CHELSEA lost 2-1 to Southampton at St Mary’s despite leading early in their Premier League clash.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring but goals from Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong were enough to secure a vital three points for the Saints.
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That’s all from St Mary’s
So, the Saints go marching on after a determined performance against a tired looking Chelsea side.
Chelsea host West Ham at Stamford Bridge on the weekend where they will hope to turn their form around.
Meanwhile, Southampton travel to Molineux where they will take on Wolves in a bid to continue their hot streak.
Goodnight!
.Credit: Getty Tuchel reflects
A frank, honest and slightly bemused Thomas Tuchel had his say on his side’s defeat:
Obviously we are struggling with our focus and consistency in matches. We struggled to find answers and find the way back into things if things don’t go in our direction.
Things did go our way today but then we struggled after the equaliser.
I don’t know if concern is the right word. I absolutely dislike to lose, it is the second time this season and I don’t think it takes a lot to beat us and this I don’t like.
I also don’t understand why we are in this situation with injuries to our midfield.
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea boss
Lavia opens account in style
The 18-year-old midfielder lashed home his side’s first goal from distance for his first senior goal.
Here are his post-match thoughts:
It is an amazing feeling to bounce back from the defeat at the weekend. I have not scored in a long time, so what a feeling to score here at home and in front of my family as well.
I’ll be honest I don’t even score like that in training but today was my lucky day, it went in.
We don’t stop. It is about the spirit of the team, we always communicate and tell each other to keep pushing to the end. We are building a great core in the team, we keep building.
Romeo Lavia, Southampton midfielder
.Credit: EPA
Armstrong reacts
Adam Armstrong’s first half strike proved to be the winning goal this evening.
Here’s what he had to say on the performance:
Chelsea are a tough opposition but the lads dug deep. Nights like this we won’t forget. It was frustrating on Saturday [against Manchester United] we had a few chances. That is football. We dug deep tonight… We will celebrate tonight.
Adam Armstrong, Southampton forward
A day to forget
Chelsea weren’t at the races today.
Their last stitch attempts at hunting an equaliser proved unsuccessful. With the money spent, questions will have to be answered, whilst fingers will be pointed.
.Credit: AFP What it means
The win means Southampton draw level on points with Chelsea in the Premier League, rising to 7th from 13th.
Good day at the office.
.Credit: AFP FULL-TIME – Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
Southampton have done it! They have held off the Blue storm and won here against Chelsea for the first time in nine years.
Hassenhuttl has the biggest smile in the house as the fans drink in every moment.
The Saints were fantastic this evening, fighting for every last ball, and having the quality to finish their chances.
Chelsea looked way off the pace, lacking any kind of cohesion and structure. Fingers will be pointed at Thomas Tuchel this evening.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
90+4, Mendy joins the rest of his team in the box for one final corner.
Ziyech’s delivery isn’t the best and Ward-Prowse charges down the other end, almost latching on to it and finding the empty net.
That should be that now.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
90+2, Adams wins a foul off Chilwell and the Saints fans are singing their hearts out. They can taste victory now.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
90, The board goes up for five added minutes.
Can Chelsea grab an equaliser, or will Southampton hold on?
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
88, Southampton survive the free-kick as the hosts’ admirable defensive work continues. Djenepo reads Pulisic and draws a foul from the American.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
87, Southampton can’t keep the ball at the moment, inviting Chelsea to attack.
Lyanco is unnecessarily in on Ziyech and Chelsea flood the box.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
85, Armstrong makes way to a warm reception.
Lyanco is on for some defensive stability.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
84, Sterling has moved out to the left and been at the heart of everything since.
Mount feeds him in behind, but looks caught in two minds as he crosses the ball far too close to the goalkeeper who can smother it.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
82, Chelsea with all the ball now.
Sterling teases in another cross. Salisu desperately clears under pressure but you sense that won’t be Chelseas’s last opportunity.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
81, Sterling curls in an in-swinging ball towards Broja who gets a head to it, but Buzunu pushes it wide of his post.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
80, Despite the scoreline, it’s Southampton who remain in the ascendency, peppering Chelsea’s box with crosses.
Pulisic goes into the book as he frustratingly hacks Diallo to the floor after giving it away.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
78, The crowd are getting louder and louder inside St Mary’s.
With every good tackle, every Chelsea mistake, the more they believe.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
77, Adams does brilliantly to win a foul and Ward-Prowse delivery is bang on the money.
Koulibaly does well to head clear.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
76, Elyounoussi draws a roar from the crowd as he beats 2 or 3 Chelsea players.
Pulisic then looks to play Sterling in behind, but the ball runs away from him.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
73, Thiago Silva with a goal-line clearance!
Salisu gets his head to the corner, nodding it down past Mendy. But Thiago Silva, casual as ever, hooks his leg back to deny Southampton a third.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
72, Perraud, who’s looked really sharp this evening, makes way for Djenepo to help secure this victory.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
71, Bella-Kotchap looks okay to continue and play can resume.
Adams does well to win a corner off Cucurella.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
70, Bella-Kotchap is on the deck after taking Cucurella’s stray arm to the face.
A chance for the players to take a breather.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
67, Broja with an immediate impact, bullying Southampton into conceding the throw.
With arguably no real recognised number 9 in the Chelsea starting 11, this is a really good opportunity for the Albanian who spent last season on loan here.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
