Chelsea vs Southampton: A tactical and statistical review of the match

By Marc Walker | Oct 18, 2020

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Theo Walcott of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on October 17, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ben Stansall - Pool/Getty Images) /

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Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (C) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Saints turned the tide and could’ve even won

In the first-half at Stamford Bridge, Saints were second-best and rightly went into the break 2-1 down.

They had faced nine shots from Chelsea in the first period and had registered just four attempts on the home goal themselves.

Things improved hugely in the second-half though and they went on to have nine shots to Chelsea’s two as control of the game was wrestled back in their favour.

Diagrams from the StatsZone app show that Saints had focused on direct passing down the left flank in the first-half – looking to get both Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond in behind Cesar Azpilicueta when they could.

Then in the second-half they ditched this approach and built up attacks in a much more patient way.

This is also shown via whoscored.com, who tell us that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side hit 4 long passes in the first-half and that went down to 34 after half-time.