HUGHES TELLS SAINTS TO TOUGHEN UP
MARK HUGHES now knows he must turn his Saints into sinners if they are to avoid Premier League relegation. He found out the hard way on Saturday as Southampton squandered a two-goal lead in his first home game in charge, Chelsea fleeing St Mary’s with three points after showing all the cunning and guile their opponents lacked. The margins were fine, but they were there for all too see. Where Shane Long got straight to his feet when hauled down by Andreas Christensen inside the box, Marcos Alonso went to ground under the hint of a challenge to earn the free-kick that led to the winner. Where Eden Hazard was shown too much respect as he drove at the hosts’ defence, Gary Cahill took one for his team-mates with a wild lunge that took the sting out of a stoppage-time attack down the right. The need for Southampton to be that little more streetwise in their last five games is crucial, not least after they found themselves cut five points adrift of safety by Saturday evening. And Hughes is aware lessons in football’s dark arts may be required to avoid heartache come the end of the season. ‘It was difficult,’ he said after watching the second-half turnaround. ‘It was that case of thinking, “Come on guys, you need to understand what’s happening here”. Maybe at times we are a little bit honest.’ SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): McCarthy 5.5; Bednarek 6.5 (Gabbiadini 90min), Yoshida 6, Hoedt 6; Cedric 5.5, Romeu 6.5, Hojberg 6.5, Bertrand 7; Ward-Prowse 6 (Austin 79), Tadic 6.5 (Sims 83); Long 6. Subs not used: Lemina, Boufal, McQueen, Forster. Booked: Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Romeu, Long. Scorers: Tadic 22, Bednarek 61.
Manager: Mark Hughes 7. CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azplicueta 5.5, Christensen 6, Cahill 6; Zappacosta 5 (Pedro 61, 6), Kante 6.5, Fabregas 6.5, Alonso 6; Willian 6.5, Hazard 7.5 (Moses 86); Morata 5 (GIROUD 61, 8). Subs not used: Caballero, Barkley, Bakayoko, Emerson. Booked: Hazard, Cahill, Willian. Scorers: Giroud 70, 78, Hazard 75.
Manager: Antonio Conte 7. Referee: Mike Dean 6. Attendance: 31,764.