chelsea throws at them with less than 10 minutes to go
76' James Ward Prowse booked for a foul on Oscar
72' SUB: Jay Rodriguez replaces Dusan Tadic
75' WHAT A MISSED CHANCE!!! Tadic is fed by Mane after beating off Cahill, he dummies like he would pass to Ward Prowse and cuts to his left foot to take a shot but John Terry does well to head the shot away with Begovic beaten
74' The Southampton fans making their voices heard
71' SUB: Loic Remy replaces Nemanja Matic
70' GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! Pelle scores!!!! Mane picks up a loose ball and runs at the Chelsea defence. He feeds Pelle on his right and the left-footer's strike beats Begovic well
68' James Ward Prowse tries one from distance!!! The English midfielder sees his in swinging free-kick headed away, he runs to the clerance and tries a shot but its just over
67' What can Mourinho do to Salvage this game????
64' SUB: Pedro Rodriguez replaces Chelsea goalscorer Willian
61' Chelsea all over the place right now, Oscar tries to be smart to commit Fonte into a foul but the referee is having none of it
59' GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Saido Mane punishes Chelsea. Cahill losses the ball to Pelle who feeds Mane, the striker stands strong to block off Terry and create a one on one chance for himself. His shot is blocked by Begovic but still finds a way into the net
57' You sense the referee is trying to balance the books there by rejecting an apparent penalty call
56' The referee books Falcao for diving in the box. Very wrong just like the first hald incident when he booked Mane
54' Its raining at the Stamford bridge stadium now
52' Ward Prowse does well to win a corner from an Azpilicueta cross
51' Foul against Cesric Soares for a foul on Oscar
50' Wanyama and Davies winning the midfield physical battle against Fabregas and Matic
48' WHAT A MISSED CHANCES!!! Tadic feeds Mane following a swift counter but Begovic does well to make himself big to clear. Its not cleared and it falls back to Mane who tries another shot from a tight angle but its blocked.
It falls to Tadic this time who feeds Ward Prowse whose shot is blocked and falls to Steven Davies whose shot just misses the target by an inch.
SUB: James Ward Prowse replaces Oriol Romeu for Chelsea
46' Southampton get up kicked off in this second half
HT: Chelsea 1 - 1 Southampton. Willian scored his four freekick of the season while Steven Davies volleyed in for Southampton from a Graziano Pelle chest down
45+ The Brazilian's attempt hits the wall and the referee blows for half-time
45+ Wanyama's challenge on Osscar just in front of the box is deemed a foul and Willian steps up to take
45+ Two minutes of added time given
43' GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! Sothampton score!!!! The freekick is whipped into the box by Fonte and Pelle chests down for S. Davies to volley into the net
42' Yellow for Ramires for a foul on Mane
41' What a missed chance. Bertrand is fed by Tadic on the left and he finds himself one on one with Begovic
38' Steven Davis takes the resulting freekick which goes to the far left, It is headed back to the middle but Cahill is alert to clear for a corner which in turn is headed away
37' Cahill is penalized for a foul on Pelle
33' AGAIN Mane is brought down in the box by another silly challenge by Ivanovic. This time the referee books him for diving. Clearly wrong!!!
32' Southampton appeal for a penalty that in truth should have been given. Mane dribbles past two players and Ramires brings him down but the ref is having none of it.
28' Southampton playing aggressively but not on the edge, Hazard, Oscar and Fabregas have seen lots of the ball
25' Yellow card for former Chelsea boy Ryan Bertrand for retaliating on a foul by Willian
24' Fabregas brilliantly finds Oscar in a sea of defenders in the box, the Brazilian takes a curling shot from the left but the keeper holds well
23' Hazard creates space for himself in the middle but his shot is straight at the goalkeeper
22' This is better from Chelsea so far, the Blues keeping the ball well and ensuring opposition attackers do not have time on the ball
20' Hazard works some space for himself before finding Oscar. His shot from 20 yards is high and wide
16' Hazard already playing like a man with a point to prove
15' WHAT A MISSED CHANCE!!! Steven Davis finds himself free on the right after being fed by Tadic, after having aall the time in the world, the Briton fires wide of the mark
11' Ramires is penalized for a foul on Wanyama on the flank
10' GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Willian is the hero again from another freekick. That's four freekicks scored this season already.
9' Hazard is pulled back by Romeu, he goes scot-free. Willian steps up to take it.
6' Steven Davies whips in a dangerous freekick but Cahill is big to put for a corner. The corner is easily cleared
3' Chelsea with all the possession in the opening exchanges but nothing of note yet
1' Chelsea kick-off
Source: Legit.ng
