Chelsea’s woes fail to subside with Graham Potter’s side suffering a defeat on home soil against Southampton who scored from a set piece to take the three points.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Kepa was called into action early after Southampton upped the pressure on Chelsea centre-back Badiashile and Kamaldeen Sulemana forced Kepa to make a save with his outstretched leg.
The visitors enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession and Paul Onuachu went close to finding the opener after meeting Ward-Prowse’s cross with a header.
Chelsea forwards Madueke and Fofana, the latter making his full Chelsea debut, were the bright sparks for the home side and it looked like the first period will finish without either side breaking the deadlock.
Southampton, however, had other plans in mind with midfielder Ward-Prowse’s free kick in first-half stoppage time curling into the bottom corner past Kepa which means Chelsea went into the break trailing 1-0.
Graham Potter brought Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana off the bench at half time and Sterling nearly teed up his attacking partner Mount for an equaliser only for him to miss.
Sterling was denied by a crowd of Southampton bodies in the box and another substitute Kai Havertz thought he had nearly found the back of the net but the effort was cleared off the line by Bella-Kotchap.
The Blues skipper Azpilicueta was caught by Sekou Mara’s flying boot and play had to be stopped for close to 10 minutes with the former stretchered off the pitch.
12 more minutes were added by the officials even thought that was not enough for Chelsea to find a way back into the game with Potter’s men settling for a frustrating defeat.
