SOU vs CHE
Match Centre

they are a great team. the second goal put our belief down, which cannot happen. we have to carry on until the end, but i think we just let the game game go.

oriol romeu

southampton midfielder

Our report from St Mary's 📝

For a more detailed rundown of today's encounter, read our match report from St Mary's, where Chelsea ultimately ran out convincing winners.

FULL TIME: Southampton 0-3 Chelsea

It's a harsh overall reflection of a game in which Saints missed golden chances before Chelsea's first and second goals, before the visitors struck again deep into stoppage time. Easy to see why the Blues are still unbeaten, playing some delightful football at times, with Eden Hazard at the heart of most of it. Ross Barkley and Alvaro Morata were also on target for Maurizio Sarri's slick outfit.

Four added minutes signalled

We're into stoppage time here at St Mary's, where Chelsea remain on course to temporarily hit the Premier League summit.

Yellow Card for Danny Ings (Southampton)

The sliding Ings brings down Kovacic, taking Saints' tally of yellow cards to six.

Hoedt slices wide

From the resulting corner, the ball runs through to Hoedt at the far post, but the defender lashes at the shot and slices wide of the near post.

Another save from Kepa...

The world's most expensive keeper is at it again... this time Ings tries his luck from distance, but the Spaniard is there to push it over.

Redmond hits the bar!

So unlucky! Saints are enjoying a good spell at the moment, and Redmond goes close with a thunderous strike from 25 yards that Kepa tips on to the crossbar. You need luck on days like this, but Saints haven't had any today.

Southampton substitution: Shane Long replaces Manolo Gabbiadini

Saints' second change sees Long enter the fray for the final 15 minutes or so.

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Into the final 20 minutes... ⌛️

Time is against Saints now, but there's still 20 minutes for the hosts to save themselves in this game. Get one back and who knows? 💭

Rudiger blocks brilliantly

Saints' best chance since falling further behind. Rudiger gets his head to Gabbiadini's cross but it's only as far as Højbjerg, who smashes the loose ball but Rudiger is there again to make a crucial block.

Yellow Card for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton)

Not a good tackle from behind by Højbjerg, who goes through the back of Giroud.

Yellow Card for Oriol Romeu (Southampton)

Romeu takes a yellow card for bringing down Hazard in full flight.

Great tracking back from Ings

Saints were temporarily exposed as Willian's crossfield ball found Hazard in space, but Ings of all people was retreating and fouled the Belgian, stopping the counter-attack.

Yellow Card for Mario Lemina (Southampton)

Lemina goes into the book for snapping at the heels of Barkley in the midfield.

Ings tests Kepa!

Another chance! Redmond runs at the Chelsea defence and finds Ings in the box, who has to take the shot early and hits it well, but it's straight down the throat of Kepa, who might've had a problem if it had been either side of his body.

Great chance for Bertrand!

Højbjerg crosses from the right - an excellent deep delivery to pick out Bertrand at the far post. The skipper meets it with a sidefoot volley, but can't keep his shot down and it's over the top from eight yards. Encouraging signs to see Saints carve out another very presentable opportunity, even if it's not taken.

The second half is under way

We're back up and running at St Mary's, where Saints are trailing to Hazard's first-half goal.

Southampton substitution: Oriol Romeu replaces Jan Bednarek

It's a half-time change for Saints, which looks likely to prompt a change in formation...

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HALF TIME: Southampton 0-1 Chelsea

That's it for the first half. It's hard to argue that Chelsea deserve their lead, but the game remains in the balance. Eden Hazard finished coolly from Ross Barkley's pass on the half-hour, frustratingly soon after Danny Ings spurned a golden chance at the other end. Saints will feel they've got a chance of getting something from this, but need to ask more questions of a confident visiting side.

Yellow Card for Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

Bertrand goes into the book for emphatically placing the free-kick where he thinks it should be taken, but referee Pawson doesn't share the skipper's opinion.

