Chelsea 1-3 Southampton: Shambolic Blues fall to another defeat
There was to be no instant response following the
midweek debacle against Porto, as Jose
Mourinho's charges were outplayed in the second
half to continue their poor league start Chelsea's
miserable 2015-16 season continued as they fell
to a stunning 3-1 defeat against a rampant
Southampton side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The hosts took the lead through Willian's free-
kick, but Steven Davis deservedly levelled
proceedings just before half-time.
Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty
when Radamel Falcao was brought down by
Maarten Stekelenburg in the second half shortly
before Sadio Mane put the Saints in front after a
mistake from the returning John Terry. Graziano
Pelle then sealed a victory which piles further
pressure on manager Jose Mourinho.
The champions have now taken just eight points
from as many matches after conceding three
times in a home league game for the first time
ever under the Portuguese boss, while
Southampton have won three consecutive games
and scored 12 goals in the process.
Mourinho had said before the match he would
continue to rotate his side as he searches for a
winning formula and he did exactly that with four
changes as Falcao, Eden Hazard, Oscar and
captain Terry were selected.
Former Blues midfielder Oriol Romeu started in
place of James Ward-Prowse in the only
alteration made by Ronald Koeman.
Chelsea took the lead in the 10th minute after
Romeu had been booked for a foul on Hazard out
wide.
Willian stepped up and his 30-yard delivery found
the far corner after bouncing off the post. It was
unclear if the attempt was deliberate, but the
Brazilian celebrated scoring for the fourth game in
a row.
Virgil van Dijk's penalty appeal was turned down
after Branislav Ivanovic had a hold on his shirt at
a corner, before Davis lashed an effort wide as
Southampton attempted to respond.
At the other end, Stekelenburg saved Oscar's
curling effort after the playmaker had combined
well with Cesc Fabregas in a tightly-congested
penalty area.
The Saints were appealing for a spot-kick again
when Mane went down in the box but their
appeals were denied by referee Robert Madley
despite contact being made during Ramires'
challenge.
Southampton were the better side as the first half
drew to a close and great work from Mane saw
him dribble infield and send through a pinpoint
pass for Ryan Bertrand, but Asmir Begovic
narrowed the angle and denied the defender a
goal against his former club.
The equaliser did arrive one minute before half-
time though. A long pass from defence was
chested down far too easily by Pelle on the edge
of the box and Davis stepped up to rifle a low shot
into the bottom corner.
Both sides made changes at the break, with
Nemanja Matic replacing Ramires and Ward-
Prowse coming on for Romeu.
Within minutes of the re-start, a sweeping
Southampton passing move almost resulted in a
goal, but Begovic did well to repel Mane's effort at
close-range following Dusan Tadic's square pass.
Chelsea were struggling to generate clear-cut
opportunities but felt they should have had a
penalty. Falcao outmuscled Jose Fonte and went
down in the box as he attempted to round
Stekelenburg, but received a booking for what the
referee saw as a dive.
That decision proved costly for the champions on
the hour-mark. After Gary Cahill had given away
possession, Pelle slipped through a pass which
Terry completely misjudged, allowing Mane to
race through on goal. Begovic got something on
the ball in his attempt to save but not enough to
prevent his side falling behind.
There was more woe for Chelsea on 72 minutes.
This time it was Hazard who gave away the ball
and Mane led a swift counter-attack before
setting up Pelle to convert with a lethal finish into
the far corner.
A crucial block from Terry denied Southampton a
fourth after Mane won a battle of strength against
Cahill down the left and brilliantly set up Tadic.
Chelsea almost had a goal back when a poor
piece of goalkeeping from Stekelenburg allowed
substitute Pedro the opportunity to shoot, but the
ex-Barcelona man was just off target.
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