Three reasons why Chelsea beat Southampton 4-1 | Premier League 2019-20
Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount were once again on the scoresheet for a potent Chelsea, who prevailed with a comfortable 4-1 away win against Ralph Hasenuttl's Southampton side in their final Premier League fixture before the next international break.
Abraham broke the deadlock after 17 minutes, latching onto Callum Hudson-Odoi's lofted pass before flicking it high above an onrushing Angus Gunn. Despite Maya Yoshida's last-ditch clearance attempt, goal-line technology showed the ball had fully crossed the line before being punted to safety.
Mount displayed both industry and spatial awareness just seven minutes later, winning possession in Southampton's half before Willian spotted his marauding run through into the box where he slammed home at Gunn's near post.
The hosts were handed a lifeline on the half-hour mark, when Danny Ings netted his fourth goal in three games. The former Liverpool man poked the beyond Kurt Zouma at Kepa Arrizabalaga's near post after Yan Valery's adventurous run-and-cross were not intercepted in time. Ten minutes later though, they restored their two-goal cushion as N'Golo Kante saw his strike from distance take a wicked deflection off Pierre-Emile Hojberg anf fly into the back of the net.
Ings would've doubled his tally in first-half stoppage-time but for Jorginho's excellent recovery, moments after Fikayo Tomori's mistake in possession gifted a chance with the goal gaping.
Ultimately the game was put beyond any doubt late on, as two second-half substitutes - combined to apply gloss on a well-deserved away win. American Christian Pulisic teed up striker Michy Batshuayi, with his first Chelsea league goal since October 2017.
Without further ado, here's a look at three reasons behind the Blues' fourth successive win in all competitions.
Also read: Chelsea News: Mason Mount opens up on his side's impressive away form
#3 Jorginho and Willian the unsung heroes
Jorginho and Willian have been two of Chelsea's chief scapegoats whenever they underperform or find themselves on the receiving end of a frustrating defeat - it's been so since last season began, for various reasons.
Willian has never managed to recapture his best goalscoring form - the 2015/16 campaign - while Jorginho was immediately a victim of his £60m pricetag from Napoli. Earmarked as their midfield saviour, he hasn't always looked that as part of a Chelsea side struggling to find the right balance between technical quality and defensive nous.
After a slow start to the campaign, Willian is producing steady displays. His assist for Mount was as clever as it was subtle. The Brazilian weighted his pass perfectly for the 20-year-old Mount to control and shoot goalwards, having already breached their way into Southampton's box with seeming ease. He now has a goal or assist in his last three appearances (all competitions), at a crucial juncture in his Chelsea career with less than twelve months to run on his existing deal.
As for Jorginho, he picked up an early booking after sliding in late on Shane Long - despite suggestions he'd also won the ball in the process. Having to walk the proverbial tightrope for the remaining 78 minutes meant he needed discipline and concentration, against a Southampton midfield capable of troubling anyone league-wide when they're on song.
The Saints were okay in patches but with the Italian's presence alongside the dependable Kante, they found themselves effectively stifled by Chelsea. Southampton's best chances came either from slaloming runs or individual mistakes, like Tomori did on the stroke of half-time. Besides his goal-saving clearance, the 27-year-old worked smartly with three interceptions and two tackles: enjoying an encouraging start to his second campaign in England.