Frank’s fledglings are firing for Blues
FRANK LAMPARD strode over to the celebrating Chelsea fans at St Mary’s and stood in front of them, clenching his fists in triumph.
It was as if their fourth victory on the trot in all competitions marked an important staging post for his developing young team.
At the end of a week which saw two of Frank’s fledglings – Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori – called up by England coach Gareth Southgate, it seems what Chelsea are doing this season is even being recognised outside Stamford Bridge.
It was the youngsters again who shone yesterday as Lampard’s team climbed to fifth in the table.
Abraham notched his eighth league goal of the season, Mason Mount his fourth and Callum Hudson-Odoi made his first start since April.
They were helped by some of the old boys, with a revitalised Jorginho in good form, fit-again N’Golo Kante as omnipresent as ever, and Willian electric.
Struggling Southampton, who are just above the relegation zone, simply had no answer.
Abraham’s opening goal set the tone for the afternoon.
Hudson-Odoi played the young striker through and he lobbed Angus Gunn as the Saints keeper dashed out. Maya Yoshida raced back to hack the ball clear, but it had already crossed the line.
“Tammy’s goal was incredible,” said Lampard, above. “It’s confidence. When people are in good form, things happen for them.
”It’s the work ethic that gets him in such good nick.
“He’s not just a handful for defenders – he has good feet, holds the ball up well and is getting goals.
“I trusted in Tammy at the start of the season. I felt it was his time to come back to Chelsea. He has made the position his own in the short term. I will keep on him though because I want more.” Chelsea went 2-0 up in the 24th minute when Willian fed Mount and he slotted coolly home.
Boyhood Portsmouth fan Mount cupped his ears to the stunned Saints fans as he celebrated.
Then, out of the blue, Saints hit back. Yan Valery ghosted past six Chelsea players before squaring for Danny Ings to stab the ball home under a challenge from centre-half Kurt Zouma.
But Chelsea quickly added a third goal when Kante’s long-range drive deflected off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to leave Gunn helpless.
There were also a few worrying moments for Lampard, though. Tomori was shaky at the back and when his first-half slip let in Ings, the energetic Jorginho had to get back to clear the ball off the line.
Chelsea confirmed their superiority with a minute to go and it was a good moment for 21-year-old American substitute Christian Pulisic.
The club’s £58million signing from Borussia Dortmund has been on the outside looking in recently but he played in fellow substitute Michy Batshuayi, who slid home Chelsea’s fourth goal.
Unhappy Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “We have two intense weeks in front of us in this international break, that’s for sure.
“At the moment we are far away.” SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-3): Gunn 5; Valery 6, Bednarek 6, Yoshida 6, Bertrand 6; Ward-Prowse 7, Romeu 6, Hojbjerg 6; Redmond 6 (Boufal 81), Ings 6 (Adams 80), Long 6 (Obafemi 73). Goal: Ings 30.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa 6; Azpilicueta 7, Zouma, Tomori 6, Alonso 7; Kante 7, Jorginho 8, Mount 7 (Kovacic 78, 6); Willian 7, Abraham 7 (Batshuayi 83), Hudson-Odoi 7 (Pulisic 79). Goals: Abraham 17, Mount 24, Kante 40, Batshuayi 89..