Chelsea 1-3 Southampton: 5 Talking Points
It was a night to remember for Southampton on Saturday evening as they romped home to a 3-1 victory at the home of the defending champions, Chelsea. Goals from Steve Davies, Southampton’s Italian international Graziano Pelle and a late goal from Saido Mane helped the Saints to a resounding away victory at Stamford Bridge. The result means Chelsea were condemned to an unprecedented fourth defeat in their first eight games of the season. Jose Mourinho’s side took the lead early in the game when Brazilian winger Willian hit home another sweet free-kick into the top corner of the Maarten Stekelenburg’s goal. However, it was all downhill for the defending champions from there on. Whilst they were lucky to stave off two vociferous penalty shouts, Southampton's relentless pressure finally paid off as Steve Davis drove in the equaliser just two minutes before the end of the first-half.The away side took the momentum from the goal into the second half and romped home the freight train in superb fashion. Saido Mane capped his quite brilliant performance with a well-taken goal, before capping off his time on the field by quite shrewdly setting up Graziano Pelle at the end of a sweeping counter attack. The Italian put the finishing touch to the brilliant move with a precise finish to give Ronald Koeman’s mean well in the clear with a two-goal lead.Here are the five biggest talking points from another tumultuous night at the Bridge for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.
#1 Southampton were quite brilliant
The Saints came into this game at the back of some mixed results. The home loss to Manchester United were fresh in their minds but victory over Swansea would certainly have lifted their spirits and that showed today. Even after falling back early to another wonder strike by Willian from a free-kick, they roared back into the game. They never let their heads hang.
On the contrary, the team from the South coast continued playing in the sweeping style that we come to know and love them for under Ronald Koeman. They kept on building pressure on the champions and even when their genuine penalty appeals were knocked back, they came back for more.
Attitude and confidence are said to be half the battle won and there was certainly no dearth for either in the players wearing red and white at Stamford Bridge today. They defended stoutly for most parts of the game and their attacking trio of Tadic, Mane and Pelle looked dangerous every time they got on the ball. Did I mention Victor Wanyama at the middle of the park and Virgil van Dijk at the back? They were both immense as well.
This is certainly a slow start for Southampton compared to last season, but they really do look the part again this season. It is hard to see them finish anywhere below the European places if they can just get the consistency factor under check.