Chelsea 1-0 Southampton: Alonso scores 4th goal this term

Antonio Conte will wonder why this was all so tense. It really shouldn’t have been.

Marcos Alonso’s free-kick was enough to secure Chelsea a deserved win over Southampton.

But this win should have been far more comprehensive. Indeed, had Charlie Austin taken just one of three late chances then Chelsea would have been left facing up to an almighty injustice.

Marcos Alonso puts Chelsea in front shortly before half-time when he attempted a left-footed free-kick from outside the area

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster tries to reach the ball with an outstretched left arm before it crashes into the net

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster tries to reach the ball with an outstretched left arm before it crashes into the net

The Chelsea defender puts his right arm in the air in celebration after putting the Blues ahead on Saturday

The Chelsea defender puts his right arm in the air in celebration after putting the Blues ahead on Saturday

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 7, Cahill 7; Moses 6.5 (Zappacosta 82), Bakayoko 6.5, Kante 7, Alonso 7.5; Pedro 6.5 (Fabregas 68, 6.5), Willian 8; Hazard 7 (Morata 73)

Subs not used: Caballero, Rudiger, Drinkwater, Batshuayi.

Manager: Antonio Conte: 7

SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Forster 7.5; Stephens 7, Yoshida 6, Hoedt 6.5; Cedric 6 (Lemina 17, 6), Romeu 6.5, Hojberg 7 (Boufal 72), Bertrand 6.5; Ward-Prowse 6.5, Redmond 6.5; Gabbiadini 5 (Austin 61, 6.5)

Subs not used: McCarthy, Davis, Van Dijk

Booked: Yoshida, Redmond, Stephens

Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino: 6

Referee – Roger East: 6

Att: 41,562

MOM: Willian

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In the end, though, the Blues bandwagon rolls on with this victory; their eighth in 10 games.

Southampton will be left to rue the hat-trick of chances Austin missed in the dying stages. But anything other than victory would have been harsh on Chelsea.

Mauricio Pellegrino is struggling for answers right now. One win in nine Premier League games is worrying form.

Having said earlier in the week that he’d only start players who were ‘100 percent’ committed, manger Mauricio Pellegrino dropped a bombshell in axing key defender Virgil van Dijk from his starting XI.

Sat on the bench, the look on the Dutchman’s face spoke a thousand words. With January round the corner – and Liverpool and Manchester City lurking – is the Van Dijk transfer saga finally reaching a conclusion?

Southampton’s defence coped relatively comfortably without Van Dijk during the opening exchanges, though they were forced into an early change; Cedric limping off in the 17th minute to be replaced by Mario Lemina.

Gradually, though, Chelsea took control. Fraser Forster was becoming increasingly busy, the England keeper stopping efforts from Alonso, Gary Cahill and N’Golo Kante.

Both Southampton's Cedric Soares and Chelsea's Gary Cahill came off the pitch after both were involved in a heavy challenge

Both Southampton’s Cedric Soares and Chelsea’s Gary Cahill came off the pitch after both were involved in a heavy challenge

Soares was forced off the pitch after the challenge as Cahill got a talking to by assistant referee Ian Hussin

Soares was forced off the pitch after the challenge as Cahill got a talking to by assistant referee Ian Hussin

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois does well to get down and claim the ball after Manolo Gabbiadini's run forward

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois does well to get down and claim the ball after Manolo Gabbiadini’s run forward

Courtois was put under pressure throughout the game by Gabbiadini who continued to close the goalkeeper down

Courtois was put under pressure throughout the game by Gabbiadini who continued to close the goalkeeper down

Chelsea forward Willian reacts after missing a chance to score for the Blues as his side put pressure on the Saints goal

Chelsea forward Willian reacts after missing a chance to score for the Blues as his side put pressure on the Saints goal

But the chances were far from clear-cut, much to Conte’s annoyance. The Italian struggles to hide his emotions at the best of times.

Needless to say he was far from happy with how the opening 30 minutes was panning, his gesticulations becoming progressively frantic with every passing minute.

Forster was called upon again in the 33rd minute, producing an excellent near post stop to deny Alonso for a second time before Pedro struck the foot of the post with a low deflected effort.

Surely this onslaught couldn’t continue with Southampton buckling? And so it proved as the Blues took a deserved lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

Eden Hazard’s turn past Maya Yoshida to earn Chelsea a free kick 25-yards out was sublime.

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard manages to hold off Southampton's Maya Yoshida during the second half

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard manages to hold off Southampton’s Maya Yoshida during the second half

Hazard was dispossessed by Yoshida when the Belgium international tried to break forward into the Saints half

Hazard was dispossessed by Yoshida when the Belgium international tried to break forward into the Saints half

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was out on his touchline all the way through the game sending out instructions

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was out on his touchline all the way through the game sending out instructions

Southampton's Mario Lemina does his best to try and get back to help win possession from Chelsea's Tiemoue Bakayoko

Southampton’s Mario Lemina does his best to try and get back to help win possession from Chelsea’s Tiemoue Bakayoko

Alonso’s low curling effort past Forster was just as special, the Spaniard’s strike viciously swinging round the wall before creeping past the Saints keeper.

Conte couldn’t contain his relief; Pellegrino couldn’t disguise his misery.

After his team’s demoralising 4-1 loss to Leicester in midweek, Pellegrino would have been satisfied with Southampton’s resilient first-half showing.

Truth be told, though, his side were fortunate not be further behind at half-time.

The second half started much like the first, with Chelsea in the ascendancy. Willian fired over the bar after a cutting inside from the right flank before Cesar Azpilicueta was off target with another long-ranger.

Pellegrino introduced top goalscorer Charlie Austin for the ineffective Manolo Gabbiadini in the 61st minute in an effort to awaken Southampton’s dozy attack.

Willian keeps control of the ball as he tries to find a way past Southampton's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during the first half

Willian keeps control of the ball as he tries to find a way past Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during the first half

Eden Hazard goes down after being fouled by Southampton's Oriol Romeu as the Chelsea forward surged into the Saints half

Eden Hazard goes down after being fouled by Southampton’s Oriol Romeu as the Chelsea forward surged into the Saints half

Southampton's Yoshida, who was booked late in the first half, goes down during the second half after a challenge

Southampton’s Yoshida, who was booked late in the first half, goes down during the second half after a challenge

And the move nearly paid instant dividends, Austin, sent clear through by Pierre-Emile Hojberg, denied by Thibault Courtois in a one-on-one.

That was the moment. Southampton, particularly with the way Chelsea were dominating the ball, surely wouldn’t get another chance like that.

Indeed, Chelsea hit the back of the net in the 69th minute, Hazard firing past Forster after a neat exchange with substitute Cesc Fabregas only for the goal to be ruled out for the tightest offside calls.

Alonso was denied a second by the overworked Forster, who then saved substitute Alvaro Morata’s fierce effort as the Blues sought to end any doubt over the result.

Yet, somehow, Southampton were clinging onto hope of a draw; Austin again drawing a save out of Courtois inside the final 15 minutes before the Saints striker flicked another effort wide five minutes from time as Chelsea held on for victory. 

Chelsea supporters got into the festive spirit on Saturday as they donned blue and white Christmas hats

Chelsea supporters got into the festive spirit on Saturday as they donned blue and white Christmas hats

The two sides shake hands ahead of the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge in west London on Saturday

The two sides shake hands ahead of the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge in west London on Saturday



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