Chelsea vs. Southampton: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League

Chelsea failed to fully capitalise on Manchester City’s recent struggles as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa’s early header was cancelled out by Dusan Tadic’s penalty less than 10 minutes later, as the Blues struggled with many of the same issues—fatigue, the lack of a cutting edge and bad luck—that blighted them during their unexpected Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

The hosts pushed forward with an improved intensity in the second half but were unable to find a decisive goal as the Saints defence held firm. The result means the Blues lead at the top of the Premier League is “only” extended to six points, with a game in hand still to be played.

That remains a commanding advantage, although manager Jose Mourinho might have hoped for a more emphatic response after Manchester City lost to Burnley on Saturday evening.

Afterwards, the Portuguese told Sky Sports:

"

The players, they tried. They did [well] for the most part of the game. I did not like the moment after the penalty, I did not like the remaining minutes of the first half. You are winning 1-0, you are on top of the game, you give away the penalty and the opponent gets confident and we were anxious.

The moment of the penalty was crucial for the game, and that was proved as it was crucial for the result of the game. But in the second half we had the desire, the momentum and the stability … and in normal conditions we would have scored a second goal.

"

Mourinho had reiterated his faith in his squad despite the disappointment of the PSG game, something he underlined further by naming what has been his first-choice XI for much of the season. His opposite number, Ronald Koeman, did spring something of a surprise, however. He dropped out-of-form striker Graziano Pelle to the bench, with Sadio Mane and Shane Long instead interchanging in the central role.

That tactical arrangement would soon have its influence, but it was Chelsea who started the game and took the lead after just 11 minutes. Costa—who else?—was the scorer, the Spain international somehow gliding into the box unchecked to head home Branislav Ivanovic’s clipped cross from barely six yards out.

While that strike seemed to lift the atmosphere around Stamford Bridge, it also sparked the visitors into action. Mane almost grabbed an immediate equaliser after Tadic’s clever ball gave him the chance to beat Thibaut Courtois, but eight minutes later they would be on terms.

The two Southampton players combined again, with Mane brought down in the box by Nemanja Matic’s lunging challenge. Tadic took on the responsibility, striking a rather soft attempt straight down the middle that Courtois was perhaps unlucky not to save.

That turned the game into a more open, expansive affair, with Chelsea pushed onto the back foot on many occasions. Tadic and Mane both forced good saves from Courtois, while Chelsea—less composed than usual in the final third—were restricted to two missed headers from the determined Costa.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The second half almost started with immediate controversy, after Matic cynically fouled Mane as the forward attempted to run toward the Chelsea box. The Serbian midfielder had already been booked (for his part in the penalty incident) and referee Mike Dean seemed to be reaching for his cards once again before deciding not to take any further action. It was undoubtedly a let-off for the out-of-sorts Matic, although Mourinho saw the writing on the wall and soon withdrew him for Ramires.

That sparked a period of play where both teams went close. Toby Alderweireld forced a good save from Courtois from long range before Costa hit the post with a mishit effort from close range. For a brief period Chelsea were incisive and dangerous in the final third; Willian could have found the net if he had been clinical in front of goal, while Costa believed he should have had a penalty after Jose Fonte was forced into a lunging challenge.

As the game passed the hour-mark the pattern was becoming more obvious; Chelsea dominating the ball and probing for gaps in the final third, as Southampton caused danger on the break thanks to the pace of Mane and Long. In the final 20 minutes Fraser Forster made a smart double save to deny Costa and then Hazard, although moments before Mane had wriggled past Gary Cahill and earned the defender a booking to keep the contest evenly poised. 

Koeman changed things around—bringing on James Ward-Prowse and Filip Djuricic to freshen his midfield—but it was Chelsea who continued to create the better chances, with Forster once again on hand to make a strong save to deny Oscar’s clear sight of goal.

Mourinho duly threw on Loic Remy and Juan Cuadrado in pursuit of a winning goal, as Southampton started to employ a few time-wasting tactics to erase the clock as soon as possible. Both substitutes had an impact, although they were let down by their finishing as a couple of slight openings went begging.

Southampton rode their luck at the death, however. A deep cross into the box ended up falling perfectly to Remy, whose powerful strike was somehow kept out by Forster. The rebound fell to Terry whose initial effort was blocked on the line, and from the rebound the captain somehow contrived to miss the target to let the visitors off the hook.

It seemed to sum up the contest. Chelsea perhaps edged the overall play and certainly created the better openings in the final third, but a combination of weariness and bad luck meant they were unable to take full advantage.

As it turns out, Man City’s defeat on Saturday means the result is far from a disaster—albeit still a missed opportunity to further strengthen their grip on the title race. Southampton will be far more pleased with the result, even if it arguably does less to boost their own ambition of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

In the end, both sides might accept one point is better than nothing at all. 

"They really came at us in the second half," Forster, the man of the match, said. "We were fantastic in the first half and unfortunate not to score more than a penalty, but in the second half we knew we were going to have to defend. We’re delighted to get a point."

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Player Ratings

Player	Rating
Thibaut Courtois	7
Cesar Azpilicueta	7
John Terry	7
Gary Cahill	6
Branislav Ivanovic	7
Nemanja Matic	5
Cesc Fabregas	6
Oscar	6
Willian	7
Eden Hazard	7
Diego Costa	7
Substitutions
Ramires	6
Loic Remy	6
Juan Cuadrado	6

Player	Rating
Fraser Forster	9
Nathaniel Clyne	7
Jose Fonte	7
Toby Alderweireld	7
Ryan Bertrand	7
Victor Wanyama	7
Steven Davis	6
Morgan Schneiderlin	8
Dusan Tadic	6
Shane Long	7
Sadio Mane	8
Substitutions
James Ward-Prowse	7
Filip Djuricic	6
Graziano Pelle	6

What's Next?

Southampton's next game is against a resurgent Burnley at St Mary's in six days' time.

Chelsea, meanwhile, travel to face Hull City at the KC Stadium next Sunday.

All quotes taken from Sky Sports' live broadcast of the match.