Chelsea 1 Southampton 1 15th March 2015

CHELSEA 1    SOUTHAMPTON  1

15th March 2015

Stamford Bridge

After the defeat by PSG in the Champion's League mid-week and the controversy that came with the Chelsea players reaction to Ibrahimovic's sending off this game was always going to be about how Chelsea would react. With Manchester City wilting as possible title challengers with a home defeat at Burnley the incentive was there for Chelsea to take a big step towards claiming their fourth Premier League title. After this game we can say that Chelsea have lost their mojo, at least temporarily. That extra piece of magic that can turn a draw into a win. Oscar was anonymous for long spells and Fabregas struggled to find his passing game. With a little bit more composure and class Southampton could have taken advantage and claimed all three points. 

It didn't start off so bad for Chelsea with them taking the lead after just10 minutes. Hazard showed some great tenacity to make the opportunity for Ivanovic who crossed for the unmarked Costa to head home from close range. That was about as much as Chelsea could muster for the half as from then on it was Southampton who made all the running. In fact, it was not long before Southampton were level. First Courtois saved well when Mane was well placed to finish and then after 18 minutes Southampton won a penalty that their industrious play deserved. Mane again was the thorn, bursting through into the penalty box before being pulled down by a combination of Matic and Ivanovic. Tadic stepped forward to take what was only the second penalty Southampton have been awarded this season. Tadic had missed that one other penalty but this time he scored electing to shoot straight down the middle with Courtois just missing the shot with his out-stretched leg.

Southampton were getting a lot of joy down their left wing where Ivanovic was time after time left out numbered as Willian disappointed in getting back to support. Chances for Shane Long near post and for the impressive Mane all came from inter-changes on that side. Chelsea were happy to get to the break and we expected better things from them in the second half.

                                                                                 Chelsea players lament a missed opportunity during their 1-1 Premier League draw against Southampton. – Reuters pic,

It almost started disastrously for them as Matic, who had already been yellow carded for the foul on Mane that led to the penalty, escaped punishment when again involved in an altercation with the same player. From the resulting free kick Toby Alderweireld had a rasping drive tipped over the bar acrobatically by Courtois. From then on Chelsea began to threaten more; a combination of Southampton sitting back and Chelsea finally beginning to put some offensive passes together. At this stage Southampton would gladly have taken the point. 

 Chelsea's increased pressure was beginning to tell but it was more from attrition rather than intricate passing. First Costa hit the post on 57 mins after a reflexive reaction to a wild shot from Willian. Then after 72 minutes a Willian cross was met by the head of Oscar who headed straight at Forster in the Southampton goal and from the rebound he had to save again when Hazard tried to drill home from an acute angle. This chance encouraged Chelsea as they went for the winner and there were chances for Oscar and the substitute Cuadrado after 76 and 86 minutes respectively.  Southampton though looked to have done enough when Chelsea had their best chance of the match. A corner in stoppage time resulted in ping pong in the box with John Terry finally shooting wide when well placed.

At the end Southampton were good value for their point having taken the game to Chelsea, especially in the first half. It will give them encouragement in their fight for a top four finish. Chelsea were not at their creative best and had to rely on their discipline and experience to get them through. Being knocked out of Europe was no doubt a big blow to their confidence and it is natural that there would be some consequences. Chelsea will no doubt recover and with no obvious challenger should have enough to claim the Premier League trophy in May.