LAMPARD KIDS RUN THE SHOW
INITIALLY it appeared a tall order when Frank Lampard returned as Chelsea manager and outlined his determination to retain their top four place. Not so much any more.
No Eden Hazard, a transfer embargo and a young manager with an even younger squad hardly seemed ideal circumstances for a top-four challenge.
But Chelsea look as well-placed as anyone to make a push for a Champions League place after brushing aside Southampton to go fifth.
Only goal difference separates them and fourth-placed Leicester, while they are just two points off second.
The youngsters Lampard has introduced have injected a vibrancy and energy and dovetailed seamlessly with the more seasoned campaigners.
Together they have thrived with the shackles taken off and formed a team their fans can love again. It is a far cry from last season under Maurizio Sarri.
There was more evidence at St Mary’s of how things are clicking into place nicely for Chelsea. Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount scored the first two goals and Callum Hudson-Odoi also impressed on his return to Chelsea’s Premier League starting side — all good news for England boss Gareth Southgate, too, who has the first two in his current squad and Hudson-Odoi in the Under 21s.
N’Golo Kante scored a third and the old guard, led by Jorginho and Willian, helped the Blues expertly manage the rest of the game before Michy Batshuayi applied the late gloss.
A few shaky defensive moments, not least for Danny Ings’ goal that brought Southampton back into the game at 2-1, showed there is still work to do, and Lampard acknowledged as much at full-time.
On this occasion though, Chelsea were up against a side who made many more errors and they took full advantage of their hosts’ generosity.
This was Chelsea’s fifth win a row here, an outcome that prompted boos from the home fans at the final whistle. No wonder. They have not seen a home win since April, only two anywhere in the league this season, and are a point outside the drop zone. These are worrying times for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Chelsea went ahead after 17 minutes when Hudson-Odoi picked out Abraham with a ball over the top. Abraham miscontrolled at first but had the presence of mind to get a shot away, sticking out a leg to lift the ball over the onrushing Angus Gunn. Maya Yoshida sprinted back and looked to have kept the ball out with a brilliant goalline clearance but referee Paul Tierney’s watch buzzed to signal that the ball crossed the line and Abraham had his ninth goal of the season.
While that was a little unlucky for Southampton, they deserved to ship their second seven minutes later.
Gunn’s poor kick was intercepted by Mount, Jan Bednarek’s header was pinched by Willian
and Chelsea worked the ball through to Mount who thumped in his fourth of the season. Hasenhuttl was fuming at his side’s defending but much happier on the half- hour. Yann Valery burst through a group of four Chelsea players and then beat another two before crossing for Danny Ings to turn in his fourth goal in three matches. Game on. For 10 minutes anyway. Then Southampton were opened up with ease again. Marcos Alonso found Kante in way too much space just outside the box and his drive deflected in off Pierre-emile Hojbjerg.
There were a few moments of indecision from england new boy Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma but Kepa’s goal was never under threat.
The away fans chanted ‘Oh when the Saints go marching out’ when the late exodus begun. It gathered pace in the 89th minute when Chelsea subs Christian Pulisic and Michy Batshuayi combined and the Belgian slid in number four.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): Gunn 5; Valery 7, Yoshida 6.5, Bednarek 5, Bertrand 6; Romeu 6, Hojbjerg 6; Ward-Prowse 6, Redmond 6 (Boufal 81min); Ings 6 (Adams 81), Long 5 (Obafemi 73). Subs not used: McCarthy, Stephens, Armstrong, Danso. Scorer: Ings 30. Booked: None. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 6. CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa 6; Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 5.5, Tomori 6, Alonso 7; Kante 7, JORGINHO 8, Mount 7.5 (Kovacic 80); Willian 6, Abraham 7.5 (Batshuayi 84), Hudson-Odoi 7.5 (Pulisic 80). Subs not used: Caballero, Christensen, Barkley, James. Scorers: Abraham 17, Mount 24, Kante 30, Batshuayi 89. Booked: Jorginho. Manager: Frank Lampard 8. Referee: Paul Tierney 6. Attendance: 31,473.