Chelsea beaten at home by Southampton 3-1

Chelsea’s terrible start to the season continued as Southampton came from behind to record a stunning victory at Stamford Bridge.

The Premier League champions took an early lead through Willian’s free-kick.

Steven Davis drove in an equaliser before Sadio Mane ran through after a defensive error to put Saints ahead.

Graziano Pelle’s angled finish sealed victory for Southampton, who climb to ninth in the table. Chelsea’s fourth defeat of the season leaves them 16th.

The Blues have taken only eight points from a possible 24 this season and are only four above the relegation zone.

Chelsea’s struggles this season have been exacerbated by an uncharacteristically poor defence. They have now conceded 17 league goals – two more than they did in the whole of Mourinho’s first season with the club in 2004-05.

Following Chelsea’s defeat by Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday, fans called for the return of captain John Terry, and they got their wish on Saturday as the 34-year-old was restored to the centre of defence alongside Gary Cahill.

However, Terry’s presence did not solve Chelsea’s problems. Branislav Ivanovic and Ramires were fortunate to avoid giving away penalties with clumsy challenges, while Davis was allowed to run unchallenged to score the equaliser from Pelle’s chested pass.

After the break, Cahill gave the ball away to Dusan Tadic and Terry failed to cut out his pass, enabling Mane to put Saints in front.

Mane was a constant menace to the Blues defence, which backed off to allow the forward to set up Pelle for Southampton’s third.

Misfiring Falcao
With Diego Costa serving the last game of a three-match suspension, the visit of Southampton provided Radamel Falcao with a chance to make a case for a regular starting place.

He has scored only one goal since joining on loan from Monaco in July and, based on his showing against Southampton, it is unlikely he will be threatening Costa any time soon.

Although Falcao had a claim for a penalty when he fell under a challenge by Saints goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, he did not trouble the visitors enough and managed a solitary shot in 90 minutes.

Can Saints build on last season?
Southampton performed beyond expectations to finish seventh in the Premier League last season, but they had won only two of their first seven games this term before the trip to Chelsea.

However, the manner of this victory – their first at Stamford Bridge since 2002 – will give them confidence of challenging for a top-seven finish again.

They rarely looked troubled by the Blues, with Mane and Pelle combining to devastating effect in attack. One or both of them played a part in all three goals.

Southampton are also a tough side to break down – only Everton have beaten them by more than one goal in the Premier League this season.

source:bbc.com