The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Diego Costa enjoys the moment after moving Chelsea a step closer to the Premier League title with the fourth goal in last night’s 4-2 win over Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
Striker fires double as Chelsea restore comfortable lead over Tottenham
Diego Costa ended his lean streak with a double as Premier League leaders Chelsea beat Southampton 4-2 last night to restore their seven-point advantage over Tottenham.
Cesc Fabregas, Costa and Eden Hazard were substitutes in last Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Spurs, largely because of the proximity of this fixture.
And all three were instrumental as Antonio Conte’s side moved within 12 points of the title with five games remaining.
Hazard scored Chelsea’s first following a Fabregas through-ball and Costa lay-off.
Gary Cahill, back after gastroenteritis, headed in Chelsea’s second to give the hosts a half-time lead after ex-Blues midfielder Oriel Romeu netted for Saints.
And Costa notched his 50th Premier League goal from a Fabregas pass to end a seven-match scoreless run early in the second half and added a late fourth before Ryan Bertrand’s late consolation.
Chelsea’s prospects of a double in Conte’s first season as head coach remain alive.
Tottenham play their game in hand on Wednesday at Crystal Palace and have the more challenging run-in on paper.
Chelsea play Arsenal in the FA Cup final on May 27 and will hope to have wrapped up the league by then, with Sunday’s trip to Everton the most difficult proposition in their final five games.
The Blues had lost two of their previous four league games – to Palace and at Manchester United – but shook off the wobble at Wembley.
Yet there were more anxious moments to come against Saints, whose pace and ingenuity troubled the Blues.
This was Chelsea’s first home game since it was announced that John Terry would be leaving in the summer following 22 years of service.
The club captain came off the substitutes’ bench for his 714th appearance and first in the league since November.
Conte felt the changes he made for last Saturday’s semi-final were justified..
“It was a good win and I think today I have to be pleased for a great effort, a fantastic effort from my players. It wasn’t easy to play after a tough game against Tottenham,” he told Sky Sports 1.
“It shows my choices were right for the game against Tottenham and for the game against Southampton. It’s not easy for the coach to take this responsibility, to make these strong choices, but I have to be pleased because I have a squad of great men and good players.
“It’s important for us to look at ourselves, these are the most important things. We must be ready and to prepare for the next game as we look at ourselves and not the others.”