Southampton: Forster (7), Yoshida (5), Alderweireld (7), Fonte (7), Targett (7), Schneiderlin (6), Wanyama (7), Tadic (7), Davis (6), Mane (7), Pelle (6).
Subs: Ward-Prowse (5), Gardos (6), Long (5).
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Ivanovic (6), Cahill (6), Terry (5), Filipe Luis (4), Matic (7), Mikel (6), Schurrle (4), Fabregas (7), Hazard (8), Costa (6).
Subs: Willian (6), Drogba (6), Remy (5).
A spirited Saints side hold Chelsea to a draw at Saint Mary’s with Eden Hazard salvaging a point for the league leaders.
The hosts had to arrange with a makeshift backline with both of their in-form full backs Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne were out with various reasons. Bertrand couldn’t face his parent club while Clyne was out with a knock.
The Saints took a shock lead via Sadio Mane who beat an offside trap set by Chelsea in the 17th minute. From then on, it was all Chelsea show. Eden Hazard managed to get an equalizer late in the first half as both the teams headed into the break with everything to play for.
In second half it was Blue barrage as far as possession is concerned. But Jose Mourinho’s boys failed to utilize all this possession as they hardly tested Saints keeper Fraser Forster. Chelsea had only one shot on target in the match and none in the second half.
There was a controversial penalty shout when Targett clipped Cesc Fabregas in the box but referee instead booked Fabregas for simulation. Morgan Schneiderlin was shown red as he earned his second booking of the match he fouled Fabregas late in the second half.
All in all, a good result for the hosts and a shambles of a performance from Chelsea and referee.
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