One added minute

We're into one additional minute here at St Mary's, where Saints have been awarded a free-kick in a promising crossing position...

Half time approaching...

Chelsea have controlled much of this first half, but still only lead by the odd goal. Saints need to get to half time still in the game and regroup.

Gabbiadini tries his luck

Gabbiadini leads a Saints charge. With only Ings in support and outnumbered by defenders, the Italian opts to go himself and shoots optimistically from 30 yards, but it's an easy save for Kepa.

What a chance for Ings! 😩

Saints have found the confidence to go toe to toe with Chelsea now. After a sustained spell of possession, Bertrand makes a lung-busting run down the left to receive Redmond's pass and produce a brilliant cross. It's begging to be converted by the onrushing Ings, but the striker is coming in at pace and cannot control the finish. It flies over from six yards.

Gabbiadini forces a save

Suddenly, Saints come to life, as Gabbiadini cuts inside from the right and lets fly from 20 yards on his left foot. The world's most expensive goalkeeper is there, however, as Kepa stoops to save.

Better from Saints!

Redmond gets away down the left and finds Ings, but Lemina cannot quite get the purchase needed on the striker's cross to hit the target. 

Gabbiadini looking sharp!

The Italian collects a pass from Cédric, finds Højbjerg and looks for the return over the top, but Luiz is there to make a crucial interception.

We're up and running...

It's the visitors, sporting an unusual grey away kit with bright orange socks, who get us under way... come on Saints! 💪

Warm-ups complete ✅

Both sets of players have carried out their warm-ups and the teams are in the tunnel! We're moments away from kick-off... 😬

And the answer was... 2002!

Well done to 29% of you who voted for 2002 as the year of Beattie's brace at the Bridge! The fixture took place on New Year's Day, with Marian Pahars and Chris Marsden also on target for Gordon Strachan's men 👏👏

🎥 Watch Saints train ahead of Chelsea clash!

We were in position at Staplewood to capture the best bits from training this week. We're half an hour away from kick-off at St Mary's! ⌛️

Saints team confirmed 😇

Starting XI: McCarthy, Bednarek, Yoshida, Hoedt, Cédric, Lemina, Højbjerg, Bertrand, Redmond, Ings, Gabbiadini.

1️⃣5️⃣ minutes until team news 👀

You have been voting for who you would like to see in today's line-up! Find out if you've got your wish at 1.15pm BST...

we know it's going to be a tough game. we need to take our chances and show one hundred per cent of our quality. at st mary's, we know we can do something.

mario lemina

southampton midfielder

The stage is set 😍

The countdown to kick-off continues... it's a beautiful afternoon on the south coast! 🌤

What's inside the programme? 👀

Today's edition of SAINTS is a Scandinavian special! As well as profiling some of our favourite Swedes to don the red and white, there's also an extended interview with Norwegian international Mohamed Elyounoussi, who reveals his unusual football upbringing in a fascinating insight. Read a snippet of what Moi had to say here, and buy the programme online!

we're looking forward to it. they're an outstanding side and they've got good talent that we'll have to deal with. for the most part we're playing okay, and we want to go into the international break with a good, positive performance and result.

mark hughes

southampton manager

🎥 Hear from the boss!

We caught up with Southampton boss Mark Hughes in the week at Staplewood, as he looked ahead to only the seventh home game of his Saints reign this afternoon. Who would you like to see in the manager's starting XI today? 🤔

Check out our Match Pack!

We've been previewing this afternoon's game with our in-depth Match Pack. Find all the information you need from team news to facts and stats, as we count down to kick-off! ⌛️

It's matchday at St Mary's! 😇

Southampton are back in Premier League action, hosting high-flying Chelsea at St Mary's (kick-off 2.15pm BST). The Blues have begun the season in impressive fashion under new head coach Maurizio Sarri, with the form of Eden Hazard particularly eye-catching in their unbeaten start. Can Saints end their run? Stay with us for all the build-up, team news, match updates and free commentary!