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Chelsea 1-0 Southampton: Player ratings

By Erik Franzo

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea and Mario Lemina of Southampton battle for posession during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea and Mario Lemina of Southampton battle for posession during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Maya Yoshida of Southampton gives his team mates instructions during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Maya Yoshida of Southampton gives his team mates instructions during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Southampton responded with a much stronger performance than midweek against Leicester City. However, a Marcos Alonso free kick just before half time would give Chelsea a 1-0 win on Saturday.

It was a positive Saints improvement following arguably the worst match of the season on Wednesday. Especially against a Chelsea team that looked at the top of their game from kick off.

Both teams were given early chances, but the blues always looked more threatening to score.  A Southampton back five was tough to crack, keeping the game 0-0 until stoppage time before the break.

Maya Yoshida was forced to bring down Eden Hazard to deny a goal-scoring opportunity. Alonso then took an excellent left-footed free kick that wrong-footed Fraser Forster, a stop he should have made.

Southampton showed some fight late in the second half, and the addition of Charlie Austin immediately paid dividends.

However, it was another result the south coast team was disappointingly on the wrong end of, and leaves the Saints just three points above relegation.

Here are the Southampton player ratings from the 0-1 loss.